B.L. asks from Columbia Falls, MT on May 02, 2011
Chantix and High Blood Pressure
Has anyone used Chantix to quit smoking who had high blood pressure? How did it work for you and what were the side effects? My moms doctor doesn't want her using anything to quit smoking, but my mom wont try to quit without using something to help her. She doesn't understand why her doctor would say no to her, but my step dad's doctor told him that he could use it and he has high blood pressure too.
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M.H. answers from Atlanta on May 02, 2011
Hi BKL,
A good absorbable multivitamin will get her system working right so she will feel better and the cravings will lessen. It's a start to remove the toxicities in her system. This isn't a drug and it won't happen overnight but it's a start. There are also other things, natural things that will absolutely get rid of her high blood pressure. (The insert on the Chantix will scare you to death.) I would even bet money that if she stops smoking the HBP will go away on it's on....
Your mom's doctor is right. It could push her into a stroke.
God bless,
M.
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M.P. answers from Pittsburgh on May 02, 2011
IMO Chantix is quite possibly the best smoking cessation tool we have today. It is the ONLY thing that has worked for many people I know. It makes it so when you do try to have a smoke you get no satisfaction from it and just stub it out. Eventually you don't even try to light up. Honestly-if you look at MOST medications there are some scary warnings. They have to put them there to CYA and in reality the amount of people who get those symptoms is usually quite small. I have never had any suicidal thoughts on it-nothing even close. The dreams ARE crazy I will admit. But not bad crazy-just crazy. Even a little enjoyable really-I am always entertained waking up from them. I guess in the long run you will need to think about which will be worse for your mothers bp-smoking or Chantix. Of course you will need to weigh the bazillion other harms that smoking does to your body as well. Your mom should get a second opinion on this one-esp if she cannot quit on her own.
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J.S. answers from Chicago on May 02, 2011
Hi there~
I'm going to agree with Evermom. My dad took Chantix for a very short while. He said the dreams he had while on it scared the s**t out of him. He would wake up in a major panic. Said that there were lots of suicidal directions in his dreams. He was crazy moody while on it; It almost seemed as though he had multiple personalities while taking it. He didn't have high blood pressure before taking it, BUT it did elevate his blood pressure by being on it.
I strongly, strongly urge her to look into other alternatives. I really don't think Chantix is the way to go. As the daughter, I was 100% worried for my dad when he was on this. We had to beg him to stop and he has since, and things have been much better!
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