Champix Tablets

What is Champix and what is it used for?

Champix helps to reduce cravings or withdrawals as you quit smoking.

Nicotine from smoking attaches itself to receptors in the brain. This releases dopamine and gives the euphoric feeling associated with smoking.

Champix attaches to the same receptors and releases dopamine too. This stops any 'cold turkey' feeling or withdrawal associated when you stop smoking. Nicotine in the system is blocked from attaching to the receptors when the Champix is in place which reduces the large increases in dopamine usually released after a cigarette, hence reducing the reward.

For a more comprehensive look, read our Champix guide and learn everything you need to know.

UK residents can buy Champix 0.5mg or 1mg tablets online through The Independent Pharmacy. Champix cannot be purchased over the counter, as it requires a prescription issued by a medical professional. Customers will be asked to complete an online consultation before ordering Champix tablets – this only takes a few minutes.

Quit smoking with Champix

Champix tablets contain the active ingredient varenicline. Champix binds to nicotine receptors in the brain, meaning that cravings are reduced and smoking becomes less pleasurable due to the reward system being blocked. Champix has been shown to more than double your chances of quitting smoking for good.

How to use Champix

Champix tablets are taken twice daily, normally as a 12-week course. A quit date (when you stop smoking cigarettes) should be set 1-2 weeks after starting the medication to allow the dose to build up using the starter pack, before stopping smoking for good.

Please read the patient information leaflet for side effects and additional information.

Over-the-counter anti-smoking remedies

There are many types of NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) medication available over the counter. These include:

• Skin patches
• Chewing gum
• Inhalators
• Tablets, oral strips and lozenges
• Nasal and mouth spray

Champix success rate

Champix does not guarantee success for those wishing to quit smoking, it still takes willpower to resist temptation and get out of old habits. However, studies have shown you can be up to twice as likely to quit when using Champix as those going ‘cold turkey’.

Champix is normally a 12-week course of treatment, after which you should be a non-smoker. In some cases, it may be necessary to continue for another 12 weeks after a discussion with the doctor or to taper down the dose slowly over a week.

Stopping smoking can alter levels of different chemicals in your body, which can in turn alter how your medicines work. Examples of medicines that will need to be closely monitored by your doctor whilst you quit smoking are theophylline (to treat breathing problems), warfarin (to reduce blood clotting), and insulin (to treat diabetes).

Champix should not be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Champix can cause side effects of drowsiness and dizziness. If affected you should not drive or operate machinery.

Sources

• Champix Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.7944.pdf
• https://www.champix.co.uk/champix-smoker/taking-champix/how-do-i-take-champix
• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/varenicline.html

Champix warnings

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with Champix before you take the medicine.

You should not take Champix if you suffer from epilepsy, seizures, heart or blood vessel problems unless under the supervision of your doctor.

Champix does not guarantee success for those wishing to quit smoking, it still takes willpower to resist temptation and get out of old habits. However, studies have shown you can be up to twice as likely to quit when using Champix as those going ‘cold turkey’.

Stopping smoking can alter levels of different chemicals in your body, which can in turn alter how your medicines work. Examples of medicines that will need to be closely monitored by your doctor whilst you quit smoking are theophylline (to treat breathing problems), warfarin (to reduce blood clotting), and insulin (to treat diabetes).

Champix should not be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Champix can cause side effects of drowsiness and dizziness. If affected you should not drive or operate machinery.

Champix and depression

Champix has been associated with depression and suicidal behaviour, especially in patients with existing depression. If you are taking Champix and experience a depressed mood, agitation or suicidal behaviour you should stop treatment immediately and see your doctor. Depression and agitation are commonly associated with quitting smoking whether you are taking Champix or not. If you experience any of these symptoms you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

Champix dosage

The Champix Starter Pack (0.5mg & 1mg) should be used to initiate smoking cessation treatment before increasing the dose and switching to a course of Champix 1mg Tablets. Starting with the 0.5mg tablets and working up to the 1mg tablets reduces the chances of side effects and increases your chances of stopping smoking.

When using Champix you must decide on a ‘Quit date’ where you will give up cigarettes completely. This should normally be between Day 8 and Day 14 of treatment, however, it can be up to five weeks after starting treatment if you feel you are not ready to give up at an earlier date.

The usual dose regimen for Champix is:

Week 1

Day 1 - 3: From day 1 to 3, you should take one white Champix 0.5 mg tablet once a day.

Day 4 - 7: From day 4 to 7, you should take one white Champix 0.5 mg tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.

Week 2 - Week 12

Day 8 until the end of treatment (end of Week 12): From day 8 (Quit date) to the end of treatment, you should take one light blue Champix 1 mg tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.

Champix ingredients

Each Champix tablet contains either varenicline 0.5mg or varenicline 1mg as the active ingredient depending on the strength.

Each tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients: Cellulose, Microcrystalline, Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate Anhydrous Croscarmellose Sodium, Silica, Colloidal Anhydrous, Magnesium Stearate.

The coating of Champix 0.5mg tablets contains: Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide (E171) Macrogols, Triacetin.

The coating of Champix 1mg tablets contains: Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide (E171), Macrogols, Indigo Carmine Aluminium Lake (E132), Triacetin.

Champix side effects

If you do experience side effects from Champix they may include gastrointestinal disturbances, appetite changes, dry mouth, taste disturbance, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, sleep disorders, and abnormal dreams.

Champix also has a small risk of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and skin rash as with all medicines. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medicines for a full list of side effects. Alternatively, read our blog for a more patient-friendly breakdown of all the Champix side effects you need to take seriously.

MHRA guidance states: ‘People who are taking Champix who develop suicidal thoughts, agitation, depressed mood, or display any changes in behaviour or thinking that are of concern for the doctor, patient, family, or caregiver should stop Champix and contact their doctor immediately.’

If you experience any adverse effects from taking your prescribed medicine it is important to let us or your doctor know immediately. In a medical emergency, you should contact the emergency services or go straight to your local Accident & Emergency.

Champix and alcohol

Consuming alcohol while taking varenicline is thought to increase the risk of developing mood disorders or experiencing behavioural changes, therefore we would not recommend drinking while taking Champix. It can also compound the impact of any alcohol you do drink, making you feel more drunk than you really are.

Champix and weight gain

Weight loss is rarely a direct side effect of Champix. Some people find they have a decreased appetite while taking Champix, whereas others claim the opposite. It’s quite normal for people to put on a small amount of weight after they quit smoking, as some look to satisfy cravings with food.

Champix and dreams

Some patients report experiencing strange, vivid or abnormal dreams after starting a course of Champix. This is a relatively common side effect, affecting approximately 1 in 10 of those who take it. If you find this happens to you and it becomes a problem, keep a note of how often the strange dreams occur and consult your doctor.

Champix side effects list

Common side effects (up to 1 in 10 people):

• Chest infection, inflammation of the sinuses
• Increased weight, decreased appetite, increased appetite
• Sleepiness, dizziness, changes in the way things taste
• Shortness of breath, cough
• Heartburn, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, feeling bloated, abdominal pain, toothache, indigestion, flatulence, dry mouth
• Skin rash, itching
• Joint ache, muscle ache, back pain
• Chest pain, tiredness

Uncommon side effects (up to 1 in 100 people):

• Fungal infection, viral infection
• Feeling of panic, difficulty thinking, restlessness, mood swings, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, changes in sex drive
• Seizure, tremor, feeling sluggish, less sensitive to touch
• Conjunctivitis, eye pain
• Ringing in the ears
• Angina, rapid heart rate, palpitations, increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure, hot flush
• Inflammation of nose, sinuses and throat, congestion of nose, throat and chest, hoarseness, hay fever, throat irritation, congested sinuses, excess mucous from nose causing cough, runny nose
• Red blood in stools, irritated stomach, change of bowel habit, belching, mouth ulcers, pain in the gums
• Reddening of the skin, acne, increased sweating, night sweats
• Muscle spasms, chest wall pain
• Abnormally frequent urination, urination at night
• Increased menstrual flow
• Chest discomfort, flu-like illness, fever, feeling weak or unwell.
• Rare side effects (up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• Excessive thirst
• Feeling unwell or unhappy, slow thinking
• Stroke
• Increased muscle tension, difficulty with speech, difficulty with coordination, reduced sense of taste, altered sleep pattern
• Disturbed vision, eyeball discolouration, dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, shortsightedness, watery eyes
• Irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm disturbances
• Throat pain, snoring
• Blood in vomit, abnormal stools, coated tongue
• Stiff joints, rib pain
• Glucose in urine increased urine volume and frequency
• Vaginal discharge, changes in sexual ability
• Feeling cold.

What are the long-term side effects of Champix?

There are no officially recognised long-term side effects of Champix that will continue once you've stopped taking them.

There have previously been concerns about mood changes, however, these are now thought to be due to the reduction in nicotine levels and subsequent changes in dopamine levels.