Question about Varenicline (Champix). A treatment to help nicotine addiction

[uponbenzos]

I quit smoking 2 months ago by using NRT. But im still taking the max dose of Nicotine gum. a day. It only recommends no more than 10 4mg gums a day but I sometimes chew more. Anyways. I tried cutting down the gum but I get w/d & chewing the gum is a habit like smoking itself. I cant cut down the gum. It's like when I smoked. I couldnt limit myself to a certain amount a day. It was either smoke as many as I wanted or not smoke at all & be in w/d.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champix

Varenicline (trade name Chantix in the USA and Champix in Canada, Europe and other countries, marketed by Pfizer, usually in the form of varenicline tartrate), is a prescription medication used to treat smoking addiction. Varenicline stimulates nicotine receptors more weakly than nicotine does, that is, it is a nicotinic receptor partial agonist. In this respect it is similar to cytisine and different from the nicotinic antagonist, bupropion, and nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like nicotine patches and nicotine gum. As a partial agonist it both reduces cravings for and decreases the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Through these mechanisms it can assist some patients to quit smoking.

Is the reason why it reduces cravings because ya dont have as bad a w/d or because there's less point to smoking because it has reduced effects?

Im assuming it's like Subutex with opiates. It reduces w/d & reduces the effects of opiates at the same time. I just wanted to make sure.

 

[BabyGurl3171]

I'm not 100% on the reason it's suppose to work. However, I tried it 3 separate times. All 3 times I'd vomit profusely if I smoked & had night terrors.
Needless to say I gave up on Chantix all 3 times.
The vomitin I can handle, the night terrors (terrifyin) weren't worth it *for me*. It's a side effect too, not a bad reaction.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Yes you are right in assuming Champix for nicotine is similar to Subutex for opiate use. Varenicline is a nicotinic receptor partial agonist. It stimulates nicotine receptors but does it more weakly than nicotine does. It reduces cravings as well as decreasing the pleasurable effects felt from nicotine.

Nausea, headaches, insomnia and nightmares are all common side effects with varenicline. But that doesn't mean you'll necessarily get them. However, friends of mine who have tried both have had more luck and fewer side effects with bupropion, which works differently from varenicline. In case you're interested, the way bupropion (Zyban) works is basically it gives you similar effects to nicotine (it's an anti-depressant and mild stimulant) and at the same time blocks nicotine from affecting you.

 

[Sprout]

My father had a full scale psychotic breakdown as a result of taking this shit.
If you're taking it make sure your GP is easily contactable.

 

[Huey1978]

Hi

I started taking champix, I had the 7 day dose then started taking the double dose or week 2, I am still smoking had 2 tablets and feel weird, have funny stomach feelings, but the most concerning thing is erectile dysfunction seem to have no feeling there and can't get an erection.
Has anyone had this trouble? Will it cause permanent damge?