Dave Sabat's Exuberance Clinical Hypnotherapy & Hypnosis Blog :: Is Champix (Chantix) really a wonder drug to stop smoking?

Several months ago in the UK Champix was launched with the fanfare of being a wonder drug to help people stop smoking (Champix is marketed as Chantix in the USA). You can see my thoughts about its launch in a previous post

http://blog.exuberancehypno.co.uk/blog/GeneralRantings/_archives/2007/5/31/2988041.html

Since then, quite a few people have been noticing side-effects possibly because of Champix. These are thought to include depression, agitation, behavioural change, suicidal thoughts and suicide! The manufacturer of this drug, Pfizer, has now agreed to include warnings when it is launched in Australia stating "there have been reports of depressed mood, agitation, changes in behaviour, suicidal ideation and suicide in patients attempting to quit smoking while taking Champix".

There are some really interesting posts on this subject in the blogosphere and I list some of them below;

http://www.furiousseasons.com/archives/2007/12/pfizer_wont_talk_about_chantix_so_i_post_questions.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22899455-29277,00.html

http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/12/chantix-to-get-suicide-warnings-in-australia/

My role is not to juggle the words said by others in the above posts, but to ask you or anyone considering taking Champix to stop smoking, is it worth it? Is it really worth it?

The only thing that stops people stopping smoking naturally and safely using the power of their minds is their belief in themselves. I, of course, will blow my own trumpet as a clinical hypnotherapist who helps people stop smoking naturally, to suggest that people could stop easily with the help of a good, skilled hypnotherapist Smoking Cessation Hypnotherapy but I will also blow other trumpets now to suggest that smokers who want to stop smoking should try any natural smoking cessation method before even considering taking Champix.

I am sometimes greeted with the cheery riposte "you're my last resort". I beg everyone out there to consider using Champix as the last resort.

Be happy,

Dave.

Keywords: Chantix, Wonder, Drug, Champix, Smoking, Stop, Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis

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Re: Is Champix (Chantix) really a wonder drug to stop smoking?

by Lucy Jones on Fri 14 Dec 2007 17:19 GMT | Permanent Link

Hi Dave.
First thanks for stopping by our blog.
Stopping with the cigs is easier said than done for most people. In house support is a good way, especially when both smoke. Both of us stopped a few years back and used each other to support our joint wish to quit. It wasn't easy, we thought we had so many 'reasons' to start again and at the time I remember we were so stressed. Today we don't think about it and are very happy to have stopped, but we so sympathize and support anyone wanting to stop and if you can do it without the use of plaster, pills, chewing-gum etc., you're better off - health wise and money.

Re: Re: Is Champix (Chantix) really a wonder drug to stop smoking?

by Dave Sabat on Mon 17 Dec 2007 12:21 GMT | Profile | Permanent Link

Thanks for your comments Lucy and well done for stopping smoking.

Sometimes, smokers forget that they were born as non-smokers and that smoking is a choice, as is not smoking. When smokers accept that they can choose to once again become a non-smoker it becomes much easier for them to stop.

Kind regards,

Dave Sabat.

Re: Is Champix (Chantix) really a wonder drug to stop smoking?

by Dave Sabat on Mon 17 Dec 2007 12:17 GMT | Profile | Permanent Link

Now the EU are investigating the possible side effects of Champix!

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/14/europe/EU-MED-Anti-smoking-Drug-Dangers.php

Be happy,

Dave.

Re: Re: Is Champix (Chantix) really a wonder drug to stop smoking?

by Chris Smithers on Thu 13 Mar 2008 23:27 GMT | Permanent Link

I agree, drugs are simply not the answer, although I have heard good things about Zyban. Mind you, consider the side effect of not smoking at all?

Whilst I believe in hypnotherapy, and myself stopped using Allen Carr's method (some might call that self hypnotherapy), drugs might still be useful for some but we should use them with a lot more caution.

Re: Is Champix (Chantix) really a wonder drug to stop smoking?

by gordman on Wed 26 Mar 2008 14:10 GMT | Profile | Permanent Link

When it comes to quiting an addiction there is no such a thing like the easy way. Addictions of any kind mess with out body and specially with our brains, I am very skeptical about wonder methods that don't require any substantial efforts from addicted people. In my opinion and my experience, a drug treatment center can be much more reliable (no side effects included).

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