Champix Tablets

Champix is a prescription medication and is used by adults to help them give up smoking. It contains the active ingredient varenicline, which treats nicotine addiction.

Champix is different from other top-smoking aids like nicotine patches or gum because it doesn’t contain any nicotine. Instead, varenicline blocks the action of nicotine in the brain to stop cravings and withdrawal symptoms that happen after giving up smoking.

You’ll need a prescription for Champix. If you request this directly from ZAVA, one of our doctors will review your details and approve it if it’s right for you. If you smoke while taking Champix, it can reduce the enjoyment of cigarettes. Champix is provided in a pack with 0.5mg white tablets and 1mg light blue tablets.

If you’re motivated to stop smoking then you’re more likely to succeed in giving up.

Before you start treatment, you should decide on a day/date in the second week, between days 8 and 14, when you’ll stop smoking completely. If you find you’re not able to set a target quit date, then you should choose another date within 5 weeks after you start taking Champix.

The normal course of Champix is for 12 weeks, with the following schedule:

• Days 1 to 3: take one white 0.5mg Champix tablet once a day.
• Days 4 to 7: take one white 0.5mg Champix tablet twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening
• Day 8 onwards: take one light blue 1mg Champix tablet twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening
• At the end of week 12: You should have successfully given up smoking. But, your doctor may prescribe an extra 12 weeks of taking one light blue 1mg tablet twice a day, to prevent you from starting smoking again

If you’re using other stop-smoking treatments, you should consult your doctor before using them in combination with Champix. Generally, it’s not recommended that you use nicotine replacement therapy at the same time as taking Champix.

The scientific evidence suggests that people who take Champix to help them quit smoking are three times more likely to successfully give up compared to those who try to quit on their own.

One study has shown that using Champix for more than six weeks increases the chances of successfully quitting smoking compared to using it for less time.

You shouldn’t take Champix if you’re allergic to the active ingredient, varenicline, or any of the other ingredients it contains. It’s only meant to be used by adults, so nobody under 18 should take Champix.

If you’ve had any kidney problems in the past, you should speak to your doctor before starting Champix treatment.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and want to give up smoking using Champix, you should check with a doctor for advice. This is because it’s recommended that Champix is avoided during pregnancy.

Champix and breastfeeding haven’t been studied, but there’s a possibility that Champix may pass into breast milk.

Although Champix hasn’t been found to interact with any other drug or medication, it’s a good idea to let your doctor know about any medications you currently take, even if they’re not prescribed.

Sometimes, it’s necessary to adjust the dosage of certain medications when giving up smoking, even if you’re not using Champix. These medications may include:

• Warfarin
• Theophylline
• Insulin

You shouldn’t change the dosage of any medication by yourself – your doctor will do this with you. If you have kidney disease and you take cimetidine, you should avoid taking it at the same time as Champix.

You can smoke while taking Champix, but you should try to stop. To make the most of your Champix you need to make an effort to give up smoking while you use it. Champix won’t cause you to quit smoking by itself, and if you don’t commit to quitting you might have to repeat treatment.

Zyban

Zyban is an alternative quit smoking medication that works in a similar way to Champix. It reduces the symptoms of withdrawal, like cravings and head aches to make quitting a little bit easier. You can start a consultation for Zyban quickly and easily, and one of our doctors will make sure it's safe and suitable for you.

Nicotine replacement therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a popular treatment option for giving up smoking. Unlike Champix, NRT contains a low level of nicotine to help reduce withdrawal effects. But, NRT doesn’t contain the same harmful other substances found in cigarettes, like tar, and carbon monoxide.

NRT is available in several forms, including:

• chewing gum
• skin patches
• inhalators
• tablets
• lozenges
• oral strips
• nasal spray
• mouth spray

There is no evidence to suggest any form of NRT is more effective than another. NRT is cheaper than Champix, but is also less effective.

There are natural remedies available to help you quit smoking, like acupuncture and hypnotherapy. But, the effectiveness and reviews are mixed.

There are also electronic cigarettes, which are electronic devices used to deliver nicotine without some of the harmful effects associated with smoking. There aren’t any long term studies on E-cigarettes as they are still quite new, so it‘ll be some time before we can be sure how safe they are compared to normal cigarettes. E-cigarettes aren’t available on prescription and you’ll need to buy one yourself if you’re interested in using them to quit.