Get Informed: Chantix
Active Ingredient(s)
Varenicline
What does it do?
This product is used to aid in smoking cessation. It works by blocking the nicotine receptors so that nicotine cannot activate the brain to produce dopamine.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 10:31 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:02 PM
Other Names
- Chantix
- Varenicline
- Champix
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
Black Box Warning
FORTHCOMING: The product will have a Black Boxed Warning relating to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and changes in mood and behavior.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 10 May 2006
- Est US Patients*
- 1,988,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Chantix or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Chantix Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Chantix interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Chantix used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 13,200 patients that use Chantix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking Addiction | 95% | 
|
| Other | 5% | 
|
How well does Chantix work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 13,200 users taking Chantix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 77%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Chantix outweigh the bad things.
- 4%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Chantix.
Common Side Effects of Chantix
iGuard regularly polls our more than 13,200 users taking Chantix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
50% of patients experience side-effects on Chantix
9% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Chantix
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Vivid Dreams
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Restlessness
-
Chest Pain/Tightness
-
Weakness
-
Swelling/Edema
-
Headache
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Chantix (Varenicline) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
After trying to give up smoking for many year at last Champix has worked for me. Going from 15-20 to nil in 10 wks, with almost no side effects. I am 66yrs and have been smoking since the age of 14yrs. So I can only praise Champix, so keep trying.
67 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-19 08:01:41
Question/Comment:
I'm 51 and tried Chantix for 3 weeks the first time then ran our and started smoking again. The second time I started within a week of running our the first time and for two weeks I was so depressed all I could think of was how everyone would be better off without me. I went through some really bad depressive moods. I don't know if it was because of the pills I was already on or the meds. As long as I was taking them I didn't smoke. I'm still smoking. Wish I could find something like that again.
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-23 16:58:37
Answer/Reply:
Don't give up, keep trying until you quit, if you are depressed when you quit smoking always remember tomorrow will be a better day.
From an ex smoker after 30 years.
50 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-27 11:18:42
Question/Comment:
Hi, I am 45 year old male. I am convinced that Chantix is not the replacement for "quitting on your own" but the best you have in market with some dangerouse and long term side effects. I took Chantix starter pack knowing that it better of the two evils (side effect vs. smoking). I have been smoke free for last 2 and 1/2 months. I still get fleeting urge or thought of smoking, specially during rare 'trigger' or high stress situations. Two things I have seen with Chantix that happened to me, is this feeling of extreme disconnection or apathy and direct influence on my blood sugar. After 2 1/2 month the psychological issue is little better but I am still struggling to concentrate (or be passionate about work, feelings, prayers etc), hope this will get better but I know for sure the elevated blood sugar is permanent. I had to bump my medication to manage my blood sugar. In fact I was pre-diabetic for a long time, in my previous attempt to quit via wellbutrin made me diabetic and after 3 years I took Chantix for a month, and observed next level of bump in blood sugar for the second time. I am not overweight or have any issues with my diet. In other words be careful if you have family history of diabetes or pre-diabetic. I think these smoking cessation medications should have this as a warning on the box.
45 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-18 08:55:59
Question/Comment:
Will this help me lose weight?
26 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-12 14:25:12
Answer/Reply:
No it will not. I gained 30 pounds while taking this. I have 3 other friends that has gained weight too. We were all little people until we took it. We gained weight in breast, hips, thighs & butt. We have not been able to lose it.
48 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-19 00:00:28
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Chantrix has an equal chance of causing stimulation of appetite, which could lead to weight gain, or loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss. A conscience realization that taking Chantrix can lead to an increased appetite could help to control eating habits.
Posted: 2009-09-20 01:31:18
Answer/Reply:
if you are only using it to lose weight i highly reccommend you do not use this.....my dad takes alli and he said it works great...and i have noticed a weight loss with him....but if you are taking chantix to quit smoking then you will probably lose weight.....it has a tendency to make you really nauseous and not want to eat a whole lot
38 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-03 17:04:46
Question/Comment:
I'm 33 & smoked for 24 years....I smoked Camel Studs (non-filtered). I also LOST 40 lbs on Chantix....20 lbs. in the past 30 days!
I experienced SEVERE side effects with Chantix (but I'm on quite a few dangerous meds and am hyper-sensitive)...Nausea, DEATH, Depression & Anorexia...the dreams too but vivid dreams aren't a big deal in my opinion.
1st Nausea
I was fine on 0.5 mgs but when I went to 1mg BID (twice a day) I got sick...sick...sick. However, I had Promethazine (aka. Phenergan) for nausea from opiates. This helped immensely! After a few days my body adjusted...or so I thought?
2nd DEATH! (a Deadly Drug Mix? or an Allergy?)
Was visiting my parents, took a shower one morning & couldn't breathe. I barely pulled my clothes on before staggering out, to my mom, turning blue & collapsing. She called 911...and started petting me like you do an animal when it's put to sleep. Apparently, oxygen is really important stuff....who'd of thunk it? After CPR, intubation (gack!), and an IV I awoke to 30 people staring at me...1st responders, police, EMTs, Sheriff, Fire Dept...where they added more heavy meds to an already serious load. Including 1 that always makes me severely depressed...even suicidal in the past.
3rd a 'Different' Type of Depression
Then came extreme apathy which I still have. It's not like depression I've experienced in the past my thinking is like.....
Smoke? don't smoke? ummm....Maybe later
Eat? don't eat? ummmm.....Maybe later (the reason I lost 20 lbs in 30 days)
4th Anorexia
Food just doesn't even sound good, so I don't realize how little I'm eating.
Anyhow I no longer smoke & due to my weight loss I'm taking less of my other meds too. Now, if only I could enjoy these victories but...... go out? don't go out? ummmm....Maybe later
34 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 04:00:54
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144
Patient Comments about
Chantix