Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix

[Suzy]

Hi,

I took the new pill chantix to try to quit smoking about 8 weeks ago. 3 days after taking it I started to feel weak and sore. After 8 days I could hardly move, I was in pain everywhere. I stopped taking it and went to my Doctor, who said I have arthritis, and the chantix had nothing to do with it. However, before I took it I was in perfect health, I am 51 years old and very active. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't believe I have arthritis, the pain has decreased but is not gone.

Thanks

[chuckrock2005@aol.com]

I had very bad joint pain, and severe depression from Chantix. Called pharmacist and was advised to stop taking it immediately.

[Cindy48]

I am a 58 year old female. I started taking Chantix October 13, 2006 and had my last cigarette October 22. When I started taking the blue pills, I began to feel weak and to ache, mostly in my upper back and shoulders. Although I have also experienced mild nausea, this hasn't kept me from taking the drug. Because Chantix worked and seemed to give me the impetus not to smoke, I am hesitant about stopping it but am beginning to feel so crummy physically that I'm thinking of doing it. I only hope I'm far enough into quitting that I can maintain sobriety without the drug if I choose to stop it. The pain reminds me of how I felt taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Zocor, etc. Was really painful and miserable.

[04paul04]

I too started having very bad pain around my shoulder blade and all throughout my left arm. I only took the medicine for three days. I am still experiencing the pain after 2 months. I had no problems prior to this and I'm only 31.

[Unregistered]

I am also having extreme shoulder pain which will also travel down my right arm at times. kindof like carpal tunnel I think... I started chantix a week and a half ago I think I have to stop and see what happens. the pain in too much.

[catman]

I have sholder and neck pain as well. It is my understanding that the FDA rushed to get this drug on the market because of the effects smoking has on society. Could it be possible that these symtoms are irreversible? I took the drug for 4 weeks and feel confident about not smoking. I am supposed to take it for 12 weeks but due to these discoveries I am stopping it.

[catman]

I am following up with my last message. A little more info this time. Im a 37 year old male. I stopped tacking chantix after 4 week to see if the neck and shoulder pain would go away. I am happy to say that it did. I am also still smoke free. I highly recomend this drug to quit smoking. You may have to deal with some uncomfortabilty but if you keep smoking you will die 5-10 years sooner than if you dont.

[Unregistered]

well i took chantix for 18 days. i quit smoking on the day 7. pains started on day 10. doctor recommended i stop the treatment (day 18). pains went away 7 days after i stopped the medication.
i am 39, athletic, but have a history of arthritis. i had been having some back pain leading up to this. but i have never had pain in my shoulders and neck like this. constant pain, even when just lying there.
at least its gone now and i have not gone back to smoking.
btw, doctor said he does not think there was a connection between chantix and the pain.

[Unregistered]

Have any of you had your Thyroid function tested? Smoking tends to mask the symptoms of Hypothyroidism, and only after quitting smoking, many patients will suddenly feel the effects of Hypothyroidism, namely joint and muscle pain (with no arthritis), fatigue, weight gain, etc. etc. Maybe it is not the Chantix, but the symptoms of low thyroid function? Advice: research the Thyroid forums first before accepting test results, as the base levels of TSH, T3 and T4 are changing worldwide. Your doctor may not be up to date with the latest information, and will probably tell you that your thyroid levels are normal when in fact they are not. Research it yourself.

[Unregistered]

Hi, Im 38 and I started the Chantix the week between Christmas and New Years...I had my last cig the day after....I have smoked for 27 yrs...and LOVE to smoke...but felt I was pushing the limits and it was time to try and quit....I have been smoke free for 10 days...I have had to overwhelming cravings...but they only happen 2 or 3 times a day...so I think im doing ok....

My problem is...since I started it I have been in some kind of mild euphoric daze...I lay in bed...Im very calm and peaceful...my husbands loves it...but have had to enery to do anything else..anyone else having these kinds of symptoms...

and see I forgot what I was going to ask about in the first place...joint pain...My hands and fingers and ankles are killing me...my knuckles are swollen and my ankle that I had recunstructed 3 yrs ago and never had any discomfort is throbbing...It had me up half the night....

anyone having these kind of symptoms....euphoria or sore joints???
Let me know, please
jen