Smoking cessation pill have been growing in popularity ever since their introduction into the market. Many smokers who would like to quit the habit take them in because of the idea that by just popping pill for the prescribed duration of their treatment would help them reduce the effects of nicotine and at the same time, wean them off their nicotine dependency. One of these anti-smoking pills is Chantix. This drug raises several questions that a smoker might be asking himself or herself before taking this in. What exactly is Chantix and what is composed of? How does it exactly work to curb up the urge to smoke? How often must one take this and how long will the treatment last? And most importantly, are there any side effects and precautions associated with it? In this article, we are going to look into these questions and answer them so as to gain a better understanding of this drug.

Chantix was developed by Pfzer, a pharmaceutical company. This is a prescription medication used to treat smoking addiction. The active substance in this drug is known as Varenicline. This substance is a known is a partial nicotronic agonist, or simply a chemical that does not provoke the natural body response to nicotine as it blocks or dampens the nervous system’s natural nicotine receptors. As such, the United States food and Drug administration (FDA) gave it a priority review on February 2006 after a study was conducted showing its effectiveness. In May of 2006 the FDA approved Chantrix and was made available for sale in both the United States and the European Union on August of the same year. Overall, this medication has been specifically developed to aid smokers from the age of eighteen and over stop smoking.

Chantix aids in smoking cessation by working in two ways first, it targets the nicotine receptors in the brain and attaches to them blocking nicotine from being absorbed by these receptors. Second, it activates these receptors into producing dopamine, a chemical found in the brain and is responsible for the pleasure senses in the body. Being a partial nicotronic agonist, it binds to the nicotinic receptors in the brain and partially simulates these receptors without producing the full effect of nicotine. Furthermore varenicline, the active chemical found in this prescription drug, blocks the ability of nicotine to bind and stimulate the release of dopamine. Instead, it takes the place of nicotine in doing such. Although Chantix does not contain nicotine, it activates these receptors in the brain and causes a limited and controlled release of dopamine into the body. Hence it could be said that this medication work akin to Nicotine Replacement Therapies like nicotine patches and gums.

As to its dosage and use, this drug comes in two kinds of pill colors to differentiate the different dosages. The white tablet contains 0.5 mg while the blue one contains 1 mg. The usual recommended initial dosage is one 0.5 mg once a day. This can later be increased to 0.5 mg twice a day after three days. After seven days the dosage can be increased to 1 mg twice daily after seven days. Chantix is generally taken with a glass of water and a person taking this should neither skip doses or “double dose” once a dose has been skipped. Treatment takes an average of twelve weeks; and to be totally smoking free, a person may continue taking this pill in for another twelve weeks after the initial first twelve weeks. The effects may vary from one individual to another so it would be right to see a doctor before starting and be under a doctor’s supervision during the duration of the treatment. It is recommended that a smoker begins his or her Chantix treatment a week before stopping smoking completely, this is in order for the medication to build up in the body. A person may still continue to smoke during the first week of the treatment but must stop cold turkey on the eighth day of the treatment.

Chantix is considered to be a potent smoking cessation prescription drug in the medical circle. In a study involving two thousand long-time smokers who have been administered this drug; it was proven that Chantix is four times more effective compared to other smoking cessation medications. However, there are certain side effects associated with the taking in of this drug. The common side effects of this medication include: nausea, sleeping disorder and abnormal dreams, headache, change in taste, vomiting abdominal pain, constipation and flatulence. These are just the “tip of the iceberg” so to speak. In November 2007, the FDA has received alarming post-marketing reports from patients using Chantix for their smoking cessation treatment. These reports states that people who take in this medication experience several serious symptoms that includes suicidal ideations and behavior, erratic behavior, depression and severe mood swings. Due to this, the FDA issued an alert warning people as well as ordering further studies to see if there is a relation between Chantix and these reported serious neuropsychiatric symptoms. The FDA further recommended doctors and patient to pay close attention to any sudden mood swing that may be observed.

As a result of the FDA’s findings, the Institute for Safe medication Practices (ISMP) conducted an analysis on Chantix and has found out that this drug accounted for more side effects than any other drug. Suicidal acts and ideation, psychosis, and hostility or aggression, including homicidal ideation, were the most prominent psychiatric side effects. Other newly discovered side effects include heart rhythm disturbance, skin irritation, vision impairment and abnormal muscle spasms to name a few. As a result the FDA required Chantix to carry a black box warning, the agency’s strongest safety warning.

As a result of these side effects doctors recommend a number of precautions to smokers who wish to take Chantix. Pregnant and breastfeeding women must avoid taking this as this may cause adverse effects upon the child’s development. Because of the relationship between the neuropsychiatric effects of Chantrix, it is not advisable that people with a history of anxiety attacks and depression should take them in. furthermore this drug must not be taken together with insulin, blood thinners, vitamins and asthma medications as their chemical make up might offset each other. It is strongly recommended then, that smokers must consult their doctors and acquire a prescription from them before proceeding to such treatment.

Studies have shown that Chantix is a very potent and effective medication to help overcome nicotine dependency and fight off the discomfort posed by nicotine withdrawal. However, this is not the miracle “cure-all” that smokers have long been waiting for. Together with its potency comes a whole number of mundane and severe side effects that smokers who wish to try them pay close attention to. Hence, the advise and supervision of competent medical authorities is strongly needed.

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  3. Are Stop-Smoking Prescription Drugs Addictive?
  4. Can Pills Help People Stop Smoking?
  5. What Are the Side Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

Tagged with: side effects of chantix

Filed under: Smoking Research

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