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People who smoke become addicted to nicotine, a chemical
in tobacco. Nicotine acts in the nervous system, where
it binds to receptors and triggers the release of a
chemical messenger, dopamine, which plays a part in
the pleasure derived from smoking. The active substance
in Champix, varenicline, can bind to some of these receptors,
the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
When binding to these receptors, varenicline acts in
two ways: it acts like nicotine (partial agonist) and
this helps to relieve craving symptoms, but it also
acts against nicotine (antagonist), by taking its place,
and this helps to reduce the pleasurable effects of
smoking.
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CHAMPIX should be used by smokers who are motivated
to stop smoking, and who are also receiving additional
advice and support. Patients should first set a date
when they will stop. Then they begin treatment with
CHAMPIX 1 week before that date. Treatment starts with
one 0.5 mg tablet daily for 3 days, this is followed
by a further 4 days where the patient takes one 0.5
mg tablet twice daily.
From then on, the patient takes one 1 mg tablet twice
daily until the end of treatment (12 weeks). A special
pack with the correct quantities of both strengths of
tablets is available when initiating treatment. The
dose may be reduced to 0.5 mg twice a day in patients
who do not tolerate the 1 mg twice daily dose. Patients
who have severe problems with their kidneys should take
CHAMPIX as 1 mg once daily. At the end of the 12 weeks,
in patients who stopped smoking, doctors may choose
to carry on treatment for another 12 weeks. They may
also decide to stop the medicine progressively (‘tapering’).
The tablets are swallowed whole with water. They can
be taken with or without food.
| Week 1 |
Dose |
| Day
1-3 |
From
day 1 to day 3, you should take one white
CHAMPIX 0.5 mg film-coated tablet once a day. |
| Day
4-7 |
From
day 4 to day 7, you should take one white
CHAMPIX 0.5 mg film-coated tablet twice daily,
once in the morning and once in the evening,
at about the same time each day. |
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| Week 2 |
Dose |
| Day
8-14 |
From
day 8 to day 14, you should take one light
blue CHAMPIX 1 mg film-coated tablet twice
daily, once in the morning and once in the
evening, at about the same time each day. |
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| Weeks 3-12 |
Dose |
| Day
15-end of treatment |
From
day 15 untill the end of treatment, you should
take one light blue CHAMPIX 1 mg film-coated
tablet twice daily, once in the morning and
once in the evening, at about the same time
each day. |
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Champix is a tablet containing the active substance
varenicline. Tablets containing 0.5mg are white, those
that contain 1mg are light blue.
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The most common side-effects (seen in more than 1 patient
in 10) are nausea (feeling sick), insomnia (difficulty
sleeping), abnormal dreams and headache. For the full
list of all side effects reported with CHAMPIX, see
the Package Leaflet. CHAMPIX should not be used in people
who may be hypersensitive (allergic) to varenicline
or any of the other ingredients.
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