Elkhart County Health Department : Tobacco Control : Chantix information

Chantix information

Common Questions

What is CHANTIX?

CHANTIX™ (varenicline) is a prescription medicine to help adults stop smoking. CHANTIX helps reduce the urge to smoke.

How is CHANTIX different from other smoking cessation products?

CHANTIX contains no nicotine, but it targets the same receptors that nicotine does. CHANTIX is believed to block nicotine from these receptors. It is the only prescription treatment of its kind.

Learn more about how CHANTIX works.

What should I tell my doctor before starting CHANTIX?

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including if you:

  • have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of CHANTIX for you.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. CHANTIX has not been studied in pregnant women. It is not known if CHANTIX will harm your unborn baby. It is best to stop smoking before you get pregnant.
  • are breastfeeding. Although it was not studied, CHANTIX may pass into breast milk. You and your doctor should discuss alternative ways to feed your baby if you take CHANTIX.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially, tell your doctor if you take:

  • insulin
  • asthma medicines
  • blood thinners.

When you stop smoking, there may be a change in how these and other medicines work for you.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.

How do I take CHANTIX?

  1. Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking.
  2. Start taking CHANTIX one week (7 days) before your quit date. This lets CHANTIX build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Make sure that you try and stop smoking on your quit date. If you slip, try again. Some people need a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best.
  3. Take CHANTIX after eating and with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
  4. Most people will keep taking CHANTIX for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, ask your doctor if another 12 weeks of CHANTIX may help you stay cigarette-free.
  • CHANTIX comes as a white tablet (0.5 mg) and a blue tablet (1 mg). You start with the white tablet and then usually go to the blue tablet. See the chart below for dosing instructions.

dosing

  • This dosing schedule may not be right for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you are having side effects such as nausea or sleep problems. Your doctor may want to reduce your dose
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time for your next dose, wait. Just take your next regular dose.

What are the possible side effects of CHANTIX?

The most common side effects of CHANTIX include:

  • nausea
  • sleep disturbance (trouble sleeping, changes in dreaming)
  • constipation
  • gas
  • vomiting

Tell your doctor about side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

These are not all the side effects of CHANTIX. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how quitting smoking and/or using CHANTIX may affect you.

For how long should I take CHANTIX?

It is recommended CHANTIX be taken for a full 12 weeks or as prescribed by your doctor. Most people will take CHANTIX for 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, ask your doctor if another 12 weeks of CHANTIX may help you stay cigarette free.

What do I do if I miss a dose of CHANTIX?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time for your next dose, wait. Just take your next regular dose.

What if I slip up while taking CHANTIX?

It's okay. Remember, you may choose to smoke for the first week you are on CHANTIX. Try to stop smoking completely on your Quit Date (Day 8). But if you slip up, don't give up! Some people need a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best. Forty-four percent of people who took CHANTIX for the full 12 weeks were able to quit smoking. Some of those even had slip-ups up to Week 9.

Will my urge to smoke go away when I take CHANTIX?

You might still feel some urge to smoke. But it might be less than you'd have without CHANTIX. Remember, it's possible that you might slip up and smoke while taking CHANTIX. If you do, you can stay on CHANTIX and keep trying to quit.

Who should not take CHANTIX?

CHANTIX has not been studied in children under 18 years of age. CHANTIX is not recommended for children under 18 years of age.

Do not take CHANTIX if you are allergic to anything in it. See a complete list of ingredients below.

What is in CHANTIX?

Active ingredient: varenicline tartrate

Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose (NF), anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate (USP), croscarmellose sodium (NF), colloidal silicon dioxide (NF), magnesium stearate (NF), Opadry® White (for 0.5 mg), Opadry® Blue (for 1 mg), and Opadry® Clear (for both 0.5 mg and 1 mg)

How should I store CHANTIX?

  • Store CHANTIX at room temperature, 59 to 86°F (15 to 30°C)
  • Safely dispose of CHANTIX that is out of date or no longer needed
  • Keep CHANTIX and all medicines out of the reach of children

About GETQUIT™

What is the GETQUIT™ Support Plan?

GETQUIT is the support plan developed to work with CHANTIX. GETQUIT offers:

  • A 7-day pre-quit plan that provides specific topics and activities to help you prepare for your quit date
  • A full year of support with activities and messages to help you learn how to stay quit
  • A live GETQUIT Coach for support, encouragement, and motivation to help you get through tough moments when you may be tempted to smoke
  • Learn more about GETQUIT

How can I sign up for GETQUIT?

If you are already taking CHANTIX, or have a prescription, you can sign up for GETQUIT. When you fill your prescription for CHANTIX at the pharmacy, you'll receive an enrollment card inside your box of CHANTIX. Find the number on the back of the enrollment card. Or, if your prescription comes in a bottle, find the prescription number on your pill bottle. Then go to www.getquit.com or call 877-CHANTIX (242-6849) and follow the instructions to enroll and set up your personalized support plan. If you have lost your card or don't have one, call 877-CHANTIX.

Why should I join GETQUIT?

CHANTIX is proven to be effective, but it's not a magic pill. For most people, smoking can be both a physical and a behavioral challenge. That's why we also offer GETQUIT, a support plan.

GETQUIT combines smoking cessation research with key learnings from the fields of psychology and behavioral therapy to create a day-by-day plan designed to help CHANTIX users kick the smoking habit.

In general, medication used with behavioral support can give you a better chance for quitting smoking than doing it on your own.