Nicotine Lozenge

About Chantix®

What is Chantix®?

Chantix (varenicline) is non-nicotine prescription medicine to help adults quit smoking. Chantix
 has the highest quit rates among the FDA approved stop smoking medications.

How does Chantix® work?

Chantix targets the same receptors in the brain that nicotine does. Chantix is believed to block nicotine from these receptor sites. It also helped reduce the urge to smoke. But Chantix is not a magic pill. As with any stop smoking medication, combining it with a stop smoking support plan will make you even more likely to quit smoking.

What is the recommended dosage?

You begin taking Chantix one week before your quit date and the manufacture recommends taking the Chantix for a full 12-weeks. After 12 weeks, you can talk with your doctor about another 12 weeks of treatment.

What is the recent news about Chantix®/varenicline?

As you will recall in January of 2008 Pfizer along with the FDA updated the Chantix prescribing information to include “… that patients attempting to quit smoking with Chantix should be observed for certain serious neuropsychiatric symptoms." In addition:
Patients are advised to tell their physicians about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which may worsen while taking Chantix.

Patients are also advised that they may experience trouble sleeping and vivid, unusual, or strange dreams and to use caution when driving or operating machinery until they know how quitting smoking with Chantix may affect them.
More recently the Chantix label information has been updated to include the following advice for patients and caregivers: “Patient should stop taking Chantix and contact their healthcare provider immediately if agitation, depressed mood, or changes in behavior that are not typical for them are observed, or if the patient develops suicidal ideation or suicidal thoughts."

What should I know before I start using Chantix®?

Every medicine may have side effects. If you have side effects that bother you or don't go away, tell your doctor. The most common side effects from Chantix are nausea, insomnia, and/or abnormal dreams; some people have had behavior changes and/or drowsiness that affected their ability to drive or operate machinery.

If you have ever had depression or other mental health problems, tell your doctor before starting to use Chantix.

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How do I get Chantix®?

In order to get Chantix, you will need to get a prescription from your doctor or your health care provider. Many health insurance plans cover Chantix so check with your health plan. Medicaid also covers Chantix. For more information, click here to go to this website

Where can I get more information?

For more information about Chantix visit or ask your doctor.

* Chantix is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.