Chantix - a guide to this drug
What is Chantix?
Chantix is a prescription drug designed to help you to quit smoking. Its generic name is varenicline and it is manufactured by Pfizer.
Has Chantix been approved by the FDA for use as an aid to quitting smoking?
The FDA approved Chantix has a treatment to help smokers to quit smoking on May 18, 2006 . See FDA approves novel drug for smoking cessation for more information. Currently, there are no other FDA approved drugs for the treatment of smokers that work in a similar way to Chantix.
How does it work?
Chantix works primarily in two ways. Firstly, it reduces the smoker's craving for nicotine by binding to nicotine receptors in the brain and so reducing withdrawal symptoms. Secondly, a smoker will actually find that smoking itself is less satisfying. Chantix itself does not contain any nicotine.
See below for a diagrammatic representation of how Chantix activates the nicotine receptors but blocks nicotine from reaching them.
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| State of nicotine receptors before taking Chantix | After taking Chantix, they are activated but nicotine cannot reach them. |
Was it successful in clinical trials?
In trials, 44% of the group treated with Chantix had quit smoking after being treated for 12 weeks. This compares with the 11% of smokers who were taking the placebo. In other words, you are four times more likely to quite smoking when taking Chantix, than using willpower alone. It was also studied alongside Zyban, the other main anti-smoking drug treatment, but was found to be about twice as effective as Zyban. Chantix also has far fewer side effects than Zyban.
After one year, around 21-23% of smokers who took Chantix initially remained non smokers.
How is the drug taken and what is the recommended dose?
It is taken orally.
Days 1-3: 0.5 mg once per day
Days 4-7: 0.5 mg twice per day
Days 8 onwards: 1 mg twice per day
Note that the 0.5 mg tablet is white and the 1.0 mg tablet is blue. Ideally you should start the treatment one week prior to quitting smoking. The drug is taken for at least 12 weeks. If you have quit smoking at the end of 12 weeks, it may be adviseable to take another 12 week course to enhance your chances of abstaining - speak to your healthcare professional about this.
Did you know?
Chantix is manufactured by Pfizer.
Chantix is known as Champix in the UK and Europe. Its generic name is varenicline.
In the region of 60 million US citizens smoke - and more than two thirds want to quit smoking.
The scientist who discovered varenicline is an ex-smoker. His father died as a result of a smoking related disease.
20% of deaths in the US are smoking related, with more than 418,000 citizens dieing needlessly each year.
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