Debbie’s Story
I started Chantix on 8/29/07. On 9/4/07 I woke with every muscle and joint in my body hurting. I could barely walk. I had recently started exercising and just thought I over did it, but when it did not go away I started thinking it was the drug.
I started researching and found there were many more like me. It felt good not to be alone.
I stopped Chantix on 9/16/07 and I did quit smoking. I went to my doctor, who did believe me, but did not know what to treat me for. All my blood work was good. He finally sent me to the Mayo Clinic in FL. where I saw a rheumatologist and a neurologist.
Many tests were performed and I was told they were all normal. I got diagnosed with… you guessed it, FIBROMYALGIA. I say bulls..t! I was given Lyrica, also I found out a nasty drug by Pfizer, which did not help and I am off that now. My feet and knees burn like hell. My knees feel like they will break when I sit or get up from sitting. I have limited use of my left arm because of shoulder pain. My hands hurt horribly and I can barely open anything. My fingers will not close all the way to grasp something, too much pain. My neck is like the worst crick you can imagine. All this, by the way, is 24/7.
My vision is much worse. My gums bleed. The left side of my face goes numb. It is hard sometimes to finish sentences as I forget what things are called. I get startled VERY easily. Other than smoking, before Chantix, I was a healthy, active, not overweight 52 year old female. Now I move like a 90 year old woman. I want my life back!! I would gladly take my chances at a death from ciggarettes rather than live like I am now, if you can call it that.
Please do NOT take this drug. All these things I have mentioned are listed as Chantix side effects and it seems they will never go away. I never had a reaction to a drug before.
This drug should be removed from the market immediately but I am afraid many more will have to die before that happens. There have been many suicides so far. A good site to hear more stories is www.whyquit.com.
