What is Champix®
What is Champix®? CHAMPIX® (Varenicline) is a new prescription only medicine specifically developed to help adults quit smoking. You will need to consult your Doctor to see if CHAMPIX® is right you. CHAMPIX® is different from other ways to quit. It doesn’t contain nicotine, but works on the same receptors as nicotine. It’s the addiction to nicotine inhaled from smoking that makes quitting so hard and Champix® is not addictive. Champix® has been developed with a unique dual mode of action specifically to reduce the impact of nicotine during the quitting process. 1. Reducing the cravings and withdrawals 2. Reducing the pleasurable effects of smoking To learn how Champix® works click here
Champix® has been tested in two identical clinical trials with patients motivated to quit smoking who received either CHAMPIX® 1 mg twice a day, bupropion 150mg twice a day, or sugar pills twice a day for 12 weeks. This information was compared among the 3 groups. Patients were considered to have quit if they did not smoke a cigarette or use other nicotine products for the final 4 weeks of treatment. After treatment, they were followed for another 40 weeks to check if they continued smoke free. Following the recommended 12 weeks of therapy, approximately 44% of CHAMPIX® users remained smoke free, compared to 30% on bupropion and 18% on placebo or sugar pills. These two trials demonstrated that Champix® users were significantly more likely to quit smoking than those taking either bupropion or sugar pills at the end of the treatment, in fact 4 times more likely than those on sugar pills (odds ratio=3.69*; p<0.0001) and twice as likely as those taking bupropion (odds ratio*,=1.87; p<0.0001¥)#. At week 52, following the initial 12 weeks of active pharmacological treatment, approximately 22.5% of Champix®# users remained smoke free#. To learn more about the effectiveness of Champix® click here Champix® has a favourable safety and tolerability profile. As with all medicines, some patients will experience side effects. In clinical trials nausea was the most common side effect experienced by about 3 out of 10 people taking Champix®. It was usually described as mild or moderate and tended to decrease over the course of therapy. Only a very small number of people had to stop taking Champix® because of the nausea. To view the Champix® Consumer Medicines information click here CHAMPIX® is proven to be effective, but it's not a magic pill. For most people, smoking is both a physical and behavioural addiction. That’s why we also offer a support plan. CHAMPIX® can help reduce the cravings and urge to smoke and also reduce the pleasure obtained from smoking. Liferewards programme™ Support Plan can help you learn to break your smoking routine. CHAMPIX® should be taken for 12 weeks. *An odds ratio is a way of comparing whether the probability of a certain event is the same for two groups. An odds ratio of 1 implies that the event is equally likely in both groups. An odds ratio greater than one implies that the event is more likely in the first group. An odds ratio less than one implies that the event is less likely in the first group. ¥ p value of <0.001 means that the results of the study are statistically significant and are considered very unlikely to have occurred by chance. # Gonzales DH et al. A pooled analysis of varenicline, an alpha 4 beta 2 nicotinic receptor partial agonist vs. bupropion, and placebo, for smoking cessation. Presented at 12th SRNT, 15-18th Feb, 2006, Orlando, Florida. Abstract PA 1. Gonzales D et al. Varenicline, an a4b2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, vs sustained-release bupropion and placebo for smoking cessation. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2006; 296(1):47-55. 2. Jorenby DE et al. Efficacy of varenicline, an a4b2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
partial agonist, vs placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2006; 296(1):56-63. Champix® (varenicline tartrate) is a prescription Medicine used as an aid to smoking cessation. Consult your Doctor to see if Champix® is right for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, if you are under 18, using other stop smoking medicines, or have an allergy to the active tablet ingredients. Precautions: people with kidney disease or those undergoing haemodialysis treatment, a history of mental illness, a history of repeated fits or convulsions or women who are breastfeeding. Possible side effects include nausea, headache, difficulty in sleeping, abnormal dreams, dizziness, weakness, constipation, indigestion, bloating, dry mouth, vomiting, increased appetite and changes in taste. Always read the label and use strictly as directed. If you have side effects see your doctor. You will need to pay for this medicine and normal doctor’s fees will apply. Contains varenicline 0.5mg & 1mg. Further medicine details are available at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Pfizer New Zealand LTD PO Box 3998, Auckland Level 3 Pfizer House 14 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden Auckland. 0800 736 363 TAPS Approval No:
|