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Taking Champix®

Taking CHAMPIX® 

CHAMPIX® (Varenicline) comes in convenient dose packs. Remember always to take CHAMPIX® as prescribed by your doctor. Please see the chart below for full dosage information.

Recommended Dosing

Recommended Dosage

If you have side effects with CHAMPIX® that bother you or don't go away, be sure to tell your doctor.

If you have kidney problems or undergo dialysis, be sure to tell your doctor before taking CHAMPIX®. Your dose may be lowered.

Some important things to remember:

  • CHAMPIX®  can be taken with or without food (the NZ and Australian PIs are different to the US in this regard)
  • Drink a full glass (8 ounces) of water with your dose.
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it's close to the time of your next dose, wait. Then just take your next regular dose.

Who can take CHAMPIX®?

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have kidney problems or undergo kidney dialysis. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of CHAMPIX® for you.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. CHAMPIX® has not been studied in pregnant women. It is not known if CHAMPIX® will harm your unborn baby. It is best to stop smoking before you get pregnant.
  • are breast-feeding. Although it was not studied, CHAMPIX® may pass into breast milk. You and your doctor should discuss alternative ways to feed your baby if you take CHAMPIX®.
  • have allergies to any other medicine, foods, preservatives or dyes.
  • have a history of mental illness.

 

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially, tell your doctor if you take:

  • insulin
  • asthma medicines
  • blood thinners

 

When you stop smoking, there may be a change in how these and other medicines work for you.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.

When you stop smoking your body will need time to adjust to the absence of nicotine. You may feel side effects from this.

How to get started

Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking.

Start taking CHAMPIX® 1-2 weeks (7-14 days) before your quit date. This lets CHAMPIX® build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Make sure that you try and stop smoking on your quit date. If you can not quit on your quit date or you slip after you have quit, keep taking CHAMPIX® and try again. Some people need a few weeks for CHAMPIX® to work best.

Most people will keep taking CHAMPIX® for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, ask your doctor if another 12 weeks of CHAMPIX® may help you stay cigarette-free.

CHAMPIX™ (varenicline tartrate) is a prescription medicine used to help adults 18 and over stop smoking. It can help to reduce the satisfaction you may get from smoking and the craving and withdrawal symptoms that happen while you give up smoking. It is a medicine that you need to pay for and normal doctor’s fees apply. Do not take this medicine if you are under 18 or have an allergy to the active or other tablet ingredients. Tell your doctor if you have ever had depression or other mental health problems, have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis, have a history of repeated fits or convulsions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or, if you are breastfeeding. Some people have had changes in behaviour, mood or thinking including anxiety, psychosis, mood swings, depressed mood, agitation, aggression, hearing or sensing things that are not there, self-harm, thoughts of self-harm or harming others while they use CHAMPIX. If you or your family notice changes in your behaviour or mood that are not typical for you, stop taking CHAMPIX immediately and contact a health care professional. Some people can have allergic reactions to CHAMPIX. Some of these reactions can be life threatening and include swelling of the face, mouth and throat that can cause trouble breathing. Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHAMPIX. These include rash, swelling and redness of the skin that can become life threatening. Possible side effects with CHAMPIX include new or worse mental health problems, swelling or redness on parts of the face and body, nausea, headache, difficulty in sleeping, abnormal dreams, dizziness, constipation, flatulence, dry mouth and changes in taste. If you have side effects see your doctor. Always read the label and use strictly as directed. Contains varenicline 0.5mg & 1mg. Further medicine details available from your doctor or www.medsafe.govt.nz. Pfizer New Zealand LTD, Auckland.0800 736 363.