Champixknown for its effectiveness in helping people quit smoking, is returning to the market in an improved version. This daily treatment has been designed to gradually reduce the desire for nicotine and the pleasure associated with smoking, making quitting more achievable for those who want to become tobacco-free. With its optimized formula, Champix remains a key choice for those looking to take a definitive step towards a smoke-free life.
This drug was one of the most prescribed treatments to stop smoking, but in 2021 Pfizer suspended its distribution to detect substances containing carcinogenic potentialas stated by the company itself. Shortly after, in 2022, a similar treatment called bupropion, manufactured by GSK and also used in smoking cessation, was withdrawn for similar values to Champix.
Today, studies and work aimed at optimizing its components and helping to stop smoking offer a new treatment, meeting high safety standards, which will make it easier to stop smoking.
There is 7 Drugs Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you quit smoking. These work in different ways. All have been shown to be safe and effective for adults who smoke cigarettes.
These smoking cessation medications include nicotine replacement medications (nicotine patch, nicotine tablet, nicotine gum, oral inhaler and nasal spray) and medications in pill form (varenicline and bupropion SR).
Other strategies, with or without medication, can also help you quit smoking. Varenicline is a pill that does not contain nicotine. You need a prescription to buy it. It works differently from other smoking cessation medications and may be a particularly good option for people who have already tried using other smoking cessation medications without success.
Varenicline comes in 2 strengths: 0.5 mg (a white pill) and 1 mg (a blue pill). Her doctor or pharmacist They can give you detailed instructions on how to use it. They can also help you set and adjust your dose.
- Reduces the pleasure linked to nicotine consumption: Nicotine, by binding to these receptors, causes a release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of pleasure. By binding to these receptors, varenicline releases a moderate amount of dopamine, but much less than nicotine. This helps reduce the pleasure and positive reinforcement that people often feel when smoking.
- Reduces withdrawal symptoms: Varenicline also acts as a partial agonist, meaning it partially mimics the effects of nicotine on the receptors. This means it can ease some withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and irritability, without creating the same level of dependence as nicotine.
This dual action makes varenicline particularly effective, as it helps reduce cravings how to minimize the pleasure of smoking, which allows people to gradually reduce their consumption until they stop smoking completely.
- Varenicline may have side effects:
- Use caution when driving or using machines until you know how it may affect you.. Some people may feel sleepy, dizzy, or have trouble concentrating.
- If you are using varenicline and experience hostility, agitation, depression, suicidal thoughts, or changes in your behavior. If you do not think this is due to stopping smoking, you should stop taking the medicine and talk to your doctor immediately. Get emergency medical help if necessary.
- Inform your doctor or healthcare professional if you have new or worsening symptoms of heart disease during your treatment, including chest pain and difficulty breathing. Get emergency medical help if necessary.
How to use it
You will need a prescription from a healthcare professional to obtain it. Take it exactly as directed by your doctor or other healthcare professional. Varenicline is a pill available in 2 strengths: 0.5 mg (a white pill) and 1 mg (a blue pill).
Your doctor or other healthcare professional will help you decide when to start taking it. There are 2 ways people usually use it:
Option 1: You must choose a date when you will stop smoking and start treatment 1 week before that date. This helps the medicine build up in your body before you stop smoking. You can continue smoking during this time, but you must make sure you quit on time.
Option 2– You can start taking varenicline before choosing your exact stop date. Then, a smoking cessation date will be chosen between 8 and 35 days after the start of consumption. Make sure you quit smoking on the date you set.
Most people start with a lower dose to get used to the medication:
Days 1 to 3: take 1 white tablet (0.5 mg) per day.
Days 4 to 7: Take 2 white tablets (0.5 mg each) per day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Day 8 until the end of treatment: take 2 blue tablets (1 mg each) per day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Ingestion should be done with food or a large glass of water to minimize the effects possible nausea caused by the medication.
If you miss a dose of varenicline, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, wait and take your next dose at the usual time.
Most people take this treatment for 12 weeks. Your doctor may prescribe it for a longer period, if necessary.
