EvolutionHealth.care

Home
Main Forum
Quit Smoking
Common Support Questions
Weaning off chantix/Halfing the dosage?

Advanced Search Form

Weaning off chantix/Halfing the dosage?

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 169

This is my 3rd day of taking half a tablet a day, and today I noticed slightly more thoughts about smoking but not even what I would call a crave. Just to share what is happening with me. melissa [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 50 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,000 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $400.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 1 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 948

Well better late than never, I took Chantix too, it was great. I weaned myself off by taking only one pill per day for the last week. I seriously thought I was going to have a problem when I stopped taking them all together, but I didn't. Everything was just fine and I have been off of them for about 5 days now. Hope your experience ends up being great for you too. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 102 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,550 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $510.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 50

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

Josie I have checked with both. My doctor knows less than I do..I was the one who told her about chantix. Pretty much the same with the pharmacists...they have no idea. So, I have looked online a lot, and have found very little on weaning, but have seen some forums discussing detrimental side effects both during the medication as well as after stopping. I think I have a fairly good understanding of the mechanism of how chantix works, although it is hard for me to explain it (as I said, I never did like psychopharmacology..lol). Since I have depressive tendencies I was concerned about stopping too abruptly and the possible effects on my dopamine levels. Okay, that being said, I have finished two weeks of 1 mg per day (during weeks 11 and 12). I think I noticed a slight bit of increased urges, both in frequency as well as intensity, but nothing that made me even consider smoking. And no depressive symptoms. Today I am starting .5 mg. once per day. Am hoping that things will continue as well as they have so far. I wish I could feel as confident in stopping this medication as MLK and others have, but I just remind myself that each person and each quit is different, so I am doing what I feel is best for me. The main thing is remaining smoke-free. If during this .5 mg dosage I find myself on the verge of smoking or slipping into a depression, I will increase it again. I am keeping in mind that there was a higher long term abstinence rate for those who took it for 24 weeks. Living and learning and remaining smoke free -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 81 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,240 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $550.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

Thanks for sharing your experience! It is always a good idea to check with your doctor and pharmacist regarding dosages and side effects :) Josie, Support Specialist

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 231

LightShines I am nearing the end of my Chantix prescription. I only have a few days left so I plan to stay on the full dose through this weekend then go to 1 mg per day for 5 days then be off of it. I don't know if the weaning makes any difference but thought I would try this. It will give you another comparison since it is a little different than what carylene and alohakeia are doing. I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time keep up the good work ! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/12/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 85 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,550 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $382.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 16 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 82

Please let me know how you do (that is, everyone who is weaning themselves off Chantix). I'm quite interested. I'm taking Chantix, and while I'm not anywhere near ready to start coming off I have thought about it. It seems more reasonable to wean off than to just stop taking it all at once. My doctor said that he saw no reason not to wean if that's what I chose to do. Right now I'm just on my second week of Chantix. All I can say is - WOW! It is certainly helping my quit. I've had no withdrawal symptoms and very few cravings so far. This is way different from my other quits. Of course, I'm mentally dedicated this time where I wasn't before. I am having some difficulty with hot flashes (wonder if Chantix might be interfering w/my hormone replacement meds - will have to look that one up) and a bit of gas! LOL No dreams, no nausea. Overall, I'm a happy non-smoker. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]6/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 68 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $16.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 169

You know I am doing the same thing, but shorter. I am only taking the 1 a day for 10 days and then gonna break them in half for 6 days. And then on my own. I can't tell any difference at all, but I do have refills available in case I run into problems. Good luck to both of us! Melissa [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 44 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,760 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $352.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

ok, so for the past 8 days i have been taking just 1 mg in the morning. I have noticed a tiny bit stronger urges in the evening, but nothing I couldn't handle. I also have done a little more snooping around online about going off it. There have been some complaints of extreme joint and muscle soreness, but nothing backed up with any firm data or physician confirmation. I also found some more info on the psychopharmacological effects. I always hated that class in school! Apparently the receptors that nicotine attaches to (and Chantix fills up) affect the dopamine receptors' actions. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that affects mood, notably depression and anxiety. I have been worried about going into a depression after stopping the chantix, so this is why I decided to wean myself slowly. So, I am going to keep on the 1 mg. a day for the rest of this week, then try .5 mg. for the following two weeks if it seems ok. Then .25 mg. if I can break them down easily enough...lol....for two more weeks. Hopefully that will work for me....not telling anyone else what to do, but if you're interested it is one case study. -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 75 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,000 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $510.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1000

Hi Everyone, Here is my experience with the Chantix so far. After 2 months I decided I would stop taking it because the nice dreams I was having at night were turning into terrible nightmares. Well, after 2 days off it the cravings for me were pretty bad so I decided to just take the one in the morning and so far that has been working fine. Maybe soon I can cut the one in the morning in half and then be done. I sure hope so just want to be free of all of this. Life has been so good without smoking even if you figure in the craving days. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/21/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 68 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,360 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $442.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 250

Thanks Nance! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 53 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,060 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $477.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

Weaning off chantix/Halfing the dosage?