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Chantix - positive effect on CFS

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA
Good morning:

I started taking Chantix to quit smoking and have noticed a very positive effect on my CFS. I am not as tired - when I wake up in the morning, I actually WAKE UP. I have more energy.

On the negative side, my fibromyalgia seems to be a little worse (but weather is changing a lot also, so might be that - will have to wait and see).

Has anyone else noticed this? Any information as to why this may be?

Thanks!
 
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15,786
@HRManager - Could you explain which ME symptoms it has helped you with? I don't feel a lack of "energy" when I wake up, so I'm not sure how applicable that is to patients in general.
 

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA
Hi Valentijn:

When I get up in the morning I am usually in a complete fog. I mean wander around the house wondering what the hell I am doing kind of fog. With the Chantix I wake up mentally alert - even if I did not get a lot of sleep the night before.

The lack of energy - when I used to take my shower in the morning before work, I would have to sit down and rest afterwards. I do not have to do that anymore. I am making it through my day at work easier and still able to do a little around the house when I get home..

I should have put more detail in my first post - sorry!
 

TiredSam

The wise nematode hibernates
Messages
2,677
Location
Germany
How can you tell it's the Chantix rather than improvements caused by not smoking any more?
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
@HRManager, it sounds like you wake up dehydrated resulting in low blood flow to the brain -- just a guess. It could also be low BP for other reasons. Can Chantix affect vasoconstriction in a way that might be helping? Or have you changed something as a result of trying to quit smoking that might affect blood volume or vasoconstriction? Are you drinking more to keep your hands busy? Or drinking more coffee/tea/caffeine?

Fogginess is not really a lack of energy, although exercise intolerance can result from OI as can fogginess. Have you been tested for various forms of orthostatic intolerance -- POTS, hyperadrenergic POTS, NMH, etc?
 
Last edited:

MikeJackmin

Senior Member
Messages
132
That's very interesting. It was a similar observation that opened the door to our current investigation of ritiuxmab.

I suppose you'll be stopping the drug after a 12 or 24 week period. Keep us posted if you notice any change then.
 

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA
@HRManager, it sounds like you wake up dehydrated resulting in low blood flow to the brain -- just a guess. It could also be low BP for other reasons. Can Chantix affect vasoconstriction in a way that might be helping? Or have you changed something as a result of trying to quit smoking that might affect blood volume or vasoconstriction? Are you drinking more to keep your hands busy? Or drinking more coffee/tea/caffeine?

Fogginess is not really a lack of energy, although exercise intolerance can result from OI as can fogginess. Have you been tested for various forms of orthostatic intolerance -- POTS, hyperadrenergic POTS, NMH, etc?


I usually drink a large glass of water before bed (have to ta take all the meds!). Would that be enough to stop dehydration? I will definitely be looking into that - thanks!

No. I really do not have the symptoms of POTS. I do not get dizzy, just stupid. ;-) Honestly, it feels like fogginess from exhaustion. How you wake up after a short nap sometimes disoriented. Unfortunately, I had both the fogginess AND lack of energy..

I haven't noticed that I am drinking any more liquids. I am trying to cut back on caffeine so am not drinking more of that.

I would not think that cutting back then quitting smoking would make this big of a difference, but it is another angle to look at.
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
I usually drink a large glass of water before bed (have to ta take all the meds!). Would that be enough to stop dehydration?
It could, if your dehydration isn't major. It is one of the things I do, necessary but not sufficient. I also need to drink a big glass of water first thing in the morning AND take fludrocortisone. But my blood volume problems may be bigger than yours. We're all different.
No. I really do not have the symptoms of POTS. I do not get dizzy, just stupid. ;-)
That's what I thought. Boy, was I wrong. I didn't get dizzy either, but I definitely have OI problems and treatment makes a big difference... with exactly the symptoms you are describing. That doesn't mean you do have OI, just that you probably shouldn't dismiss the idea quite so readily. I regret not addressing my OI years sooner. My quality of life could have been better for years, but no, I was SOOOO sure I didn't have OI. :rolleyes:

Keep us updated as you sort this out. I imagine we'd all like to know about anything that helps with those kinds of symptoms. :)
 

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA
It could, if your dehydration isn't major. It is one of the things I do, necessary but not sufficient. I also need to drink a big glass of water first thing in the morning AND take fludrocortisone. But my blood volume problems may be bigger than yours. We're all different.

That's what I thought. Boy, was I wrong. I didn't get dizzy either, but I definitely have OI problems and treatment makes a big difference... with exactly the symptoms you are describing. That doesn't mean you do have OI, just that you probably shouldn't dismiss the idea quite so readily. I regret not addressing my OI years sooner. My quality of life could have been better for years, but no, I was SOOOO sure I didn't have OI. :rolleyes:

Keep us updated as you sort this out. I imagine we'd all like to know about anything that helps with those kinds of symptoms. :)

How do you find out if you have OI? I am not familiar with that at all
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
How do you find out if you have OI? I am not familiar with that at all
I'd suggest starting to read here to get educated. Then once you have an idea what you're asking about, you should go to a doctor to get a diagnosis. The best would be a dysautonmia specialist. If you can't find one (and there aren't many) an electrophysiologist or cardiologist would be your next best bet. A GP might be able to properly diagnose OI, but many of them don't recognize more than the most obvious and severe cases and so might miss yours if it's not classic POTS.
 

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA
Important update...

I had to stop taking the Chantix.. My knee has swollen up to about 1.5 times its normal size with no injury. Since joint pain was listed as a side effect of the Chantix, I stopped taking it in case it was the cause.

I did not realize how bad my fibro pain was until I stopped taking it. Amazing what we put up with on a daily basis with this disease. So, my pain is MUCH less. Unfortunately, so is my energy. :( Cigarette cravings WAY up, but dammit, I am not going to give in!

Had an xray of knee yesterday and have appt. with rhem. tomorrow. Will keep ya'll updated.
 

HRManager

"Deal with it"
Messages
84
Location
Illinois, USA
OIK. Knee issue NOT caused by Chantix but still not going to restart it due to the pain it caused me with the fibro. Still haven't smoked.

Knee is toast.