Will Chantix change my personality?

Tue, May 22, 2007 at 10:22 pm Posted in Smoking, Quit Smoking, Varenicline, Chantix, Health

Will Chantix change my personality?

I had someone make a statement to me today, to the effect of:
“My husband quit smoking, and is using Chantix. His doctor said that it would change his personality for over a year, even if he stopped, or just took it for the standard three months”

I found this very curious for several reasons.

1. The current fixation on nicotine is the biggest mood changer
2. Chantix only binds to the transmitters that are activated with nicotine
3. The list of changes in personality when quitting period are often the only ones attributed

Dr Howell over here stated these various side effects of mood when taking Chantix, but I don’t see the attachment that it lasts for a year after cessation, or if the problems were all related to the other chemicals being gone from the brain.

Anyone got a few cents to add?

3 Responses to “Will Chantix change my personality?”

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  1. 1Antonio Howell on May 23, 2007 at 9:45 pm:

    Hi,

    Just wanted to add my two cents to your excellent blog.

    The mood change symptoms are common with nicotine withdrawal (cravings for cigarettes, mood disturbances, appetite increase and sleep problems).

    It is my opinion that this is the source of most of the “personality changes”.

    These symptoms are worsened if one forgets to take the chantix pills (even taking them late is bad).

    There is a loading period of about a week where one prepares the body for the - quit date.

    And at that point the withdrawal symptoms begin within minutes.

    In summary, taking the pills as directed and under the supervision of an MD is crucial for minimizing problems.

    Hope this helps.

    Have a Healthy Day,
    -AH

  2. 2Ali on Jun 4, 2007 at 11:50 am:

    I have had definite personality changes since I quit smoking in Nov. 06. At first, I thought it was just the withdrawl, but I really believe it was the Chantix because I have never had such anxiety and depressed states, so now I am on lexapro and feeling some better. AH

  3. 3phreaki on Jun 4, 2007 at 11:58 am:

    I’m sorry to hear that there has been personality changes, but I applaud anyone who quits smoking! What does your doctor think about the problem?

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