Ouch!

Help.

Last Friday was my last dose of Chantix. Yippee, right. Well, my elbow joint, right now feels like it is on fire and hurts worse than a toothache.

Can I be experiencing joint pain as a result of the Chantix leaving my system. I just took some advil, but it hurts so darn bad I can barely see straight. It runs from my elbow down to my fingers.


Thank you.

p.s. Chantix is the medicine that helps you to stop smoking.

I'd type more, but it hurts

J_9

I cannot see where this could be the cause of your pain AH dear.

Due to the fact that it is relatively new, it is not in my 2007 Mosby's Drug Reference so I did some digging on the internet and I do not see this as a withdrawal symptom. However, since it is so new, it may be a symptom that has not yet been reported, or possibly under reported.

You may want to try calling your pharmacist on this one as s/he will have all of the latest up-to-date info on Chantix.

Allheart

J_9,

I was gonna SOS you specifically. I was gonna hit the Looney bin next looking for you, LOL.

Great idea about calling the pharmisist. The advil is helping. Boy, I really don't like medicine at all

J_9 thank you so much for responding so fast. After I hit send, I put my head on my desk and said, J_9, where are you? I need you .

Thanks again. I will let you know what the pharmasist says.

Allheart

WoW that was a pleasant call. The lady was so nice.

The pharmasist said that he is going to research it and for me to call back. Just like you had said J_9, the medicine is so new, not a whole lot is known. He didn't hear of joint aches, but is going to look into it.

Kinda scares me a little, taking a med that is so new. Anyways, I truly do appreciate J_9 and will share whatever I do find out.

Thanks again

J_9

AH, you are one of the most wonderful caring individuals I have met. Even if I had been in clinicals all day I would have heard you calling and come running to your aid.

Advil does work wonders, when that wears off you might want to try some Aleve, I heard that works really well.

Please keep me posted on what he says. I love to learn about new meds.

Allheart

Oh J_9 I wish I could give you a hug. Thank you so much!!! I really was going to send up smoke signals for ya, but I didn't want to get any monkey special treatement .

Thinking of calling my docs office as well. Just to see if they heard anything.

Maybe alls it really means is I really do belong in the Looney bin. And that's okay, cuz I love it there .

I will pick up some Aleve as well.

Thanks again J-9.

Allheart

Well I ended up call Chantix themselves. (877-242-6849) Boy, they were sure very very pleasant. Here's what they told me:

Joint pain has been reported, during the studies, while people are taking Chantix.
When finishing Chantix, increased irratability has been reported.

Now, being the backwards person that I am, this makes sense. I feel less crabby being off the medicine and all of my joints started aching once I stopped Chantix, with my right elbow craving most of the attention. The very nice lady at Chantix (who was a pharmasist) said it takes 5 -7 days for the medicine to leave your system. Today is day 7 for me, so I guess it is going out with a bang.

Hopefully it will all works its way out. In the meantime, I will take the Aleve.

J-9 - Again thanks so much. Felt so good to have someone and where to go to .

husker2

I have just finished 3 months of Chantix also, and am smoke free. After my 3rd day off I started severe joint and muscle pain. My knees and ankles hurt so bad I can hardly walk. My elbows, wrists and hands hurt also. I went to my Dr. I have no arthritis. Last night I went to Google and found this site: Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix - Page 3 - WrongDiagnosis Forums

I couldn't believe it! Many other people experiencing the same thing! Shouldn't Pfizer start addressing some of these issues? I called them and they said my case was "very isolated" and they did not know of any others. After reading the website I say BULL! I'm wondering now if I should have tapered off instead of just quitting? Should I start back again? This is just awful, I feel like I am 80 years old. I normally exercise and run each day but now I can hardly make it from room to room. I am really at a loss as what to do. Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks in advance.

Allheart

Oh bless you bless you bless you. I hope you don't mind, but I am a very passionate perosn and I am now going to give you a big hug (.......). I thought I was plum loosing my mind and coming here and talking it out with J_9 really helped me.

First, congrats on stop smoking. The pain will subside - I promise you. It took about 10 days for my body to deal with not having Chantix in it anymore. My husband was so worried thinking I was having a stroke. My right arm looked like that because the elbow hurt so bad. I honestly was near tears.

I took Advil and I think J_9 said alleve is good as well. Try and not stay stiff. Take walks if you can. Or just try and get some rest. I promise you it will pass.

DO NOT GO BACK TO SMOKING !!! If you do, you will make me smoke

Here's another hug. Please continue to let us know how you are feeling.

My best to you,
Allheart

montee77

I was checking out online what had to be said about Chantix as well because my Dr prescribed it. I have tried EVERY other way to quit smoking and was not successful. Now, that may be me because I have the weakest will on earth. Anyway, after reading what it said on some of the web sites, I wonder if this drug is too new to take the chance. Those poor people on wrongdiagnosis.com were miserable to say the least. I am on my 3rd day and I have no problems so far except a few bizarre dreams and moodiness. I just pray that this time I will be able to kick this awful addiction for good. I am sooo sick of smelling like an ashtray and feeling like an outcast, not to mention looking forward to all the illnesses that smoking causes! I commend anyone out there that can value your life enough to endure whatever symptoms you go through to stop smoking(or drinking and drugs for that matter!) I know that prayer is powerful so that is my avenue. God bless and congrats on your success! Hang in there!