Keep a positive frame of mind and champix will help you sail through the smoking blues

Champix is a prescription medicine that helps adults 18 and over to achieve smoking cessation.

Define Champix Varenicline

Champix is a prescription medication that is used to help people who are addicted to nicotine and want to give up smoking. These tablets contain the active ingredient Varenicline, which acts in the brain, but differs from nicotine replacement therapy.

Varenicline, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and partial agonist, acts on the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. It works by stimulating the nicotinic receptors in the brain. Stimulation produces an effect that relieves nicotine craving. Once the nicotine craving is taken care of, the withdrawal symptoms simply do not occur. This makes it easier to achieve smoking cessation.

In addition, Varenicline blocks the nicotinic receptors from responding to the nicotine; this prevents inhaled tobacco from having a rewarding and enjoyable effect or giving the smoker the proverbial ‘kick’.

How to Use Champix Varenicline

Prior to starting Varenicline therapy, it is best to set a date quit date and then proceed to take the medicine about one to two weeks before that quit date. This gives Champix time to start working on the nicotinic receptors so that it becomes easy for you to quit on the date you have set for yourself. Give or take a few days, some people quit much before the quit date, but some find it impossible to quit on the set date also. Nevertheless, given time, one does quit with Champix.

You start by taking the bare minimal recommended dose and gradually increase dose in the first week of treatment. Then Champix is to be taken twice a day for 12 weeks. If you have successfully managed to achieve smoking cessation at the end of 12 weeks, the doctor may offer you a further 12 week course of Champix treatment. This is normally done to avoid relapse.

Champix tablets must not be broken, crushed or chewed. They are meant to be swallowed whole with a glass of water; however, it can be ingested with or without food. Champix increases your chances manifold of successfully achieving smoking cessation.

Precautions when using Champix

As with any other drug, Champix also comes with strict precautionary guidelines that must be adhered to – in order to achieve smoking cessation – as well as keeping oneself at bay from serious life-threatening side effects. Patient reports reveal that some people witness changes in behavior, thoughts and actions when attempting to quit smoking with Champix. In case you, your family, or another caregiver notices these changes that are not normally typical for you, you must stop taking Champix and call the doctor right away.

Champix may make you feel dizzy or sleepy and therefore even impair your ability to perform potentially hazardous tasks like driving or operating machinery.

In addition, reports of suicidal thoughts or behaviour have been rampant. But, this is difficult to pinpoint as quitting itself can make people depressed, especially if they already have a history of mental health problem and depression associated with suicidal thoughts. However, not everyone will experience the above mentioned side effects. But in case you feel you are veering towards these negative side effects, you should immediately stop the use of Champix and consult your doctor.

Webmaster associated with online clinic "HealthExpress" this site provides various information on Champix (Varenicline) and helps people in curing Smoking Cessation, resources are available on site HealthExpress.co.uk.

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Are you on the point of no return – champix offers more gain and less pain

Champix Side Effects

Smoking cessation, with or without treatment, can result in various symptoms like:

• Mood changes

• Feeling of depression
• Irritability
• Frustration
• Anxiousness

• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating
• Decreased heart rate
• Increased appetite
• Weight gain

Minor Side Effects of Champix

Quit smoking medicines, including Champix can bring on certain side effects that affect individuals in different ways. This side effect may or may not be a direct side effect of using this medicine and may possibly be a result of giving up smoking. However, stating a side effect here, in no way, means that everybody using Champix will experience that very side effect.

Mentioned below are some of the common side effects that are known to be associated with using Champix that helps in smoking cessation. The side effects that affect 1 in 10 people are:

• Nausea
• Headache
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Abnormal dreams
• Sleepiness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Change in taste
• Dry mouth
• Disturbances of the gut such as:

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort or bloating
• Indigestion
• Flatulence

• Increased appetite

Major Side Effects of Champix

Champix may also result in some not so common side effects that affect 1 in 1000 people approximately. These side effects are

• Decreased appetite
• Inflammation of the:
• Nose and throat (nasopharyngitis)
• Sinuses (sinusitis)
• Lungs (bronchitis)
• Thirst
• Shortness of breath, cough or hoarseness
• Throat irritation
• Runny nose
• Snoring
• Mood swings
• Abnormal thinking
• Changes in sex drive
• Tremors
• Abnormal co-ordination
• Problems with speech
• Restlessness or agitation
• Palpitations or abnormal heartbeats
• Abnormal intolerance to light
• Skin reactions such as:
  

• Rash
• Itching
• Sweating
  

• Watery eyes
• Increased urination
• Chest pain
• Increased blood pressure or heart rate
• Increased weight
• Joint stiffness
• Feeling cold

Other rare but serious side effects that have come to light fairly recently are:

• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Heart attack

Combining Champix with other medications may not be such a good idea. Therefore, when you are on Champix, you must consult a doctor before starting any new medication or stopping any medication as your Champix dose may need altering. The doctor must have complete information about all the prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications you might be taking. This will ensure that the combination is safe for you.

Extensive studies have been conducted on combining Champix with other medications. Other smoking cessation medicines are therefore not recommended for use while on Champix. In addition, using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with Champix may bring on side effects like:

• Nausea
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Fatigue
• Drop in blood pressure

Moreover, if you have severe kidney problems you must avoid taking drugs like Cimetidine in combination with Champix as this may increase the blood levels of Varenicline.

Likewise, the components in tobacco smoke have the potential to wash out medicines from the body at an above average pace. Similarly, if you are not smoking the same medicines are removed at a slower pace, causing the blood levels of Varenicline to increase. This means that your smoker or non-smoker status is going to be the deciding factor for most medicines you take. Medicines that can react with Champix are:

• Clozapine
• Dextropropoxyphene
• Flecainide
• Fluvoxamine
• Olanzapine
• Pentazocine
• Phenylbutazone
• Benzodiazepines like oxazepam
• Beta-blockers like propranolol
• Tacrine
• Theophylline
• Tricyclic antidepressants like imipramine
• Warfarin

Smokers who suffer from diabetes normally need more insulin, as smoking reduces the amount of insulin that is absorbed into the blood from an injection under the skin.

Use of Champix is restricted in:

• Pregnant women or women who plan on becoming pregnant
• Children below the age of 18 years
• Lactating mothers
• People who are allergic to Champix ingredients

Webmaster associated with online clinic "HealthExpress" this site provides various information on Champix (Varenicline) and helps people in curing Smoking Cessation, resources are available on site HealthExpress.co.uk.

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Put your most potent dependence recovery weapon to work - your willpower

Risk Factors of Smoking

Smoking – however controlled – has been linked to serious health risks. It affects the:

Lungs: It has been revealed that smoking alone is accountable for about 90% of the deaths due to lung cancer. Moreover, it may result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which also includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Asthamatic smokers who give up smoking can improve their lung function in as little as a week. Therefore the harmful effects of smoking can be easily reversed.

Cardiovascular System: Tobacco, in all its forms (smoking, chewing tobacco and inhaling second hand smoke), is known to raise the risk of heart attacks. Smokers face a risk up to three times greater of having a heart attack compared to non-smokers. The risk of heart attacks among those who have stopped smoking slowly decreases over time.

Effects on Male Fertility and Impotence: Smoking negatively affects a man's sexuality and fertility. It is said to be a contributory factor in impotence because it decreases the blood flow into the penis. In men with high blood pressure, smoking causes an almost 26-fold increase in impotence.

Smoking weakens sperm motility, decreases sperm lifespan, and has the potential to cause genetic changes that can affect the offspring. In addition, smokers (both men and women) are found to have lower success rates with fertility treatments. Moreover, studies have revealed that male smokers have a decreased libido and therefore less frequent sex.

Effects on Female Infertility, Pregnancy, and Childbirth: In women, smoking is linked to many reproductive problems. Smoking during pregnancy may affect the health of the foetus. Negative effects of smoking on female fertility include:

• Greater risk for infertility (in women who smoke one or more packs a day or start smoking before the age of 18
• Earlier menopause (because toxins in cigarette smoke damage the eggs)
• Pregnancy complications (smoking increases the risk for ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage)

Medical Advice for Stop Smoking

It is the nicotine in cigarettes that causes the addiction. However, nicotine replacement products help in smoking cessation. They deliver small, measured doses of nicotine into the body. This helps relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms and thus help people quit smoking.

These nicotine replacement products prevent the person from inhaling tobacco smoke which contains many toxic and cancer-causing substances. Even long-term use of nicotine replacement products is not known to be associated with any serious harmful effects.

All the approved nicotine replacement products are equally effective. They are:

Nicotine Patch is available without a prescription. This patch is changed daily and worn on a different location everyday. It sends a steady amount of nicotine into the body. The nicotine patch comes as pat of an 8-week quit smoking treatment. As the treatment progresses, nicotine doses are gradually lowered. However it is not advisable for people who are allergic to adhesive tape or who have skin problems. In addition, people who experience side effects like vivid dreams must opt to wear the patch only during the day.

Nicotine Gum is an over-the-counter treatment and comes in 2mg and 4mg strengths. A new gum every 1 or 2 hours releases steady amounts of nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. The 4mg dose works better for the highly dependent smokers, smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day. However, nicotine gum might not be suitable for people with dentures and bridges or for people with temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) disease. When on nicotine gum, use of beverages like coffee, juice or other acidic beverages must be curtailed.

Nicotine Lozenge is also available without a prescription in 2mg and 4mg strengths. Acting in a similar fashion to the nicotine gum, the lozenge is placed between the cheek and gum tissue and allowed to dissolve, releasing nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. A new lozenge can be sucked every 1 or 2 hours. Consumption of coffee, juice and other acidic beverages must be stopped while sucking on the nicotine lozenge.

Nicotine Nasal Spray is a prescription only drug. It comes in a pump bottle and can be inhaled when the urge to smoke arises. This is the fastest absorbing nicotine replacement therapy. However, this product is not recommended for people with nasal or sinus conditions, allergies, asthma or young tobacco users. Side effects from this product include sneezing, coughing, and watering eyes which usually go away with continued use.

Nicotine Inhaler, also available on prescription only, delivers the vaporized form of nicotine. It is inhaled through a mouthpiece attached to a plastic cartridge but like a cigarette it does not deliver nicotine directly into the lungs. Most of the nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and the throat. Common side effects include throat and mouth irritation and coughing. People with a bronchial problem such as asthma must use this product with caution.

Various nicotine replacement therapies can be combined upon recommendation from a health care provider. In addition, it is advisable to for smokers to quit using tobacco products before starting the use of nicotine replacement products because nicotine overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, weakness and rapid heartbeat.

Non-nicotine drugs that help people quit smoking are:

Zyban® (Bupropion) is approved for the treatment of nicotine addiction. It helps reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms as well as the urge to smoke. It can also be used safely with nicotine replacement products. Some of its common side effects are dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, headache, dizziness, and skin rash. People who are on other medicines that contain Bupropion hydrochloride and people who have been diagnosed with a seizure condition such as epilepsy or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia must not take this medication. Combining alcohol with Bupropion increases the risk of a seizure.

Champix™ Varenicline is a prescription smoking cessation drug. It helps with quit smoking by easing the withdrawal symptoms and blocking the effects of nicotine if smoking is resumed. Some common Varenicline side effects include nausea, vivid dreams, constipation, gas, and vomiting. People with kidney problems, pregnant women and lactating mothers should not use this drug.

Although Nortriptyline and Clonidine are not currently approved, doctors sometimes do prescribe these drugs to help people quit smoking.

Alternative approaches for stop smoking are

• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture
• Acupressure
• Laser therapy
• Electro-stimulation

Some people claim that alternative approaches may help in reducing the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal. However, clinical studies have not been able to prove this point.

How Champix is a better smoking cessation treatment?

Champix is a non-nicotine smoking cessation drug. It targets the same receptors that nicotine does. While, most other smoking cessation drugs contain nicotine in varying amounts, with Champix, the person is safe and will no have to gradually wean off it as is the case with nicotine based smoking cessation therapies that could prove to be addictive.

Champix is a prescription drug which contains the active ingredient Varenicline. It works by stimulating the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. This helps relieve the craving and withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit smoking. Varenicline blocks nicotine’s action on these receptors. As a result, smoking no longer comes across as enjoyable. In certain individuals stopping the use of Champix may result in:

• A craving to smoke
• Irritability
• Depression
• Insomnia

However, gradually tapering off the dose at the end of the treatment may help in reducing these problems. As with all prescriptions medications, Champix too has its share of side-effects and this could put people off from using the drug. But, some people may not be suitable for this treatment. A medical professional is the best person to take a call on this.

Webmaster associated with online clinic "HealthExpress" this site provides various information on Champix (Varenicline) and helps people in curing Smoking Cessation, resources are available on site HealthExpress.co.uk.

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