Experiences with
Varenicline

Who it's forContraindicationsHow it's used (previously Dosage and administration)Side effectsPregnancyInteractions

Varenicline is suitable for adults, but always check before taking it.

Varenicline may not be suitable for some people. Check with your doctor if you have kidney or heart problems, or a mental health condition.

Varenicline comes as tablets you take for a course of 12 weeks. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Side effects

Varenicline is not usually recommended if you’re pregnant. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor about other options.

It can cause problems to take varenicline with other medicines, such as warfarin and insulin.

Varenicline (previously called Champix) is a medicine that can help you stop smoking.

The addictive part of cigarette tobacco is called nicotine. Varenicline can reduce the cravings for nicotine and helps with the withdrawal you get when you stop smoking. These symptoms can include an urge to smoke again, feeling depressed or irritable, and difficulty sleeping.

Varenicline is only available on prescription and comes as tablets.

Who can take varenicline

Most adults can take varenicline.

Who may not be able to take varenicline

Varenicline is not suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, tell your doctor before starting to take varenicline if you:

have ever had an allergic reaction to varenicline or any of the ingredients in it
have kidney problems
have ever had a mental health condition
have ever had problems with your heart
are pregnant or breastfeeding
have ever had a seizure or fit

Dosage and how to take varenicline

Varenicline comes as 0.5mg and 1mg tablets.

You’ll usually take the lower dose tablet, 1 or 2 times a day for the first week. This increases to the higher dose, twice a day for the rest of your treatment. If varenicline causes side effects you cannot cope with, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about taking a lower dose.

Follow the instructions that come with your medicine, carefully. This is because your dose changes after the first 3 days.

It’s important to complete the full 12-week course, even if you have stopped smoking. Finishing the course can increase the chance of stopping for good.

Your doctor may prescribe a longer course of treatment if they think that it will help you stop for good.

How to take it

Always take varenicline exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure.

It’s important to decide on the date you want to stop smoking as you’re more likely to stop if you have.

If you cannot set a date to quit within 2 weeks, you can choose your own target date. But this should be within 5 weeks of starting your treatment.

To start varenicline, take your tablets 1 to 2 weeks before your stop smoking date. This allows you to build up the dose and gradually helps your body get used to the medicine.

If you’re taking varenicline twice a day, you’ll usually take it once in the morning and once in the evening.

You can take varenicline tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.

Common side effects of varenicline

Varenicline can have side effects, but there are things you can do to help cope with them.

Try taking an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen for a few days.

Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Try not drink too much alcohol. Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can also help. Talk to your doctor if the headaches last several days or are severe.

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark* strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.

If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you have severe, watery diarrhoea, or any diarrhoea that lasts for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.

It may help to avoid rich and spicy food, and not eating just before going to bed. Sleeping with the head of your bed raised, can also help symptoms. If these do not help, try asking a pharmacist about suitable antacids to take.

If you’re having difficulty sleeping, speak to a doctor.

If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down until you feel better. If this continues and you cannot cope, your doctor may reduce your dose.

Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery until you feel OK again.

Try to avoid alcohol as it will make you feel worse.

Talk to your doctor if this side effect bothers you or does not go away.

If this advice does not help and any of these side effects bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Varenicline and pregnancy

Varenicline is not recommended if you’re pregnant. This is because there is little safety information on its use in pregnancy. Nicotine replacement products, such as nicotine patches and gum, can be used during pregnancy.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, some birth defects, premature birth, low birth weight, and some pregnancy complications. If you smoke, then it's important to get help to try to stop. Speak to your doctor, community midwife or pharmacist who will be able to help you.

Find out more about smoking during pregnancy and how to stop.

Varenicline and breastfeeding

Varenicline is not usually recommended if you’re breastfeeding. This is because it’s thought to pass to your baby through breast milk. There’s no information about how much passes through or if it causes side effects.

It’s best to use other treatments to help you stop smoking, if possible. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist first to help you decide.

If you’re breastfeeding it’s important to stop smoking for your baby’s health as well as your own.

Find out more about breastfeeding and smoking.

Cautions with other medicines

Varenicline does not usually have an effect on any other medicines. Check with your doctor before using varenicline with other stop smoking treatments.

However, when you stop smoking, with or without varenicline, your doctor may need to change your dose of medicines such as:

theophylline or aminophylline, medicines for breathing problems
erlotinib, a medicine to treat cancer
riociguat, a medicine to treat high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension)
warfarin, a medicine to reduce blood clotting
insulin, to treat diabetes
olanzapine and clozapine, used to treat psychosis