Chantix Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Chantix Tablet contains varenicline, a nicotinic receptor partial agonist used to help adults stop smoking. It works by reducing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms, supporting a planned quit attempt and helping people maintain abstinence after quitting. It is taken as tablets, typically for up to 12 weeks, and is not recommended for people under 18 years of age.

What is Chantix Tablet

Chantix is a prescription medicine that contains varenicline. It is used to help adults stop smoking.

Chantix Tablet uses

• Helps people stop smoking.
• Reduces nicotine cravings.
• Reduces withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking.
• Supports a planned smoking-cessation attempt.
• Helps maintain smoking abstinence after quitting.

Benefits of Chantix Tablet

• Helps people stop smoking
• Reduces nicotine cravings
• Reduces withdrawal-related urges to smoke
• Can improve the likelihood of long-term smoking cessation when combined with counseling

How Chantix Tablet works

Varenicline attaches strongly to a specific nicotine receptor in the brain. This gives a mild effect similar to nicotine, which helps reduce craving and withdrawal, while also blocking nicotine itself from attaching to this receptor, which reduces the rewarding feeling of smoking.

Chantix Tablet dosage

Choose a quit date and start taking Chantix one week before that date; you can keep smoking during this week while the medicine builds up in your body. Alternatively, you can start taking Chantix and then pick a quit date between day 8 and day 35 of treatment. If you are not able or willing to quit abruptly, you can take Chantix and gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke over the first 12 weeks, aiming to quit completely by the end of that period, then continue treatment for a total of 24 weeks.

Take Chantix after eating and with a full glass of water. Swallow the tablets whole with water; Chantix can be taken with or without food. Most people take Chantix for up to 12 weeks; if you have completely quit smoking by then, your doctor may prescribe another 12 weeks to help you stay cigarette-free.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember; if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.

Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how Chantix affects you. Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink until you know how Chantix affects your tolerance for alcohol.

Elderly patients do not need a different dose, but because older adults are more likely to have reduced kidney function, your doctor may want to check your kidney function. Chantix is not recommended for people under 18 years of age.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Chantix Tablet

Common

• Nausea
• Trouble sleeping or vivid, unusual, or strange dreams
• Constipation
• Gas (flatulence)
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Abdominal pain
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Fatigue

Serious

• Changes in mood, behavior, or thinking, including depression, aggression, hostility, agitation, anxiety, panic, hallucinations, paranoia, or suicidal thoughts or actions
• Seizures, especially new or worsening ones
• Serious allergic reactions (angioedema) with swelling of the face, mouth, throat, or neck and trouble breathing
• Serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and erythema multiforme, with rash, peeling skin, or mouth blisters
• Heart attack or stroke symptoms, mostly in people with existing heart or blood vessel disease
• Sleepwalking, sometimes leading to harmful behavior
• Increased intoxicating effects of alcohol

Warnings and precautions

• Some people taking Chantix have had serious changes in mood and behavior, including depression, hostility, agitation, and suicidal thoughts or actions, while trying to quit smoking.
• Life-threatening allergic reactions (angioedema) can occur, with swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing.
• Rare but serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and erythema multiforme, have occurred and can be life-threatening.
• New or worsening seizures have occurred in some patients taking Chantix, most often within the first month of treatment.
• Some patients with cardiovascular disease have had more heart-related events while taking Chantix; overall mortality was lower in Chantix-treated patients, but you should report new or worsening heart symptoms right away.
• Cases of sleepwalking have been reported, some involving harmful behavior to oneself, others, or property.
• Accidents such as traffic crashes or near-misses have been reported, sometimes linked to sleepiness, dizziness, or trouble concentrating while taking Chantix.
• Chantix has not been well studied in pregnant women, and it is not known if it will harm an unborn baby. It should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.
• It is not known if Chantix passes into breast milk in humans, though animal studies show it does pass into milk. Talk with your doctor about whether to breastfeed or take Chantix, and watch your baby for seizures or excessive vomiting.
• If you have kidney problems or receive kidney dialysis, your doctor may need to prescribe a lower dose of Chantix.
• No dose adjustment is needed for people with liver problems because Chantix is not significantly processed by the liver.
• Chantix may increase the intoxicating effects of alcohol, and some people have had unusual or aggressive behavior, or memory loss for events, while drinking alcohol during treatment. Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink until you know how Chantix affects you.
• Chantix can cause sleepiness, dizziness, or trouble concentrating, so use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Store Chantix at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Keep Chantix and all medicines out of the reach of children
• Safely dispose of Chantix that is out of date or no longer needed

When to see a doctor

• Stop taking Chantix and call your healthcare provider right away if you or your family notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior or thinking that are not typical for you, or if you develop thoughts of suicide or dying, or attempt suicide.
• Stop taking Chantix and get medical attention right away if you have swelling of the face, mouth, or throat, or trouble breathing, which can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
• Stop taking Chantix and see your doctor right away if you develop a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, which can be signs of a serious skin reaction.
• Stop taking Chantix and contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have a seizure while on treatment.
• Get emergency medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest discomfort, pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or feeling lightheaded.
• Stop taking Chantix and tell your healthcare provider if you start sleepwalking.

Alternatives

• Bupropion SR
• Behavioral counseling
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)