Chantix

What is Chantix (varenicline)?

Chantix is a prescription medicine to help adults stop smoking. It works best when used as part of a stop-smoking program that helps you change your smoking behavior.

How does it work?

Chantix binds to nicotine receptors in the brain and thereby, blocks the ability of nicotine to activate these receptors. The smoker does not feel the pleasure from nicotine.

Who should NOT take Chantix?

Chantix has not been studied in children under 18 years of age and is therefore, not recommended for this age group.

Tell your doctor before starting Chantix if you:

Have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Chantix has not been studied in pregnant women. It is not known if Chantix will harm your unborn baby. It is best to stop smoking before you become pregnant.
Are breastfeeding. Although it was not studied, Chantix may pass into breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take insulin, asthma medicines or blood thinners.

What are the common side effects?

Nausea
Sleep disturbance
Constipation
Gas
Vomiting

How to take Chantix.

Set a quit date.
Start taking Chantix 1 week before your quit date. This lets Chantix build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Try to quit on your quit date. If you slip, try again.
Take Chantix after eating and with a full glass (8 oz) of water.

What is the recommended amount to use?

Chantix comes in 0.5 mg (white tablet) and 1.0 mg (Blue tablet). You start with the white tablet and then usually go to the blue tablet.

Day 1 to Day 3	1 White tablet (0.5 mg) each day
Day 4 to Day 7	1 White tablet (0.5 mg) twice a day; morning and evening
Day 8 to end of treatment, normally 12 weeks.	1 Blue (1.0 mg) twice a day; morning and evening

Some medications may require dose adjustment after stopping smoking.

How effective is Chantix?

In studies comparing Chantix to a placebo (sugar pill), persons who took Chantix were about 3.5 times more successful at not smoking, after 12 weeks, than persons who took a placebo.