Champix is one of the latest and most effective treatments to help you stop smoking. Champix contain the active ingredient Varenicline, which is a medicine used to help people who are addicted to nicotine to give up smoking. It acts in the brain, but is not the same as nicotine replacement therapy.
You should set a date on which you will stop smoking and start taking Champix one to two weeks beforehand. This is because the medicine needs time to start working. The dose is increased gradually in the first week of treatment (follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist) and Champix should then be taken twice a day for 12 weeks. If you have successfully managed to stop smoking at the end of 12 weeks, your doctor may offer you a further 12 week course of treatment. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink of water. They can be taken with or without food.
You should seek help and support as much as possible while giving up smoking, even while taking Champix, as this will increase your chance of success. Your doctor, practice nurse or local pharmacist can all provide this support.
The initial dose is one 0.5mg Champix per day, which then increases to two 0.5mg tablets per day. You should then give up smoking in the second week of the treatment, taking two 1mg tablets per day up until the end of the treatment. Champix should be taken at about the same time every day with water - this can be either with or without food. The total length of the treatment is 12 weeks – after which you may continue for longer if Champix has helped you.
Use with caution in: decreased kidney function; history of psychiatric illness, eg depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder; epilepsy.
Not to be used in pregnancy.
Champix is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as there is no information regarding its safety and efficacy in this age group. Champix should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
