What is Chantix?

Chantix (varenicline) is a smoking cessation medicine. Varenicline helps you stop smoking. To increase your chance of success, use this medication with a stop-smoking program that includes education, support, and counseling. Quitting smoking lowers your risk of heart and lung disease, as well as cancer. Varenicline works by blocking nicotine's effects in the brain that make you want to smoke. Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication, as well as other ways to quit smoking (such as nicotine replacement treatment), with your doctor. Varenicline is not recommended for use by children 16 years or younger because it does not help this age group stop smoking. Chantix is used together with behavior modification and counseling support to help you stop smoking.

Always read the patient information and instructions carefully before using this medication.

• You may choose from 3 ways to use this medicine. Ask your doctor which method is best for you:
• Set a date to quit smoking and start taking Chantix 1 week before that date. Make sure to quit smoking on your planned quit date. Take this medicine for a total of 12 weeks.
• Start taking Chantix before you set a planned quit date, and choose a quit date that is between 8 and 35 days after you start treatment. Take this medicine for a total of 12 weeks.
• Start taking Chantix and gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day over a 12-week period, until you no longer smoke at all. Then take for another 12 weeks, for a total of 24 weeks.
• Take after eating. Take the medicine with a full glass of water.
• Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor if you have if you feel depressed, agitated, hostile, aggressive, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Make sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist:

• If you have any drug allergies.
• Which other prescription and non-prescription medications you currently take.
• Your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, mental/mood disorders (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression), heart/blood vessel disease (such as coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke), seizure.
• If you are using marijuana.
• If you are breast feeding.

Also be aware that:

• When you stop smoking, you may have nicotine withdrawal symptoms with or without using medication such as varenicline. Withdrawal symptoms include: increased appetite, weight gain, trouble sleeping, slower heart rate, feeling anxious or restless, and having the urge to smoke.
• This drug may make you dizzy, drowsy, lose consciousness, or make it difficult to concentrate. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can worsen these effects. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).
• This drug may also make you more sensitive to alcohol (including increased drunkenness, unusual behavior, and limited or no memory of things that happened). Limit alcoholic beverages. Be aware of how alcohol affects you while taking this medication.
• During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Common side-effects may include but are not limited to:

• Nausea, headache, vomiting, drowsiness, gas, constipation, trouble sleeping, unusual dreams, or changes in taste.

Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following side-effects:

• Burning feeling in feet/toes, unusual pain in the legs when walking.
• Seizure, symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating), signs of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, sudden vision changes, confusion), harmful behavior to self/others/property.
• Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as rashes, itching, swelling especially of the face, tongue or throat, severe dizziness or trouble breathing.

Rarely, varenicline may cause serious mental/mood changes, even after stopping the medication. Drinking alcohol while taking this medication may increase the risk for mental/mood changes. Quitting smoking itself may also cause mental/mood changes. Stop taking varenicline and tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have symptoms such as depression/suicidal thoughts, agitation, aggression, or other unusual thoughts or behavior.

Q: What special dietary instructions should I follow?

A: Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Q: What should I do if I forget a dose?

A: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.