Zyban and RA or PA

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I was reading some posts today and read some about quitting smoking and

Zyban. I thought I'd tell my story and see if there were any similar

stories. My interest was already peeked on this because earlier this week I

was on some web site to do with RA. A woman with PA wrote in with an

identical reaction to mine.

Over 3 years ago I decided I really should quit smoking. Let me back up a

couple months. My joints had been hurting -- knees when I would bend down,

etc. I decided I really should lose some weight to be kinder to my joints.

So I went on a diet and (lo and behold) lost about 20 lbs. Looked great and

felt great. Joints still hurt but I thought that might take a while.

Decided I was feeling so good I should quit smoking. So went to my doctor

and talked with her about taking Zyban. I had heard good things about it.

She prescribed it. I joined a couple online support groups for quitting.

Started taking my Zyban. You take one pill for a couple weeks, and then

start two pills, and then have a quit date.

I was feeling great on it. It's really sort of a speed, I think. I was happy

Losing some more weight. Energetic. Wonderful. Starting to lose interest

in smoking. Picked my quit date of Sept 15 and pretty easily (after trying

1,782 times earlier in my life) quit smoking. Was wonderful.

About 6 days later, I was at work and noticed I was breaking out in a rash.

Didn't itch but was growing rapidly. Went to my doctor. Oh, I was also

using the nicotine patch. She thought it might be a reaction to the patch

and told me to leave it off. Sent me home.

Next morning I was covered from neck to toe (funny that none were on my

face/head). Absolutely covered. More spots than I'd ever seen in my life.

Went back to the doctor who prescribed prednisone. Decided it might be a

reaction to Zyban and told me to quit. I was so disappointed but of course

knew I couldn't stay on it.

I was on prednisone for a couple days when one morning I just could hardly

move. Took me hours to get out of bed. Like my sinovial fluid had all turned

to concrete. Horrible. Doctor was flummoxed; talked with an RD -- he

thought it was maybe serum sickness.

Anyway, to make this story short, I had that horrible stiffness for quite a

while and when I finally got to the RD he diagnosed RA. And here I am.

Has anyone else used Zyban after they were diagnosed with RA? I'm the 3rd

case I've heard of and it just makes me wonder if there is something about

RA that reacts with Zyban. Thought people should maybe be cautious about

using it.

I did stay off the smokes. I was amazed I could. Was so sad to go off the

Zyban cuz it helped so much. Somehow I just knew if I smoked a cigarette, I

would never ever quit and would die from it. So I just never smoked a gain.

So glad. Love being a nonsmoker! Good luck to anyone who is quitting!