New Drug - Chantix

[chiang mai]

I went to sleep on a Friday evening four years ago and decided I had just smoked my last cigerette, having smoked for the previous 42 years. Four years later I have not smoked nor wanted to and I have not used any props such as Chamix, having read all the medical reports subsequently I am hugely relieved I didn't, the stuff is really scary and anyone who digs into the reports on this product will doubtless agree. The trouble with stopping smoking is that most people who have smoked for a really long time, live in fear of what the stopping smoking process might be like, they find it really important to spend huge ammounts of time looking into whcih prop they should use, nicorette, Champix, chewing gum etc. In reality, for most people, stopping smoking is quite straight forward and not that difficult, as long as you have some will power and determination, try it and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[dingdang]

is it a prescription drug?

any info on generics in bkk?

[Sheryl]

The drug is still under patent so no generics anywhere.

And it is not approved/licensed for use in Thailand, with or without prescription. Sorry.

[Neeranam]

Are there any readily available drug to help with stopping smoking?

I remember a few years ago there was some kind of antidepressant but I forget its name.

[SICA]

Smoked 10-15 a day for 20 years until my son was born 9 months ago. I always told myself and everybody around me that i'd stop smoking if i ever became a dad. Nobody believed me, even i didn't believe me!

Anyway, I went to see a head shrink at Thai Nakarin hospital who prescribed me Champix. To be honest i didn't think a tablet would work (had tried chewing gum and patches in the past) but thought i'd give it a go. Paid 2,500B for the starter pack of a two week supply and you can smoke for the first few days whilst the tablet builds up in your system.

After about five days i began to feel so sick i didn't want to smoke.

After 10 days i felt so crap that i had to stop taking the tablets and haven't smoked a cigarette since. That was five months ago

I do miss smoking, and everyday is a battle not to buy a pack. But i know in my mind that i've done the right thing.

I have been very moody since i quit and I did put on about 4kgs in 4 months. But i run three or four times a week (did before i quit), smashed my personal best for the half marathon and have never felt fitter.

Is it the best thing i've ever done? Probably the hardest thing i've ever done as ever day is a battle, but i do miss it so not sure. But hopefully it'll give me longer as a dad and that's only a good thing.

Good luck to anybody who tries it. You know you should.

[leeedwards]

Is it at all possible for someone to say exactly where they bought it in bangkok please?

[CBR250]

Are there any readily available drug to help with stopping smoking?

I remember a few years ago there was some kind of antidepressant but I forget its name.

The old standard anti-depressant that helps stop smoking is "Zyban" - called "Quomem" in Thailand. Fairly expensive but worth it. I tried Champix a few years back but became severely depressed in a short time so stopped. I've also unsuccessfully tried parches, gum, cold turkey, cinnamon cigs etc. Quomem has worked for me - I have stopped smoking for one month now - longest time of not smoking for 45 years. Feel a bit weird from the drug, but not too bad for side effects.

I also went to Nicotine Anonymous in Chiang Mai. Very inspirational experience, and helpful tips for stopping. I hope I never contribute another cent to the tobacco pushers. But now, ethically, I don't know what to do with the Cuban cigar I had been saving. Give it to a smoker to enjoy or destroy it?

[SICA]

Is it at all possible for someone to say exactly where they bought it in bangkok please?

Hi. Sorry i missed your reply. Mine were prescribed by a doctor at Thainakarin Hospital. Go to see one of the mental health Doc's and ask them to give you the prescription. They cost 2,500B for the first packet. Good luck

[lovesomtam]

My doctor advised me to take up smoking again after I suffered severe depression after taking Champix. Be very careful with it.

My doctor would not prescribe it as I have a history of depression.

He said that this drug has led to suicidal thoughts in some cases - mostly with pekoe who have suffered depression, anxiety, etc.

See your doctor first!!!!!!!!!!

[CaptainKitty]

Bump: Has Champix become available in Thailand yet? I don't want to take any other stop smoking aids (I don't agree with antidepressants for quitting smoking, especially cuz I'm not depressed and I don't want to get doped up) I have had great success with Champix but my prescription is almost up!

Hoping for a YES...

[Sheryl]

Yes, Champix is now registered for use in Thailand. It is category "D" so can be bought without prescription but only from a grade 1 pharmacist so need a large pharmacy.

If you have trouble locating a pharmacy with it call the distributor:

Zuellig

Contact Number: Tel: 0 2656 9800 Fax: 0 2656 9801 Email: [email protected]

Please do take note of the risk of depression though and be quick to stop it, this can creep up on you very insidiously and seriously distort your thinking and judgement.

[sirchai]

Just to make members aware of possible problems with this drug:

FDA Alert

FDA Safety Review

Hi Tywas,

Tried to click on both links a few times,but seems to be gone.Shows Page not found. Will try it with my Brazil IP now...

A similar drug had killed my mom 13 years ago and caused a heart attack.

Many younger people committed suicide and jumped off balconies, which seems to be a Thai phenomena these days.

I'd do my online research and ask befriended doctors what they think about it first.I also wanna quit.But not my life.-

[Theresa16]

I actually had no desire to quit smoking. I enjoyed the feeling, smell and taste. My boyfriend and family and everyone except for my co-workers, didn't smoke. I figured I'd shush them all and give it a shot and be done with "trying to quit". Read a ton of reviews and told my boyfriend that If I tried it, I might go crazy, but he said he didn't care as long as I quit smoking. I got a prescription from my doctor. Bought a pack the same day I started. Took me 3 days to smoke it, down from a pack a day. The next pack took a week and the last pack took me 2 weeks. Haven't bought a pack or bummed since. Made me cranky and gave me vivid dreams, but not scary ones. Been off Chantix for 2 weeks and still nothing. Very VERY thankful in the long run.

Here's a coupon that I know of:

www.manufacturerdrugcoupons.com/chantix-coupon/

www.chantix.com/offers.aspx

you pay up to $40. Maybe this will help others.

[glcdc]

By taking this drug you're exchanging one drug for another, using this method is not correcting the problem, it's simply masking it. I am no expert in addiction so I can only sympathize with your problem and wish you the best of luck. i only want to warn others of the dangers that drugs present and the ineffectiveness to fix the long term problem.

Smoking I'm sure is like any other chemical dependency stay away long enough, program your mind, seek a support system, and live determined to be healthy then your chances of relapse have got to be low. Good job on your no smoking efforts.

[kimbathewhitelion]

Chantix!! Not new, an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety from since the early millennium. Addictive & brain altering. Something definitely to avoid. Google everything.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[angiud]

I'm now more than 5 years a non-smoker, thanks to a 3 weeks therapy with Quomen.

[Lysdexic]

By taking this drug you're exchanging one drug for another, using this method is not correcting the problem, it's simply masking it. I am no expert in addiction so I can only sympathize with your problem and wish you the best of luck. i only want to warn others of the dangers that drugs present and the ineffectiveness to fix the long term problem.

Smoking I'm sure is like any other chemical dependency stay away long enough, program your mind, seek a support system, and live determined to be healthy then your chances of relapse have got to be low. Good job on your no smoking efforts.

You sure aren't an expert. I smoked for 40 years, after 3 weeks of taking Chantix I lost all desire for cigarettes. Stopped taking Chantix 2 weeks later and haven't smoked since. I did NOT 'exchange one drug for another' - it masked the awful withdrawal symptoms and made it possible for me to quit.

It is a wonderful aid to breaking one of the worst addictions known. If you haven't experienced it, why would you presume to dictate what others should feel or do?

I recommend it without reservation, and as a recovered alcoholic and addict who beat Nicotine I know <deleted> I'm talking about.

[Broeno]

Read this and be aware of the risks you may take.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varenicline