Champix - the quit smoking drug that brings hope to people who want to call it quits
Author: Anthony Delar
Champix is a revolutionary new drug that has made great inroads when it comes to smoking cessation. Champix, with varenicline as its active ingredient, is a new-age medication specifically designed to help people stop smoking. It makes it easy for smokers to kick the habit with ease. Its active ingredient is a nicotinic receptor partial agonist. Its working is markedly different from the various NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapies) being used to help smokers leave smoking. Champix has a two pronged approach to help people reduce and ultimately stop their smoking habit:
- It helps reduce the cravings for a smoke
- It decreases the pleasurable effects of not only cigarettes but also other tobacco products as well
The working of Champix
As a partial agonist, varenicline belongs to a subtype known as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Both nicotine and varenicline stimulate the same receptors in the brain. What this does is that Champix removes the cravings associated with nicotine withdrawal. Smokers, looking to quit, do not suffer as much from the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal when they take Champix. The medication also acts by blocking the receptors from the effects of nicotine that is inhaled as a result of smoking. This also means that the nicotine inhaled, does not provide the same pleasurable affect to the body. Because of this, smokers slowly but surely are able to cut down on their smoking.
Champix dosages
Available in tablet form, the dosage of this medication is to be taken over a period of 3 months (12 weeks). Typically, the starter pack of Champix has 11 white tablets of 0.5 mg each and 14 blue tablets of 1 mg each. The dosage that is usually prescribed is as follows:
- Between days 1 and 3, one needs to take 0.5mg of Champix daily
- Between days 4 and 7, 0.5 mg of Champix must be taken once in the morning and once in the evening. The timings when you take the tablet must remain the same on all days
- The 1 mg dosage of Champix begins from day 8 and continues on to day 14. Two tablets of Champix need to be taken two times a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, at the same time each day
- From day 15, till you complete your treatment, you will be asked to take a 1 mg dose of Champix two times a day, in the morning and in the evening; same time each day.
At times you might face some unpleasant side effects when you begin the 1mg dosage of Champix. If this is the case then you can go back to a 0.5mg dosage that can be taken two times a day throughout the duration of the treatment.
Champix or Zyban
Both medications help smokers stop smoking. But, their working is different. While Champix was always meant to be an anti-smoking drug, Zyban was originally developed as an anti-depressant. The working of Zyban and how it controls smoking is largely a mystery for the medical community. But, one thing is certain and that its intake increases the amount of neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and dopamine and thus helps in the reduction of cravings. Champix has had a better success rate then Zyban with respect to the number of people quitting smoking with Champix.
Side Effects of Champix
Every prescription medication has various side effects associated with it. Champix is no different. The side effects of this medication include gas, vomiting, constipation and even a change in dreams. There are a few other side effects, which include chest pain, dizziness, depression, menstrual disorder, depression, anxiety, and hypertension. It's important that if there is a recurrence of these side effects that you seek medical help.
On the whole Champix is a safe drug and is also quite successful. Most people who use Chantix have shown a very minimal manifestation of these side effects. At the end of the day it's a drug that successfully acts against the smoking habit. For smokers, Champix has effectively emerged as a miraculous drug that helps them quit smoking with considerable ease and efficacy. Champix is a prescription medication and is available only after you consult your doctor for the same.
It's easily available online, wherein the process of buying Champix is easy and very convenient.
About the Author
Webmaster associated with online clinic "HealthExpress" this site provides various information on Champix (Varenicline) and helps people in curing Smoking Cessation, resources are available on site HealthExpress.co.uk.
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Does anyone know if the quit smoking medication Champix (varenicline) is available in Australia?
Champix is certainly available online and you could have it shipped to Australia. For more Champix information, please click the following link: http://www.121doc.com/champix.html?a_aid=fbb92383
i have just started using Champix for quitting smoking, one of the side effects is that you may ..?
have a change in appettite, now i’m not a person who doesn;t eat when stressed or upset etc everything makes me hungry…lol.. but i have found that since taking this medication ( its only been days) i have not been hungry… i’m NOT complaining here, i’m really really happy about this, because every other time i have quit smoking (and theres been many times) i have taken it up again because of weight gain…. and please don’t get on here and tell me all about how its normal to gain weight when quitting etc and to eat healthy and all that crap… i don’t need or want to hear it thanks… i just wanted to ask others using Champix if they found a change in appettite??? oh and by the way they also work great for quitting smoking as well i have had a smoke in almost a week.
thanks
just a quick thanks to the smart ass who wrote me a novel, the name on the box the doctor gave me IS CHAMPIX… and i did not ask for a list as long as my arm about CHAMPIX i simply asked if anyone else has had a change in appettite! thanks .
When I was taking Chantix, it wasn’t a good time to try and quit. I had just been hospitalized for pneumonia, and in addition to Chantix, I was prescribed prednizone. That stuff makes you eat everything in sight. I’m wanting to try Chantix again to see if I can really make it this time. By the way, the dreams were unbelievable!
has any one tried or currently taking champix
the new medication to help quit smoking. If so, has it worked for you and were there any side affects associated with taking this medication.
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM GENUINE PEOPLE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, THANK YOU
Could you please tell me what side affects you experienced whilst taking them and how long did it take before you actually quit smoking.
i have been taking champix for nearly 12 weeks and have not had a fag for 10 weeks….. very proud.
side effects are nausiousness (just take pill with food)
gas – farted heaps more and heaps smellier (sorry)
bizzarre dreams (they can be quite funny) i was a little moody, (but am usually anyway)
you do need a little will power – i only have 3 days left on champix, this is worrying me alot!
i have smoked for 25 years and tried everything to give up – nothing worked till i tried this miracle pill.
You need to smoke while taking it for at least 1.5 weeks, then all of a sudden, fags make you sick! Cant stand the smell or the thought of having one ever again…. just have a feeling of emptiness.
Good luck!
Has anyone used Zyban or Champix to quit smoking?
If so, what sort of side-effects did you have? I have looked at a few forums already but find many of them are out of date, so I figured if anyone on y!a has taken it recently or has commenced taking it I would like to get your opinions on
a) it’s efficacy;
b) it’s side effects; and
c) whether these side effects outweighed the benefits of being on a strong medication to give up an evil habit.
I am determined to become a non-smoker as I hate to be bound by addiction. I hate cigarettes and everything they stand for.
Thanks for your consideration…
ewwww….you smoke….YUCK!!!!
now that i could disown you for….that is a disgusting habit…makes you stinky and have icky coloured nails…
i don’t want you to die from having all those smoke nymphs eating at your insides!!! QUIT!!!!!!
good luck with it…like heaps of luck…SUPER luck!!!!…cause i don’t want you to be a slave to those nicotine gremlins….
SUPER DOOPER LUCK!!!!
Ains
I’ve been taking champix medication to quit smoking for nearly 2 months now?
And since about 2 weeks ago I feel as though I’ve plummeted into severe depression I always was very positive and helping others. Now I feel close to suicide. Is this the champix making me feel this way ?
Champix can have some psychological side effects. It can have an effect on your mood. As it works on receptors in your brain, it can affect the balance of your neurotransmitters- which can cause a change in mood- such as the depressive feelings your getting.
I suggest that you see your doctor ASAP. Especially if there is any history of mental disease or depression in your family or yourself. If there is no other stressor or problem in your life that may make you feel depressed, then it could very likely be the champix. Best to see your doctor immediately.