Vareniciline film-coated tablets

Description

Varenicline (Champix) Tablets

Varenicline – known by the brand name Champix – is a prescription medicine that can make quitting smoking a lot easier. It works by easing the urge to smoke and reducing withdrawal effects, so the transition away from nicotine feels more manageable.

What Is Varenicline?

Varenicline is a non-nicotine tablet used to help adults stop smoking. Rather than replacing nicotine, it acts on the same brain receptors that nicotine usually stimulates – just in a more controlled way. It is often the first-line treatment for people ready to quit.

How It Works

Nicotine tricks your brain into releasing dopamine – the “feel-good” chemical that keeps you hooked. Varenicline partly mimics that effect, which helps take the edge off cravings. At the same time, it blocks nicotine itself from fully activating those receptors, so if you have a cigarette, it won’t feel as satisfying.

That combination – easing cravings and dulling the reward – makes it easier to stop smoking and stay off cigarettes long term.

Why People Use It

People often describe varenicline as the treatment that finally helped them quit after years of trying. It’s effective because it tackles the biological pull of nicotine, not just the habit. Compared with patches or gum, it often produces better quit rates when used with proper support.

It doesn’t contain nicotine and, for most users, it helps them manage the early irritability or anxiety that comes with stopping smoking. Some find food tastes better again within weeks of starting.

How to take Varenicline Tablets

You’ll usually start the tablets a week or two before your planned quit date. That gives your body time to adjust before you stop completely.

The usual routine is:

• Days 1-3: one 0.5 mg tablet daily
• Days 4-7: 0.5 mg twice daily
• From day 8 onwards: 1 mg twice daily

Treatment typically lasts 12 weeks. If you’re doing well but feel you need extra support, your prescriber might extend it for another course.
Take the tablets after food and with water – that often helps if you feel queasy at first.

Who Can Use Varenicline Tablets

Adults over 18 who want to stop smoking can usually take varenicline.
If you’ve tried nicotine replacement products before without much success, your clinician may suggest varenicline as the next step. Don’t mix varenicline with nicotine replacement (patches or gum) unless a clinician suggests it.