Champix

How does Champix work?

The active ingredient in Champix is Varenicline. Champix Varenicline stimulates the nicotine receptors in the brain, which reduces cravings and withdrawals while you are quitting. Varenicline also stops nicotine from acting on these receptors, which takes away the enjoyment and pleasure you would normally get from smoking.

What is the difference between Champix and Zyban?

Zyban was initially released as an antidepressant medication. It was later approved as an anti smoking medication after it was discovered one of the side effects was it helped to stop people smoking. Champix was specifically designed as an anti smoking medication. The success rate of Zyban is 29.5%, while Champix is 44%.

What are the side effects of Champix?

All prescription medication have possible side effects, however not everyone will suffer from them. It is very important you take note of possible side effects for Champix, the main one being nausea. It is generally mild and should go within a short space of time and less than 3% of users stopped treatment due to this. Some other less common side effects may include:

• Headache
• Abnormal dreams
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Sleepiness
• Change in taste
• Disturbances of the gut such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, indigestion, flatulence
• Airway infections
• Changes in appetite
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased urination
• Awareness of your heart beat (palpitations)
• Tremor
• Restlessness
• Skin reactions such as rash or itching
• Chest pain
• Changes in sex drive
• Mood swings

Does Champix really work?

The only other prescription treatment that does not use nicotine to help stop smoking is Zyban. Below are the results of 2 independent tests done using Champix and Zyban, with more smokers quitting after 12 weeks when using Champix.

• 44% of those on Champix were not smoking at 12 weeks.
• 29.5%% of those on Zyban were not smoking at 12 weeks.
• 16% of those on Zyban did not smoke from week 9 to 52.
• 8.4% of those on a placebo (just an empty pill) did not smoke from week 9 to 52.
• 18% of those on a placebo (just an empty pill) were not smoking at 12 weeks.
• 22% of those on Champix did not smoke from week 9 to 52.

There is no guarantee that Champix will work for everyone, however as you can see from the results above, Champix is proven to be the most effective prescription treatment to stop smoking.

In trials in 2005, a patient who had tried Zyban and patches to stop her 60 a day smoking habit without success has said the following about Champix:

'You have to start using it a week before the quit date, but midway through the week I found I was stubbing out half-finished cigarettes, which I had never done before.'

She was quitting due to the increased effect it was having on her health including being out of breath and problems with her skin and teeth. She also said:

'All of a sudden, I just wasn’t enjoying smoking any more. For me, this drug really did work. It took away the dreadful withdrawal feeling and now I can enjoy breathing again.'

How do I use Champix?

From start to finish Champix is a 12 week course. You should try to get as much support as you can from family and friends as this will help you stay positive and committed and will increase your chances of success.

You need to set a quit date before you begin the program and set this date a week from when you start taking Champix as it takes a little time for the medication to start working in you system. This means you will be smoking during the first week of the course.

The course has two dosages, 0.5mg and 1mg and are taken as detailed below;

• 1 x 0.5mg pill a day for the first 3 days, starting 1 week before your quit day
• 2 x 0.5mg pills a day for the next 4 days
• 2 x 1mg pills a day for 11 weeks

Will I need it for more than the 12 weeks?

It is unlikely that you will need more than the 12 week course, however some patients may need to do another course to increase the chances of success. Towards the end of the 12 week course it is advised that you contact your doctor to discuss how you are going with the treatment. The Doctor will then decide if you need to continue with another course.

Who should not take Champix?

Champix is only available to people who are over 18 years of age. If you have a history of any psychiatric illness such as depression or you have suffered from epilepsy, have a history of diseased kidney function, are pregnant or breastfeeding, you can not take Champix.

Can taking Champix affect any other medications I am currently taking?

Some medications are removed from the blood faster than they normally would be with some of the components of tobacco smoke. When you stop smoking, the medications are removed more slowly and may need to have the dosages adjusted by your doctor. Below is a list of some medications that may need to be adjusted when you stop smoking;

• Dextropropoxyphene
• Flecainide
• Clozapine
• Tricyclic Antidepressants, such as Imipramine
• Warfarin
• Some Benzodiazepines, eg Oxazepam
• Some Beta-Blockers, eg Propranolol
• Tacrine
• Theophylline
• Phenylbutazone
• Fluvoxamine
• Olanzapine
• Pentazocine

Smoking also reduces the amount of insulin that is absorbed from injections, so if you have diabetes you generally need more insulin when you are smoking. You will need to discuss this with your doctor also as the dosage may need to be reduced once you have stopped smoking.

Taking other anti smoking treatments while taking Champix is not recommended as there have been no studies conducted and there is no information of the safety or benefits of taking other treatments while taking Champix. An increase of nausea, vomiting, indigestion, headaches, a drop in blood pressure and dizziness has been reported when taking Champix in combination with nicotine replacement therapy.

You should not take Cimetidine if you have severe kidney problems while taking Champix as it may increase the amount of Varenicline in the blood.

How do I order Champix from euroClinix?

To order Champix from euroClinix, simply click on the Buy Now button. This will take you to a full list of prices and quantities. Click the Buy Now button next to the quantity you would like to purchase.

You will now be at the first set of questions, where you need to enter your personal details. Once complete you will go to the next screen where you will be asked general medical questions and then specific questions relating to your condition. These questions need to be answered as accurately as possible.

Below these questions you need to enter your payment details. Once entered, click on the Complete Order button. You will be given an order number, which we advise you to take note of in case you have any queries relating to your order.

What happens after I place my order?

Once you have completed the order, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know we have received your order and will be processing the payment soon.

Your medical details are forwarded to the Doctor to be reviewed, where he/she will write a prescription if you are suitable for treatment. If the Doctor finds you unsuitable for treatment, you will not be charged.

Once the payment has been taken, you will receive another email to confirm your order has been dispatched. Delivery will take between 3-5 working days for European countries.

Champix Prices