Champix

Champix is a tablet prescribed to help you give up smoking. It contains the active ingredient, varenicline, which works by binding to nicotine receptors in the brain to reduce the rewarding effects of cigarette smoking. It also reduces cravings and manages withdrawal symptoms, so you’re more likely to quit for good.

Varenicline, the active ingredient in Champix, is a partial nicotine receptor agonist, which means it binds to the nicotine receptors in the brain to:

✓ block cravings

✓ relieve withdrawal symptoms

✓ stop the rewarding feelings you get when you smoke a cigarette

By binding to the same receptors that nicotine would when you smoke, varenicline stops the release of dopamine, a feel-good hormone. It’s the release of dopamine that makes you feel good when you smoke, urging you to continue doing it. So, when you take Champix, this effect is blocked, making it easier to give up. Also, if you do smoke, it will not feel the same as before.

How long does Champix last?

A full course of Champix lasts for 12 weeks. If you have successfully quit smoking, your doctor may advise you to complete another 12-week course to increase your chances of giving up for good. This can also be used if you are finding it difficult to quit.

The half-life of varenicline (the time it takes for half of the drug to leave the body) is about 24 hours. That means that, for most people, varenicline will be completely removed from the body within 4 days once you stop taking it.

How long does Champix take to work?

Champix gets to work quickly, and within several days, you should notice that you are craving fewer cigarettes each day. Most people will have quit smoking within 2 weeks of starting treatment.

How effective is Champix?

Champix was found to help 44.4% people continuously quit smoking for 4 weeks during weeks 9 to 12 of treatment, compared to 29.5% taking bupropion (Zyban) and 17.7% given a placebo.

Further research shows that the number of people who continued to stop smoking between weeks 13 and 52 was 44% with Champix compared to 37.1% with a placebo. While a study involving 30 heavy smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found that Champix helped 71% continuously quit smoking up to 18 months.

Champix is a film-coated tablet that should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, with or without food. You should start taking Champix when you are still smoking, but have a quit date in mind that is 7 to 14 days after you start treatment.

Before you start Champix, pick a day during the second week of treatment to quit smoking. This is the day when you will no longer smoke cigarettes. If this is too soon for you, choose a day within 5 weeks. Write this date on the Champix pack as a reminder.

Champix comes in 2 different colours and strengths:

1. White tablets – These contain 0.5mg of varenicline. You will take 1 white tablet once a day from day 1 to 3. Then, from days 4 to 7, you take 1 white tablet twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
2. Light blue tablets – These contain 1mg of varenicline, and you will take 1 light blue tablet twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, from days 8 to 14. You will then continue to do this from day 15 until the end of your treatment.

Champix doses should be taken at the same time each day. At the end of 12 weeks, your doctor may recommend taking the Champix 1mg tablet twice a day for a further 12 weeks to help you quit smoking for good.

If you cannot quit straight away, you should reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke and quit by the end of the first 12 weeks. You’ll then need to continue to take a Champix 1mg tablet twice a day for a further 12 weeks.

Very common side effects of Champix include:

• nose and throat inflammation
• strange dreams
• sleeping difficulties
• headache
• feeling sick

Common side effects of Champix include:

• chest infection
• inflamed sinuses
• sleepiness
• dizziness
• taste changes
• shortness of breath
• cough
• heartburn
• being sick
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• bloating
• stomach pain
• toothache
• indigestion
• gas
• dry mouth
• skin rash
• itching
• joint aches
• muscle aches
• back pain
• chest pain
• tiredness

Uncommon side effects include:

• fungal or viral infections
• panic
• difficulty concentrating
• mood changes
• depression
• anxiety
• changes in sex drive
• seizures
• ringing in the ears
• angina
• high blood pressure
• inflamed nose, sinuses, and throat
• muscle spasms
• needing to pee more often
• high blood sugar
• suicidal thoughts
• changes in behaviour or thinking

In rare cases, Champix can cause:

• excessive thirst
• feeling unwell or unhappy
• stroke
• difficulty with speech or coordination
• vision changes
• irregular heartbeat
• throat pain
• vomiting blood
• stiff joints
• vaginal discharge
• feeling cold
• diabetes
• sleep walking
• severe skin reactions
• serious allergic reaction

A full list of side effects can be found in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication.

How long do Champix side effects last?

Most Champix side effects are mild and will go away as your body gets used to the medication. The dose is gradually increased over 2 weeks to help and stop side effects like feeling sick.

What to do if you get Champix side effects

Most of the mild Champix side effects can be managed at home by:

• eating smaller, more frequent meals if you’re feeling or being sick
• taking a gentle walk after a meal to manage symptoms like bloating
• taking over-the-counter painkillers for headaches, muscle aches, and back or stomach pain
• drinking plenty of water or clear fluid to stay hydrated
• getting some rest until you feel better

If you get any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Champix and speak to your doctor or, in an emergency, call 999:

• allergic reactions (swelling of the face, mouth, or throat, and difficult breathing and/or swallowing)
• stroke
• heart attack
• seizures
• suicidal thoughts
• psychosis
• changes in thinking and behaviour
• severe skin reactions

Do not take Champix if you:

• are allergic to varenicline or its other ingredients
• feel depressed or anxious
• have ever had seizures
• get suicidal thoughts or changes in the way you think or behave
• have a history of mental health problems
• have heart or blood vessel issues
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Champix and other medications

It is important that you let your doctor know before taking Champix if you’re currently taking or plan to take any prescribed, over-the-counter, or prescription medications, including any to help you give up smoking. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of the following medications while taking Champix:

• theophylline (to treat breathing issues)
• warfarin (to thin the blood)
• insulin (for diabetes)

If you have kidney disease, you should avoid taking cimetidine, a medication used to treat stomach problems, at the same time as Champix. In severe kidney disease your dose may also need to be reduced.

Champix is a prescription-only medication, so you will need a doctor’s approval to get it, but you can request it from trusted online doctor services, or it may be available on the NHS.

Can I buy Champix online?

Yes, you can request Champix online from Asda Online Doctor using our quick and discreet service. You will need to:

1. Complete a short online health assessment for one of our doctors to review.
2. Place your order.
3. If approved, your order will be dispatched and sent to your home address in discreet packaging, or you can choose to collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy 4 hours after a doctor’s approval.
4. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options.

Quitting smoking is hard, and taking that first step can be daunting, but if you’re ready to quit smoking, our service allows you to get the treatment you need without a face-to-face appointment. And our doctors are available if you need further advice or support. Simply send a message through your account for free.

Can I buy Champix over the counter?

No, Champix requires a prescription, so it cannot be bought over the counter. Nicotine replacement therapy is available without a prescription in most UK pharmacies and supermarkets, and comes in many forms, including gum, patches, and inhalers.

Can I get Champix on the NHS?

No, Champix is not available on the NHS, but generic varenicline is. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or a stop-smoking clinician to discuss the safest and most effective stop-smoking aid for you.

Champix may not be suitable for everyone, and there are several alternatives available if you want to quit smoking for good. At Asda Online Doctor, our doctors can prescribe the following alternatives to Champix:

• varenicline
• cytisine
• Zyban

Varenicline

Varenicline tablets are the generic version of Champix and contain 0.5 or 1mg of varenicline per tablet. It works by binding to the nicotine receptors in the brain to reduce the cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and good feelings you get from smoking.

The usual course lasts for 12 weeks, with the dose gradually increasing over the course of treatment. Research shows that varenicline helps 44.4% of people continuously quit smoking for 4 weeks between weeks 9 and 12 of treatment.

Cytisine

Cytisine tablets contain 1.5mg of cytisine and work similarly to Champix and varenicline by attaching to the nicotine receptors in the brain and blocking its effect to make smoking less enjoyable and reduce cravings.

The standard course of treatment is 25 days. One study found that 40% of people gave up smoking after 1 month with cytisine compared to 31% receiving nicotine replacement therapy.

Zyban

Zyban tablets contain 150mg of bupropion hydrochloride, a type of antidepressant that reduces withdrawal symptoms when you are quitting smoking. Research suggests that 20% of people successfully quit smoking within a year with bupropion.

Champix vs varenicline

Champix and varenicline contain the same active ingredients, in the same doses, and work in the same way to help you quit smoking. However, varenicline is the cheaper, unbranded version. Although the active ingredient is the same, there may be a difference in the inactive ingredients in Champix and varenicline, which may mean they look different.

Alternative therapies

There are several other options available to help you stop smoking if Champix tablets or other medications are not right for you. They include:

• nicotine replacement, such as gum, patches, inhalers, and nasal sprays, which are available over the counter in most UK pharmacies and supermarkets
• e-cigarettes and vapes, usually taken by reducing your dose of nicotine over time, so that you can quit
• smoking support groups, which are recommended alongside other methods, like nicotine replacement or vaping