Champix Starter Pack 0.5mg & 1mg Tablets

Champix Starter Pack 0.5mg & 1mg Tablets information

Champix Starter Pack 0.5mg & 1mg Tablets reviews

Champix Starter Pack 0.5mg & 1mg Tablets FAQs

• What is Champix?

  Champix is a medicine containing varenicline and it is used to stop smoking and help with withdrawal cravings.

  It is available as a starter pack which contains 0.5mg and 1mg tablets and as 1mg tablets (continuation pack).

  Champix has been shown in clinical trials to increase the chances of smoking two to three fold versus going 'cold turkey'.

• How does Champix work?

  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.

• How do I take Champix?

  If you have not taken Champix before, you need to use the starter pack first. This will help you gradually increase the dose to the recommended daily amount of 1mg twice a day. The starter pack contains enough tablets for the first 4 weeks of treatment.

  A usual course of treatment of Champix is 12 weeks. This can be extended for another 12 weeks if you have been successful in the first 12 weeks. Chapmix has been shown to help 44% of people quit smoking after a full 12 week course.

  The starter pack tablets are laid out exactly how you need to take them:

  Day 1 to 3 - Take one 0.5mg white Champix tablet.

  Day 4 to 7 - Take one 0.5mg white Champix tablet twice a day (morning and night)

  Day 8 onwards - Take one 1mg blue Champix tablet twice daily (morning and night)

  Up to day 8 you can continue to smoke when you want to, however after day 8 you need to decide on a day to stop smoking. This can be up to 5 weeks after day 8 if need be.

  At the end of treatment when you have successfully stopped smoking, to reduce the chance of starting again it may be necessary to reduce or taper down the treatment to ensure you stay cigarette free.

• Whats the difference between Champix and other stop smoking treatments?

  There are lots of different methods to help you stop smoking for good.

  Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available in different forms and these include gum, patches, nasal spray, sublingual tablets and sprays. It provides an alternative source of nicotine to help ease the withdrawal symptoms when you stop smoking. The frequency of use and dose is gradually reduced over time until it is not needed at all. NRT provides a source of nicotine without the other harmful chemicals and tar that is found in cigarettes.

  Often with NRT the nicotine takes longer to reach the brain compared with smoking and patients can find this difficult and discontinue treatment. The symptoms associated with withdrawal may be reduced with NRT but may not go away completely.

  There is always a temptation to start smoking again with NRT, however with Champix the receptors in the brain are blocked. This makes you more likely to succeed as even if you have a cigarette, the nicotine will not have an effect.

  Zyban (Bupropion) is another stop smoking treatment. It is an antidepressant that has also been shown to stop cravings and withdrawal associated when you stop smoking tobbacco. It doesn’t replace nicotine or block the receptors like NRT or Champix. Its mode of action is unknown but it is thought it affects chemicals in the brain. Bupropion has been shown to be less effective than Champix and is no longer recommended.

• Is it safe to use Champix continuously?

  The normal course of treatment for Champix is 12 weeks. This can be extended by another 12 weeks if necessary. We would not recommend using it continuously for longer than 24 weeks.

• What are the side effects of Champix?

  The most common side effects of Champix include headache, nausea, difficulty in sleeping, abnormal dreams, and a sore throat or mouth. They affect approximately up to 10% of patients.

  Rarely, Champix has been associated with reports of suicidal thoughts or behaviour. After thorough clinical reviews of Champix in use it has been adivsed that Champix can worsen psychiatric symptoms in people with depression. If you experience any worsening of depression or suicidal thought or behaviour, stop using Champix immediately and see your doctor.

• How long will it take for Champix work?

  Champix takes approximately one week to build up and it take at least five weeks to see the full benefits.

• What should I do if I miss a dose?

  If you should miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills on the same day. If your missed dose is less than twelve hours late, your contraceptive cover shouldn’t be affected. If the missed dose is more than twelve hours late, your contraceptive protection may be compromised. If this is the case, it is advised to use additional protection, such as condoms.

  If you have missed more than one dose in a pack, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Consult the patient information leaflet for further details.

• Can I take Champix and drive?

  Champix does should not make you drowsy and should not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. If you do feel drowsy after taking Champix you should not drive or operate machinery until it has passed.

• Can I take Champix during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

  Whilst it is important to stop smoking when you are pregnant or breast-feeding, it is not recommended to use Champix and you should consult your doctor to decide upon the most effective treatment plan for your condition.

• Can you smoke whilst taking Champix?

  Before you start Champix you need to decide a day to stop smoking. This is usually occurs at some point after eight days of taking the tablets. You can still smoke whilst taking the tablets until you decide you are ready to stop smoking. It is not unusual for the number of cigarettes you smoke to reduce daily as the tablet takes effect. You should not continue to smoke after five weeks of using Champix.

• Will Champix make me feel depressed?

  Some patients that have used Champix to stop smoking have reported that they have feel depressed. Whether this is from the tablets or from stopping smoking is still unclear. If you feel depressed then we recommend you speak to us or your doctor to reassess your treatment. If necessary the tablets can be reduced from 1mg twice a day to 0.5mg a day if you are experiencing unwanted effects. Always ensure you stop taking Champix immediately if you experience worsening depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviour.

• Is Champix an antidepressant?

  There is a study which suggests that varenicline may have antidepressant-like properties. However, it wouldn’t be prescribed as a standard antidepressant, as it can also cause changes in behaviour, thoughts and mood, in addition to side effects like drowsiness.

• Does Champix increase blood pressure?

  People with any sort of cardiovascular disease will need to take extra care (and perhaps require monitoring) while taking Champix. Increased blood pressure and palpitations are a fairly uncommon side effect, but they can still happen.

  Champix shouldn’t be taken with any other form of nicotine replacement therapy, as this can lead to a sharp and potentially dangerous drop in blood pressure.

• Why does Champix cause nausea?

  One of the more common side effects of taking Chantix is nausea and vomiting. This varies from person to person – some people find it makes them feel sick, others find they do not feel nauseous at all. If it does occur, the nausea is usually mild to moderate and tends to fade with time.

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