Information on Champix for smoking cessation treatment

Champix UK tablets contain the active ingredient Varenicline, a medicine used to help people who are addicted to nicotine. It sets to work within the brain, although it differs from nicotine replacement therapy. There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain Varenicline as their active ingredient.

Champix Varenicline is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist; it acts on the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. Champix UK works by stimulating the nicotinic receptors in the brain. This produces an effect that relieves the craving, as well as the withdrawal symptoms you get when you stop smoking. At the same time, Champix Varenicline blocks nicotine from acting on the nicotinic receptors. This prevents having a rewarding and enjoyable effect from smoking.

Prior to starting with the Champix Varenicline treatment, it is essential that you decide on a quit date. Then you can start taking this medicine about a week prior to the stop date. This is because the medicine needs time to start working.

In the first week of treatment, the Champix Varenicline dose is gradually increased and then this medication is taken twice a day, continuously for 12 weeks. By then , if you have successfully managed to stop smoking, your doctor may or may not offer you a further 12 week treatment course.

Champix UK tablets must be swallowed whole with a drink of water. They can be taken with or without food. However, Champix Varenicline, in combination with other medications, must be used with caution in people with:

• Kidney problems
• History of psychiatric illness, eg depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder
• Epilepsy
• Heart attacks

Champix UK must never be used during pregnancy, or in children under the age of 18 years. This is due to the fact there is no information regarding its safety and efficacy in this age group.

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. Some very common side effects that people face with Champix Varenicline are:

• Nausea
• Headache
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Abnormal dreams
• Dry mouth
• Changes in sex drive

It is advisable to seek help and support, as much as possible, while giving up smoking; this will increase your chances of successfully quitting smoking