champix

[Safiya]

ive got an appointment next week to try to stop smoking again.... i used champix before so gonna go with them again as they were really good even though they had horrible side effects. Thing is i remember being told to take them by mid afternoon as they can bugger your sleep up..... i also remember it said you had to take them with food. This is the problem.... its Ramadan in a few days and i wont be able to eat mid afternoon (if its for tablets something small to eat shouldnt matter...but these arent actually for a medical condition so i dont really wanna eat just to take them) is it okay to take them without food? whats likely to happen if i do? im asking here rather than the docs cos if i cant take them im not gonna bother walking the 2 miles to the docs surgery and will start them afterwards... thanks

[bednobs]

can't you just wait til ramadan is over?

[sandyRoe]

Smoking is a medical condition that kills lots of people. Take your tablets with a small bit of food.

[Safiya]

yeah i was thinking that bednobs but its taken so long to get the appointment.... my other docs had to refer to a clinic who then had to write a letter to the doc to prescribe the tablets and every 2 weeks had to do another letter ...... the next stop smoking clinic was in october :( so i changed docs to one closer who will just see you and prescribe there and then... no sitting two hours in a group where we all just cant wait to get out the door lol..... i just want to get started on them soon

[Safiya]

true sandy i didnt think of it that way...... ive also asked friends and stuff and they are unsure, think i will re ask em lol

[sir.prize]

Hi Safiya. Good luck. I've just stopped taking a course of Champix. The side effects were unbearable; particularly at night-time. Nausea, vomiting, virtigo, disorientation, constipation, etc.
Result: I am still a smoker.
Once again, good luck.

[bednobs]

Even if you do go to your doctors soon and get the tabs, dosen't mean you have to start them straight away!

[Safiya]

thanks sirprize... i stopped last year with them for months... had same side effects as you as well as a depression so bad for two weeks i dont know how i kept on taking them and also the freakiest dreams ive ever had in my life (i love dreaming so actually enjoyed that but it was weird) i stopped the first two weeks and think i made the mistake of stopping the tablets at 8 weeks instead of 12 cos a few months later i started again

i would have to bednobs, they need to see you every fortnight to prescribe the next course and wont give them if you arent taking them .... it'll probably be better to wait til beginning of sept but ive just felt ready to stop for ages now, i just cant stop the last 3 or 4 :(

[PringlesQueen]

Hi Safiya
Champix does not have to be taken with food. Some prefer to take it with food to help prevent nausea.
For patients who are unable to tolerate the side effects of Champix, it is suggested by the manufacturer that you stay on the lower strength tablet (0.5mg) rather than stepping up to the usual 1mg tablets.
Failing that, there are plenty of other smoking cessation products available to try.

[boxtops]

safiya, if you have a medical condition which prevents you fasting, you don't have to (but you know that!) - but you could always make up the fast some other time, if you feel that stopping smoking will improve your health in the immediate future. There must be precedent for that, or for similar medical interventions.
Purists would say that you shouldn't even take tablets during the fast - but for some medication, it works better if it's digested along with some food.
Seems to me you have two choices, either defer starting champix or decide to make up the fast days, later on.

[Eve]

I've asked about Champix a couple of times but been warned off by medical practitioners. One GP said she would never prescribe it. I'm tempted to try hypnosis as I've heard good things about it.

I heard somewhere smoking isn't allowed in Ramadan (not sure if that's right?) so at least you're trying to stop that so if it's a small amount with medication if recommended then it's a means to an end. It's not like you're eating because you're hungry.

If the side effects are that bad though would it be wise to have that on top of the fast?

[Safiya]

hi squsalminney (i had to get my glasses i thought your username said something about a squirrel up a chimney lol) thanks for that.... I did get unbelievable nausea last time i was on them....thats a good suggestion about not going on the 1mg tablets, I think I might try that if I take them over the next month. Ive tried some of the other stuff.... the inhalator was great, first day I only smoked 3 or 4 cigs but I couldnt cut those out..... same with patches (i smoked while i had them on) doh :(

hi boxy and thanks for that :) I didnt think about making up the days later... Im not too bothered about making up some days but i didnt really want to have to make up the whole month (though doing it in december would be veryyyyy easy lol) You are right about some saying you shouldnt even take tablets..... some friends say i didnt ought to, some say it doesnt matter, some arent sure....... the more i think about it the more i think i will be better leaving it til end of august :)

hi jenna, yeah we shouldnt smoke during Ramadan (not in daylight hours anyway) and the side effects are also putting me off doing while im fasting.... ive been told theres a few docs that wont prescribe it.... after i stopped taking it i was talking to someone about it, she told me more side effects which included being suicidal and stuff...i thought she was having me on til i googled :s

thanks to you all for your replies.... there were things there i hadnt thought of and after reading i think i might be better waiting til after.....