Varenicline Tablets

Varenicline is an effective quit smoking aid in the form of an oral tablet. Varenicline tablets contain the active ingredient varenicline and when taken as prescribed by your doctor, works to reduce your nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Varenicline works in the exact same way as the discontinued Champix, and it contains the same active ingredient (varenicline), although the nonactive ingredients are different. Because Varenicline is not branded like Champix, it tends to be cheaper.

Varenicline tablets work to help you quit smoking by blocking the rewarding ‘happy’ feeling that you can feel after smoking. This feeling is caused by the dopamine release when you smoke a cigarette.

This feeling is suppressed by the active ingredient varenicline, which is a nicotinic partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAcHrS). This means it blocks the nicotine from signalling a dopamine release in your brain so when you do smoke, it won’t make you feel the same way it did before.

How long does varenicline last?

The varenicline tablets last for 24 hours which means that it stays in your system for just 24 hours before your next dose.

How long does varenicline take to work?

It takes up to 4 days of repeat dosing as prescribed by your doctor to feel the effects of varenicline.

How effective is varenicline?

Varenicline is a highly effective quit smoking method. Clinical studies have found 44% of patients abstained from smoking when taking varenicline over 52 weeks, compared to 37.1% who were taking a placebo.

During week 1 of your treatment with varenicline you will be treated with a white 0.5 mg tablet which is prescribed once daily for 3 days.

From day 4 to 7 you should take it twice daily (we recommend once in the morning and once in the evening).

On week 2 to week 12 of your treatment you should be prescribed the light blue varenicline 1 mg dosage, 2 times a day, in the morning and evening.

We recommend you take varenicline with food and a glass of water, you must swallow the tablet whole.

Your doctor will usually only prescribe up to 12 weeks of treatment. However, if you feel you need more time and still have not been able to stop smoking after 12 weeks, your doctor may recommend an additional 12 weeks.

You should only take varenicline as instructed by your doctor.

Varenicline tablets are available online from safe and regulated online services like Asda Online Doctor, or they may be available at your local doctor’s surgery on the NHS. In both cases, you will need a doctor to approve varenicline treatment.

Can I buy varenicline online?

Yes. Varenicline is available to request online with Asda Online Doctor, all you need to do is:

1. Fill out a brief health and lifestyle questionnaire for one of our doctors to assess if varenicline is suitable for you.
2. Order your treatment and make payment
3. If approved, your treatment order request will be accepted and posted to your address or made available in just 2 to 3 hours after doctor approval at your local Asda pharmacy.
4. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your patient account with alternative treatment options suited to your needs.

Can I get varenicline over the counter?

No, varenicline tablets are a prescription-only medication. You will need a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional to obtain it.

Can I get varenicline on the NHS?

Yes, varenicline is available on the NHS, however you will need to make an appointment with your doctor so that they can assess your suitability.

Like all medications, varenicline may cause side effects. However, not everybody experiences them.

If you experience any of the listed serious side effects of varenicline, contact your doctor, or go to your nearest A&E immediately:

• seizure
• stroke
• heart attack
• suicidal thoughts or psychosis
• angioedema – swelling of the face, mouth, or throat

Common and very common side effects of varenicline include:

• inflammation of the nose and throat
• abnormal dreams
• difficulty sleeping
• nausea
• headache
• sinus inflammation
• chest infection
• appetite changes
• weight gain
• dizziness
• tiredness
• taste changes
• shortness of breath, chest pain
• cough and dry mouth
• heartburn and indigestion
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• bloating and flatulence
• stomach ache
• toothache
• skin rash and itching
• joint and muscle aches, back pain

Uncommon side effects of varenicline include:

• fungal infections
• viral infections
• mood changes, including panic, difficulty thinking, restlessness, mood swings, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, low sex drive, suicidal thoughts, and changes in behaviour (aggression)
• seizures, tremors, and sluggishness
• sensitivity to touch
• conjunctivitis
• eye pain
• ringing in the ears
• angina, rapid or increased heart rate, palpitations, or heart attacks
• a blood pressure increase
• hot flushes
• inflammation of sinuses, nose, throat, congestion, throat and chest irritation, hoarseness, excess mucus from nose, cough, and a runny nose
• red blood in stools
• stomach irritation, bowel habit changes, or burping
• mouth ulcers and gum pain
• skin reddening, acne, night sweats, and increased sweating
• muscle spasms
• frequent urination
• increased menstrual flow
• flu, fever, and feeling weak or ill
• high blood sugar

Rare side effects of varenicline include:

• increased thirst
• stroke
• muscle tension
• speech difficulty
• coordination difficulty
• reduced taste sense
• sleep pattern alteration
• disturbed vision, eyeball discolouration, pupil dilation, light sensitivity, shortsightedness, and watery eyes
• irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm disturbances
• throat pain and snoring
• blood in vomit
• abnormal stools
• coated tongue
• vaginal discharge
• feeling cold
• diabetes
• sleep walking
• psychosis
• abnormal behaviour
• severe skin reactions like blistering or swelling of the face, mouth, or throat
• abnormal test results (raised CRP and low calcium in the blood, abnormal semen analysis, and high sugar levels in the urine)

Note: Even without medication, it’s common to feel a change of mood when quitting smoking. You may feel hopeless, irritable, anxious, or even frustrated. You may also find that your appetite increases. As your body adjusts to your new lifestyle without smoking, it’s natural to feel changes.

How long do varenicline side effects last?

Varenicline side effects are usually mild and very common, they usually resolve within the first few weeks of treatment as your body adjusts to the medication.

If you experience persistent or bothersome symptoms since beginning your treatment with varenicline, you should contact your doctor.

What to do if you get varenicline side effects

If you experience mild side effects of varenicline, you should be able to manage them at home.

Nausea

For nausea, we recommend taking varenicline tablets with a full glass of water and food. If you are finding it difficult to eat, eat plain foods like toast, rice, or crackers before taking the tablet. You should also stay hydrated.

Headaches

If you are experiencing headaches, you can take over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen to lessen the pain.

Congestion or flu-like symptoms

Flu-like symptoms like coughing, sore throat, and congestion are very common when quitting smoking with varenicline. For this we recommend resting. These symptoms should ease with time and are a part of your body adjusting to your new lifestyle without nicotine.

If your mild symptoms become persistent and begin to interrupt your daily life whilst taking varenicline, you should discuss reducing your dose with your doctor.

If you are experiencing psychological or mental health symptoms of quitting smoking, this is completely normal in the process of the journey to quitting smoking. However if you feel like you are a risk to yourself or others, you should seek immediate medical help.

Anxiety, depression and changes in thinking are common side effects of the withdrawal process. There are various ways to combat mental health on the quit smoking journey, reach out to your support network for help, or contact the NHS Smokefree Helpline.

Varenicline is an effective medication for quitting smoking, though this does not mean it is necessarily suitable for everyone.

Do not take varenicline if you are allergic to ingredients in the medication.

When requesting varenicline, you should inform your doctor if you have:

• a history of psychiatric disorders (if you have a loved one with one, or if you have a psychiatric disorder)
• cardiovascular problems or cardiovascular events have happened to family members (such as a stroke or heart attack)
• experienced seizures or epilepsy

Varenicline may affect the effectiveness of medications, or other medications might affect the way varenicline works. For this reason, it is important to let your prescribing doctor know if you are taking:

• theophylline
• warfarin
• cimetidine
• insulin

You must not take varenicline if you:

• are under the age of 18
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Varenicline and alcohol

There is currently no information on whether varenicline and alcohol have a direct negative interaction, although there have been reports of increased intoxicating effects of alcohol by patients taking varenicline.

Varenicline and driving and machine usage

Varenicline may cause dizziness or sleepiness. You should not use machines or drive if these side effects of varenicline apply to you.

If you are unsure if varenicline is suitable for you, there are other smoking cessation aids available.

At Asda Online Doctor we offer:

• Cytisine
• Zyban

Cytisine contains the active ingredient cytisine and works in a very similar way to varenicline in the way that it reduces the urge to smoke by blocking nicotine from releasing the happy hormone (dopamine) in your brain.

It is an effective treatment. A clinical review found that 10 to 18 out of every 100 people successfully quit smoking, compared to 6 out of 100 when using no medication or a placebo.

In the same study, it was reported that 12 to 16 patients out of every 100 quit smoking with varenicline. Although, clinical reports have found patients experienced fewer side effects using cytisine compared to varenicline.

Zyban contains the active ingredient bupropion, which was originally used to treat depression. It is an effective stop smoking treatment, reducing the nicotine withdrawal symptoms typically experienced when quitting smoking. Studies have found approximately 1 in 5 smokers successfully stop smoking and remain non-smoking within 1 year of therapy with bupropion.