Chemistry 'N' Me

The drug I am going to introduce is Champix, which contains 0.5mg Varenicline Tartrate. Champix is a drug for smoking cessation, to help adults stop smoking. Since I was 16, my ambition is to be a pharmacist. Why pharmacist? Hmm, my dad is a heavy smoker and he smokes everyday. Yes, EVERYDAY. Therefore, I am ambitious enough to be a pharmacist and makes my dad a better life and of cause, * Make him to quit smoking* ! 

Champix, it can help to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms that happen while you give up smoking. People giving up smoking are often affected by nicotine withdrawal. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include craving for tobacco, irritability, frustration, feeling hungry, sleep problems, depressed mood, feeling anxious, difficulty in concentrating, restlessness, decreased heart rate, increased appetite, or weight gain. Not everybody is affected by some or all of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Although it is not recommended that you smoke after the first one to two weeks of treatment, if you smoke while you are taking Champix it will reduce your enjoyment of cigarettes. 

Champix works by blocking the effects of nicotine in your body. There are receptors for nicotine in the

brain. When cigarette smoke is inhaled, nicotine attaches to these receptors. This sends a message to a different part of the brain to release a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine gives a feeling of pleasure which

only lasts for a short time. The body wants to repeat this feeling reinforcing the need to keep

smoking. Based on research, it is believed that Champix works by activating these receptors and

blockinng nicotine from attaching to them. 

The usual dosage instruction: 

Days 1 - 3 Take one white tablet once a day

Days 4 - 7 Take one white tablet in the morning and one in the evening

Weeks 2 - 4 Take one light blue tablet in the morning and one in the evening. Your first box of Champix will cover your first four weeks of treatment. You will need to visit your doctor before the end of the fourth week that you take Champix for a check-up and for a new prescription. At this appointment, your doctor will check your progress and give you a new prescription for the tablets you need to complete the remaining 8 weeks of treatment.

Weeks 5 - 12 Take one light blue tablet in the morning and one 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 may increase your chances of stopping smoking long term. For this course, take one light blue 1 mg tablet in the morning and one in the evening. 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.

Ingredients: 

1. Champix 0.5mg tablets contain the equivalent of 0.5mg of varenicline 

2. Champix 1mg tablets contain the equilavent of 1mg of varenicline 

Inactive Ingredients

Each tablet of Champix contains the

following inactive ingredients:

• Cellulose - microcrystalline

• Calcium hydrogen phosphate

anhydrous

• Croscarmellose sodium

• Silica-colloidal anhydrous

• Magnesium stearate

• Opadry Blue, Opadry White and

Opadry Clear

Champix is gluten free

Pay special attention to...

You and your family or carer need

to pay special attention to your

mood, behaviour and thinking

while you are taking Champix.

Some people have reported changes

in behaviour, thinking or mood when

they start taking Champix. These

may include depression, anxiety,

agitation, feelings of aggression,

mood swings, seeing, hearing or

sensing things that are not there,

thoughts of self-harm or self-harm.

Worsening of these symptoms has

also been reported in people who

already had mental health problems.

It is not known whether these are

related to Champix. It is known that

mood changes can be due to the

effects of stopping smoking, with or

without treatment.

Stop taking Champix and tell your

doctor immediately if you or your

family/carer notice any changes in

your behaviour or thinking, if you

become agitated or depressed, or

have thoughts of self-harm.