Keep A Positive Frame Of Mind And Champix Will Help You Sail Through The Smoking Blues
Author: Anthony Delar
Champix is a prescription medicine that helps adults 18 and over to achieve smoking cessation.
Define Champix Varenicline
Champix is a prescription medication that is used to help people who are addicted to nicotine and want to give up smoking. These tablets contain the active ingredient Varenicline, which acts in the brain, but differs from nicotine replacement therapy.
Varenicline, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and partial agonist, acts on the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. It works by stimulating the nicotinic receptors in the brain. Stimulation produces an effect that relieves nicotine craving. Once the nicotine craving is taken care of, the withdrawal symptoms simply do not occur. This makes it easier to achieve smoking cessation.
In addition, Varenicline blocks the nicotinic receptors from responding to the nicotine; this prevents inhaled tobacco from having a rewarding and enjoyable effect or giving the smoker the proverbial ‘kick’.
How to Use Champix Varenicline
Prior to starting Varenicline therapy, it is best to set a date quit date and then proceed to take the medicine about one to two weeks before that quit date. This gives Champix time to start working on the nicotinic receptors so that it becomes easy for you to quit on the date you have set for yourself. Give or take a few days, some people quit much before the quit date, but some find it impossible to quit on the set date also. Nevertheless, given time, one does quit with Champix.
You start by taking the bare minimal recommended dose and gradually increase dose in the first week of treatment. Then Champix is to be taken twice a day for 12 weeks. If you have successfully managed to achieve smoking cessation at the end of 12 weeks, the doctor may offer you a further 12 week course of Champix treatment. This is normally done to avoid relapse.
Champix tablets must not be broken, crushed or chewed. They are meant to be swallowed whole with a glass of water; however, it can be ingested with or without food. Champix increases your chances manifold of successfully achieving smoking cessation.
Precautions when using Champix
As with any other drug, Champix also comes with strict precautionary guidelines that must be adhered to – in order to achieve smoking cessation – as well as keeping oneself at bay from serious life-threatening side effects. Patient reports reveal that some people witness changes in behavior, thoughts and actions when attempting to quit smoking with Champix. In case you, your family, or another caregiver notices these changes that are not normally typical for you, you must stop taking Champix and call the doctor right away.
Champix may make you feel dizzy or sleepy and therefore even impair your ability to perform potentially hazardous tasks like driving or operating machinery.
In addition, reports of suicidal thoughts or behaviour have been rampant. But, this is difficult to pinpoint as quitting itself can make people depressed, especially if they already have a history of mental health problem and depression associated with suicidal thoughts. However, not everyone will experience the above mentioned side effects. But in case you feel you are veering towards these negative side effects, you should immediately stop the use of Champix and consult your doctor.
In some people the urge to smoke returns upon concluding the Champix course. Similarly, feelings of irritability, depression or insomnia may also surface in some people. In order to overcome this problem, you must consult our doctor so that your Champix dose can be gradually tapered off, rather than stopping it abruptly.
Champix must be used with caution in:
- Decreased kidney or liver function
- People with history of psychiatric illness, like depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- Epilepsy
Champix is not recommended for use in:
- Children and adolescents under the age of 18 years as there is no information regarding its safety and efficacy in this age group
- People who are allergic to one or any of the Champix ingredients
- Pregnant women or women who plan on becoming pregnant as its safety has not been established
- Lactating mothers as it is not known if Champix can pass into breast milk
In addition, Champix must not be combined with other medications as this may result in untoward side effects. These medications include:
- Cozapine
- Dxtropropoxyphene
- Fecainide
- Fuvoxamine
- Oanzapine
- Pntazocine
- Penylbutazone
- Some benzodiazepines, eg oxazepam
- Some beta-blockers, eg propranolol
- Tacrine
- Theophylline
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as imipramine
- Warfarin
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.
[TEMPLATE]cannibis[/TEMPLATE]
Sorry dont wanna sound like a div,but can any 1 tell what champix is & what its used for ?
Champix tablets contain the active ingredient varenicline, which is a medicine used to help people who are addicted to nicotine to give up smoking.
Effects of Champix?
To anyone who is using Champix / Chantix for smoking cessation, what effects did you notice while you were taking them? I don’t mean the side-effects but, for example, by Day 3 or 4, did you notice any reduced need for a cigarette?
I’m on Day 4 at the moment (still smoking) but seem to be starting to enjoy it less. Anyone else having similar experiences?
My grandpa took it and he had smoked two packs a day for forty years, he is now smoke free. That being said he started telling us about a man named “pappi” that would come and visit him in the middle of the night. Pappi would always wear a jogging suit and a top hat. He scared the hell out of us, thought he was schizophrenic, but when he finished the Chantix the hallucinations stopped. Not really what you asked, but I though I would offer that.
I quit smoking about 3 weeks ago?
I have been using Champix (UK) or Chantix for the Americans. I have a really sore throat this morning until now and no matter what I do it does not stop hurting. I was around smokers last night at a party, – does that have something to do with it? or does anyone know if this is a side effect from the medication?
I have lost the side effect leaflet with the tablets before anyone points that out lol
I wasn’t looking for a lecture Jack F I am being an adult.
Jack: it is a mental adiction, something you cannot just walk away from.
Hi, Suede.
You rock. Most likely the Champix. Of all reported side-effects, sore throat and swollen glands were most likely to occur (a whopping 75% over placebo).
http://chantix-side-effects.com/
~Os
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
a question about smoking?
hi im 29 i quit smoking around4 months ago, though i never really wanted to quit..i used champix…this past few days i have had really bad cravings for a cigerette, i really would love to start again, as i wasnt truly ready to quit… my mum has copd, and this is the main reason i have stopped, i want to smoke but dont want to end up like her! really dont know what to do..
am i feeling this way cause i wasnt ready to quit.. or does everyone who quits feel this way..im thinking i will start again..and in a few years when im ready i will quit…im actually trying to talk myself into smoking
Hey, i just turned 30 2 months ago, a month before that i quit smoking, and i havent had one since, i used patches for 4 days, but this is like no other time i have “tried” to quit, i coudlnt care less if i have another cig again! think about it, do you really wanna be 39,40 or 50 and smoking? christ!, my main motivator was not giving those greedy scumfu*ks my money anymore, paying to get cancer! what a treat! FU*K the tobbaco companys, evil!, also i told myself if i make it to 60, i can start smoking again if i wish cause really what else have you got to do then, but for now……you need to quit to get the most out of your life RIGHT NOW!, smokings for the 15 year old kids at the train station hehe.