Patient Information Sheet
Varenicline (marketed as Chantix)

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This is a summary of the most important information about Chantix.  For details, talk to your healthcare professional.

What Is Chantix?

Chantix is a prescription medicine to help adults stop smoking.

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

Who Should Not Take Chantix?

Do not take Chantix if you are allergic to anything in it.

What Are The Side Effects?

The following are common side effects of Chantix therapy. However, this list is not complete. 

• nausea. 
• changes in dreaming
• constipation
• gas
• vomiting

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

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?

Before you start taking Chantix, tell your healthcare professional if you:

• have or had kidney problems, or get kidney dialysis
• are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding

 Can Other Medicines Or Food Affect Chantix?

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.  Especially tell your healthcare professional 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 healthcare professional.

How Should I Take Chantix?

• Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking.
• Start taking Chantix 1 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.
• Take Chantix after eating and with a full (8 ounces) glass of water.
• 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. Follow the dosing schedule prescribed by your healthcare professional.

Link to Chantix's Approved Labeling

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Date Approved:  May 10, 2006, Date updated: August 28, 2006

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