What Champix is used for?
Champix is a non-addictive medicine used as a short term treatment to help you stop smoking. It can help to relieve the craving and withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping smoking.
Champix Packaging
This pack or of 28 x 1mg tablets is for continuing treatment after the Champix 'starter pack'.
How to take Champix
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in the instruction leaflet.
You are more likely to stop smoking if you are motivated to stop. Your doctor and pharmacist can provide advice, support and sources of further information to help ensure your attempt to stop smoking is successful.
Before starting your course of Champix you should decide on a date in the second week of treatment (between day 8 and day 14) when you will stop smoking. You should write this date on the pack as a reminder. You will need to keep talking the full 12-week course of Champix tablets even though you stop smoking in the second week.
Your doctor may recommend that you take a second course of treatment with Champix. This is usually for another 12 weeks. This may be the case where you have stopped smoking but your doctor feels that you would benefit by another course of Champix.
Week 1
Day 1 - 3: From Day 1 to 3, you should take one white Champix 0.5 mg tablet once a day.
Day 4 - 7: From day 4 to day 7, you should take one white Champix 0.5 mg tablet twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Week 2
Day 8 - 14: From day 8 to day 14, you should take one light blue Champix 1 mg tablet twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Weeks 3 - 12
Day 15 - end of treatment: From day 15 until the end of treatment, you should take one light blue Champix 1 mg tablet twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, After 12 weeks of treatment, if you have stopped smoking, your doctor may recommend another 12 weeks of treatment with Champix. This will increase your chances of stopping smoking long term. For this course take one light blue Champix 1 mg tablet twice a day.
If you do not stop smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment or if you start smoking again after treatment, you can make another attempt at stopping smoking. However, before you make another attempt, you should try to understand the reasons why your attempt to stop smoking failed, so that your next attempt has a better chance of success.
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water.
Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.
If you forget to take it, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. It is important that you take Champix regularly at the same time each day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the tablet that you have missed.
While you are using Champix
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Champix.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines usedduring surgery.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately. Talk to your doctor if you are intending to become pregnant. If you want to start treatment with Champix, your treatment should be timed so that you have completed the course before becoming pregnant.
Do not take Champix to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor. It is important to keep taking Champix, according to the instructions described above.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Champix affects you. However, Champix should not affect your ability to drive or use machinery.
Side Effects of Champix
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are you are taking Champix. This medicine helps most people give up smoking, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- Headache, difficulty sleeping sleepiness, abnormal dreams, dizziness, feeling weak.
- Constipation, feeling bloated, indigestion, flatulence, dry mouth
- Nausea (feeling sick), vomiting stomach discomfort
- Increased appetite, changes in taste
The above list includes the more common side effects which may be caused by your medicine. They are usually mild and short-lived.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- Tremor, increased muscle tension, abnormal co-ordination
- Abnormal heartbeat, increased heartbeat, chest pain
- Disturbed vision, pain in the eye, shortsightedness, sensitivity to light
- Blood in vomit, red blood in stools, abdominal pain, mouth ulcers, pain in the gums;
- Skin rash, reddening of the skin, itching
The above list includes serious side effects which may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- wheezing, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath
- severe chest pain
- seizures or fits
- fainting
- swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat
- severe sudden onset of itchy swellings on the skin
- severe skin reaction with painful red blisters with chills, fever, aching muscles and generally feeling unwell
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After stopping Champix you may notice an increase in irritability, urge to smoke, depression, and/or trouble sleeping. This does not happen in everyone. However, if this does occur you should talk to your doctor.
Champix Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Champix 0.5mg tablets contain the equivalent of 0.5mg of the active ingredient varenicline.
Inactive Ingredients: Each tablet of Champix contains the following other ingredients:
- Cellulose - microcrystalline
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Silica-colloidal
- Magnesium stearate
- Opadry Blue, Opadry Clear and Opadry Clear as a coating
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