Chantix (varenicline) is the latest prescription drugs designed to help adults quit smoking. Chantix is a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products like nicotine patches or nicotine gum, which have been on the market for many years. Instead, it is believed that Chantix works by blocking nicotine from reaching receptors in the brain that are normally associated with cravings and nicotine addiction. In clinical studies, patients using Chantix reported that their need to smoke was reduced. In some of these same studies, as high as 44% of patients using Chantix abstained from smoking.
How does Chantix?
To understand how Chantix works, it is important to understand how nicotine.
Nicotine affects the brain. This is one reason why it's so addictive. Nicotine enters the body and brain moving it attaches if the receptor itself small. This tells a different part of the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter commonly associated with pleasure response in the brain. Feelings of joy provided by dopamine reinforce behaviors and proactively motivate individuals to perform certain activities, such as smoking.
When dopamine levels drop rapidly, smokers often feel sick and experience lust for another cigarette.
What Chantix does not attach to the same receptors to nicotine, preventing the release of dopamine. Thus, while smoking introduces nicotine into the body, nicotine is unable to produce dopamine release. Not dopamine, no pleasure, no desire for more nicotine.
Since Chantix is linked to nicotine receptors, there is some incentive, but at levels much lower than those caused by nicotine. Stimulation of "stay on" all the time, because Chantix is taken daily for a long time, to create a shield from the roller coaster ride of addiction to nicotine. Smokers have fewer cravings and less of an experience typical withdrawal symptoms they might experience without the use of Chantix.
Clinical trials with Chantix
Chantix has been tested and studied in six separate studies involving 3659 smokers who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day.
Two of the studies were double blind, meaning that any staff administering medication, nor patients knew which drug each patient was receiving. This study removes any bias that might creep in if one or more parties have preconceived expectations about a particular pill. The two studies comparing the use of placebo (sugar) pills, Zyban (bupropion, another prescription smoking cessation medication) and Chantix. Both surveys had almost identical results, with 44% of patients treated with Chantix refrain from smoking during weeks 9 and 12 of study. Patients receiving Zyban had an abstinence rate of 30%. Placebo patients had abstinence rates of 17% in first study and 18% in the second.
Five of the six studies examined long-term abstinence rates, with 40 weeks of follow-up. In all studies, patients treated with Chantix were more likely to remain smoke-free after treatment ended than those treated with placebo or Zyban.
A sixth study was conducted to determine whether patients could benefit from an additional 12 weeks of treatment, after the initial 12 weeks of treatment. The study found that patients who used Chantix for additional 12 weeks were more likely to abstain from smoking during the 12 weeks of treatment, and were more likely to remain smoke movement after treatment ended.
Chantix Side Effects
As with most prescription and non-prescription medicines, Chantix may cause side effects.
Chantix patients have reported a variety of side effects, including nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping (insomnia, vivid or strange dreams), constipation and gas. If these symptoms persist or if they bother you, your doctor know.
Other more serious side effects such as suicidal thoughts, depression and behavioral changes were also reported. It is important to report these symptoms to your doctor. Your family or others around you to see these effects before they notice you.
Before taking Chantix, tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems as they may worsen when taking Chantix.
Use caution when driving or operating machinery until you know how Chantix may affect you.
Chantix should not be taken with other quit smoking medicines.
If you have kidney disease or receiving dialysis may require a lower dose of Chantix.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines or blood thinners, talk to your doctor before you start taking Chantix.
Dosage Info
Smokers who have a prescription Chantix should first establish a quit date when they will completely stop smoking. They should start taking Chantix a week before the date they quit.
Pills should be taken after a meal, with a full glass of water.
The recommended dose of CHANTIX is 1 mg twice daily, following the introduction of one week to medicines:
Days 1 to 3: 0.5 mg once daily
Days 4 to 7: 0.5 mg twice daily
Day 8 to end of treatment: 1 mg twice daily
If the patient can not tolerate any adverse effects of Chantix that they may have their dose reduced temporarily or permanently.
Chantix treatment should be for 12 weeks. After the initial 12 weeks, patients who remained smoke-free benefit for an additional 12 weeks of treatment to enhance long-term smoking abstinence.
Patients who are unable to successfully quit smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, or relapse after treatment, should be encouraged to try again after they were sent their first testing ground was not good luck.
Most As in any method or smoking cessation product, Chantix users are more likely to quit successfully if they are self-motivated to complete their custom, and if they are given additional support and advice. Ask your doctor for their help and suggestions to make quitting easier and more successful.
Conclusions
While the results of Chantix are promising (up to 44% drop rate), all will help every smoker to quit. Nothing short of death will force a smoker to stop their habit. Sorry, but their is no magic pill. Influencing and changing the way the brain reacts to nicotine can improve your chances of quitting smoking permanently. But you must want to give up first, and be willing to stick it out, even if you have some discomfort. Remember also that smoking is more than an addiction to nicotine. As a smoker, you create a life that tends to revolve around your next cigarette. To close, you need to change and disrupt the routine, not doing certain behaviors that tend to trigger a desire for a cigarette, such as getting a drink at a bar, and perhaps most importantly, should you think you can go actually smoking.
How does Chantix?
To understand how Chantix works, it is important to understand how nicotine.
Nicotine affects the brain. This is one reason why it's so addictive. Nicotine enters the body and brain moving it attaches if the receptor itself small. This tells a different part of the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter commonly associated with pleasure response in the brain. Feelings of joy provided by dopamine reinforce behaviors and proactively motivate individuals to perform certain activities, such as smoking.
When dopamine levels drop rapidly, smokers often feel sick and experience lust for another cigarette.
What Chantix does not attach to the same receptors to nicotine, preventing the release of dopamine. Thus, while smoking introduces nicotine into the body, nicotine is unable to produce dopamine release. Not dopamine, no pleasure, no desire for more nicotine.
Since Chantix is linked to nicotine receptors, there is some incentive, but at levels much lower than those caused by nicotine. Stimulation of "stay on" all the time, because Chantix is taken daily for a long time, to create a shield from the roller coaster ride of addiction to nicotine. Smokers have fewer cravings and less of an experience typical withdrawal symptoms they might experience without the use of Chantix.
Clinical trials with Chantix
Chantix has been tested and studied in six separate studies involving 3659 smokers who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day.
Two of the studies were double blind, meaning that any staff administering medication, nor patients knew which drug each patient was receiving. This study removes any bias that might creep in if one or more parties have preconceived expectations about a particular pill. The two studies comparing the use of placebo (sugar) pills, Zyban (bupropion, another prescription smoking cessation medication) and Chantix. Both surveys had almost identical results, with 44% of patients treated with Chantix refrain from smoking during weeks 9 and 12 of study. Patients receiving Zyban had an abstinence rate of 30%. Placebo patients had abstinence rates of 17% in first study and 18% in the second.
Five of the six studies examined long-term abstinence rates, with 40 weeks of follow-up. In all studies, patients treated with Chantix were more likely to remain smoke-free after treatment ended than those treated with placebo or Zyban.
A sixth study was conducted to determine whether patients could benefit from an additional 12 weeks of treatment, after the initial 12 weeks of treatment. The study found that patients who used Chantix for additional 12 weeks were more likely to abstain from smoking during the 12 weeks of treatment, and were more likely to remain smoke movement after treatment ended.
Chantix Side Effects
As with most prescription and non-prescription medicines, Chantix may cause side effects.
Chantix patients have reported a variety of side effects, including nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping (insomnia, vivid or strange dreams), constipation and gas. If these symptoms persist or if they bother you, your doctor know.
Other more serious side effects such as suicidal thoughts, depression and behavioral changes were also reported. It is important to report these symptoms to your doctor. Your family or others around you to see these effects before they notice you.
Before taking Chantix, tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems as they may worsen when taking Chantix.
Use caution when driving or operating machinery until you know how Chantix may affect you.
Chantix should not be taken with other quit smoking medicines.
If you have kidney disease or receiving dialysis may require a lower dose of Chantix.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines or blood thinners, talk to your doctor before you start taking Chantix.
Dosage Info
Smokers who have a prescription Chantix should first establish a quit date when they will completely stop smoking. They should start taking Chantix a week before the date they quit.
Pills should be taken after a meal, with a full glass of water.
The recommended dose of CHANTIX is 1 mg twice daily, following the introduction of one week to medicines:
Days 1 to 3: 0.5 mg once daily
Days 4 to 7: 0.5 mg twice daily
Day 8 to end of treatment: 1 mg twice daily
If the patient can not tolerate any adverse effects of Chantix that they may have their dose reduced temporarily or permanently.
Chantix treatment should be for 12 weeks. After the initial 12 weeks, patients who remained smoke-free benefit for an additional 12 weeks of treatment to enhance long-term smoking abstinence.
Patients who are unable to successfully quit smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, or relapse after treatment, should be encouraged to try again after they were sent their first testing ground was not good luck.
Most As in any method or smoking cessation product, Chantix users are more likely to quit successfully if they are self-motivated to complete their custom, and if they are given additional support and advice. Ask your doctor for their help and suggestions to make quitting easier and more successful.
Conclusions
While the results of Chantix are promising (up to 44% drop rate), all will help every smoker to quit. Nothing short of death will force a smoker to stop their habit. Sorry, but their is no magic pill. Influencing and changing the way the brain reacts to nicotine can improve your chances of quitting smoking permanently. But you must want to give up first, and be willing to stick it out, even if you have some discomfort. Remember also that smoking is more than an addiction to nicotine. As a smoker, you create a life that tends to revolve around your next cigarette. To close, you need to change and disrupt the routine, not doing certain behaviors that tend to trigger a desire for a cigarette, such as getting a drink at a bar, and perhaps most importantly, should you think you can go actually smoking.
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