Which side effects would you prefer?

[Catty1]

Okay, here's the scoop:

The first list is of the side effects of smoking and nicotine.

The second is for Champix (Varenicline), a cease-smoking medication with no nicotine.

I did this experiment since a friend of mine who NEEDS to quit smoking for serious health reasons doesn't really WANT to, and often comments about the side effects of the stop smoking medications. She has had bad reactions to some of them...but I thought of sending her the two lists to see what she thinks.

Thanks for being good sports about this.

[K9soul]

Just FYI, it's Chantix.

[Catty1]

k9 - interestingly, it's got different names in different countries:

Varenicline (trade name Chantix in the USA and Champix in Europe, Mexico and Canada, manufactured by Pfizer

[Karen]

Has she tried non-medical ways to quit smoking?

Just curious.

[Twisterdog]

I was getting ready to vote for #2, then I saw the "reveal" had already occurred.

For what it's worth, I have taken Chantix, and so have several of my friends. I had NO side effects whatsoever, and I literally forgot cigarettes existed. It was amazing, truly. My sister, who smoked 2-3 packs a day for 40 years, also quit smoking recently by taking Chantix. She said her only side effect was that she couldn't sleep. It was not a manic, restless, exhausted lack of sleep, though. She said she just wasn't sleepy, but felt rested and peaceful.

Obviously, side effects vary a lot from person to person, but I've never personally known anyone to have bad side effects from Chantix. I would say it is WELL worth a try.

[Cookiebaker]

Funny poll, Chatty! I was wondering where you were going with this.

Yea, ummm, all it took for me was to read the list of possible side effects from epidurals and decided that I was going the natural route...who wants a headache for 5 days after giving birth? Isn't it better just to live through a few hours of pain instead?

[Catty1]

Karen, no, she hasn't tried non-medical means. She's gone a day or two on her own without cigs, but is back at it in no time. She wishes there were treatment centres for smokers like there are for other addicts - but there aren't.

It's where she KNOWS she should...she knows she is hooked but can't admit it deep inside (you know, the hitting bottom part). But she said all that to me...she knows she HAS to but doesn't WANT to, you know?

She has peripheral artery disease(runs in family); has had two heart attacks, one abdominal arterial bypass with another coming up in the next month or so; and Type 2 diabetes.

She is 43 years old.

Addictions can go very deep.

Prayers please.