Jabberwocky
Frumious Bandersnatch
[EDIT: If there is a chantix/varenicline megathread or something similar please just merge this, thank you! If not, maybe this thread could be a start? Just a thought 
]
The wiki article confirms what I had already suspected about Varenicline (Chantix) and how it works. My hypothesis, after reading through the package insert for Chantix, is similar to that regarding buprenorphine. As with bupe maintenance/detox, Varenicline outcompete/fills up certain receptors in the brain - analogous to how bupe out-competes other opioids and fills up the opioid receptors so that other opioids can't attach/stimulate them.
Like buprenorphine, Varenicline would seem to be a partial agonist, but there are some significant differences between the two. When I started Chantix, I was still smoking. So it's not exactly like bupe, no sir. If it was I'd have gone into precipitated nicotine withdrawal (or whatever) upon starting the Chantix. I undoubtedly had nicotine in my system when I did. There is a possibility I did go through this, and that it's just much less sever side effects next to buprenorphine and precipitated opioid withdrawal.
So, what happens with the Varenicline building up in my body/brain, filling more than more of those receptors normally stimulated/affects by the introduction of nicotine into one's system, nicotine has less and less of an affect on my self and the level of nicotine in my system, once I've finished cutting down and finally quit, drops lower and lower. With lower nicotine levels I've noticed that I can smell better, taste better, etc. etc. - things I'd associated with quitting smoking prior to this (but this is the first time I've tried something other than nicotine replacement therapy; with no nicotine in my system and not smoking, I find smells/tastes are still a lot more vibrant than they've been when on the patch or gum and not smoking).
Anywho, like how bupe prevents most other opioids from binding to one's opioid receptors, varenicline prevents nicotine from stimulating one's whatever-receptors. This means, not only am I less interested in smoking a fag generally, I'm not constantly thinking about when I'm going to have that next smoke or have any urge to smoke compulsively. That's the best parts about this whole thing for me. There is something about how varenicline works that makes its use for cessation more effective than NRT, as even on NRT I would still think about nicotine (either smoking or the buzz the patch/gum would give me). For the first time in a long time, I can sit still for three hours to watch a long drawn out movie. No longer do I have to dash out around the middle of a meal out to sneak a smoke.
It's still total forgien to simply not think so much about smoking, but I'm certainly enjoying this weirdness. I just need to make sure I continue to take advantage of this situation and get into healthier and healthier habits.
I've noticed literally no side effects from the varenicline, although I'm only on week three. Literally nothing, although I have noticed some positive and negative side effects from not having nicotine in my system. Here's how it's described on wikipedia:
What are your thoughts, for those of you who've tried Chantix, for better or worse. For those of your with neuroscience/related backgrounds, would you please be kind enough to explain this drug works? Thanks!
]The wiki article confirms what I had already suspected about Varenicline (Chantix) and how it works. My hypothesis, after reading through the package insert for Chantix, is similar to that regarding buprenorphine. As with bupe maintenance/detox, Varenicline outcompete/fills up certain receptors in the brain - analogous to how bupe out-competes other opioids and fills up the opioid receptors so that other opioids can't attach/stimulate them.
Like buprenorphine, Varenicline would seem to be a partial agonist, but there are some significant differences between the two. When I started Chantix, I was still smoking. So it's not exactly like bupe, no sir. If it was I'd have gone into precipitated nicotine withdrawal (or whatever) upon starting the Chantix. I undoubtedly had nicotine in my system when I did. There is a possibility I did go through this, and that it's just much less sever side effects next to buprenorphine and precipitated opioid withdrawal.
So, what happens with the Varenicline building up in my body/brain, filling more than more of those receptors normally stimulated/affects by the introduction of nicotine into one's system, nicotine has less and less of an affect on my self and the level of nicotine in my system, once I've finished cutting down and finally quit, drops lower and lower. With lower nicotine levels I've noticed that I can smell better, taste better, etc. etc. - things I'd associated with quitting smoking prior to this (but this is the first time I've tried something other than nicotine replacement therapy; with no nicotine in my system and not smoking, I find smells/tastes are still a lot more vibrant than they've been when on the patch or gum and not smoking).
Anywho, like how bupe prevents most other opioids from binding to one's opioid receptors, varenicline prevents nicotine from stimulating one's whatever-receptors. This means, not only am I less interested in smoking a fag generally, I'm not constantly thinking about when I'm going to have that next smoke or have any urge to smoke compulsively. That's the best parts about this whole thing for me. There is something about how varenicline works that makes its use for cessation more effective than NRT, as even on NRT I would still think about nicotine (either smoking or the buzz the patch/gum would give me). For the first time in a long time, I can sit still for three hours to watch a long drawn out movie. No longer do I have to dash out around the middle of a meal out to sneak a smoke.
It's still total forgien to simply not think so much about smoking, but I'm certainly enjoying this weirdness. I just need to make sure I continue to take advantage of this situation and get into healthier and healthier habits.
I've noticed literally no side effects from the varenicline, although I'm only on week three. Literally nothing, although I have noticed some positive and negative side effects from not having nicotine in my system. Here's how it's described on wikipedia:
Mechanism of Action said:
What are your thoughts, for those of you who've tried Chantix, for better or worse. For those of your with neuroscience/related backgrounds, would you please be kind enough to explain this drug works? Thanks!
Last edited by a moderator:
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
Although I think you already answered your own question very well - varenicline is very much to nicotine what buprenorphine is to opiates.
