What is Varenicline?
Varenicline is a smoking-quitting medication. It's used along with counseling and behavior modification assistance to help you quit smoking cigarettes.
Varenicline can also be employed for other purposes that are not covered in this guideline.
Side effects of Varenicline
Contact emergency medical assistance when you are experiencing symptoms that indicate an allergic reaction (hives or breathing difficulties and swelling in your throat or face) or an extreme skin reaction (fever and sore throat, burnt eyes, irritation, purple or red skin rash that blisters as well as peeling).
Varenicline could cause serious adverse side effects. Stop using varenicline immediately and consult your doctor immediately in the event that you experience:
- A seizure (convulsions);
- Thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself;
- Strange dreams, sleepwalking, trouble sleeping;
- Newly developed or deteriorating mental health conditions, including mood or behavior changes, depression, agitation, aggression, and hostility;
- Heart attack symptoms include chest pressure or pain, pain that spreads into your shoulder or jaw, nausea, sweating, and the list goes on.
- Stroke symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness (especially on the opposite part of your body) or slurred speech. difficulties with balance or vision.
Family members and other carers should be attentive to any changes in your attitude or behavior.
Common adverse effects of varenicline could include:
- Nausea (which may persist for several months), vomiting;
- Constipation, gas;
- Sleep problems (insomnia);
- Bizarre fantasies.
There isn't an exhaustive listing of all possible side consequences, as other consequences could also occur. Contact your doctor to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You may report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
If you quit smoking, you might experience withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, regardless of whether you take medications like varenicline. This includes feeling uneasy, sad, and angry. You may also feel frustrated, angry, or even mad.
Stop taking varenicline and consult your physician about symptoms of depression such as anger, agitation, hostility, and aggression, or thoughts of suicide or harming yourself.
Don't drink huge amounts of alcohol. Varenicline can increase the effects of alcohol or alter how you react to it.
Before you Take this Drug
It is not recommended to use varenicline when you've used it previously and suffered from:
- An allergic reaction that is serious, such as trouble breathing, swelling of your face (lips, tongue, and throat), and neck
- A serious skin reaction that causes irritation in your mouth or a skin rash that peels.
Inform your doctor if you have ever suffered from:
- Depression or mental illness
- A seizure;
- Kidney disease (or if you're taking dialysis);
- Problems with blood vessels or the heart and
- If you drink alcohol.
Inform your doctor if you are expecting. It's not clear if varenicline is harmful to the unborn baby when you take the medication during pregnancy. But using tobacco while pregnant could cause harm to the baby and result in a birth defect.
If you breastfeed when taking varenicline, your baby could vomit or spit more frequently than usual and might experience seizures.Varenicline is not recommended for use by anyone less than 18 years old.
How to Take Varenicline?
Follow the directions on the prescription label and go through all medication guides or instruction sheets. Be sure to use the drug exactly according to instructions.
When you first begin taking varenicline, you'll begin with small amounts and gradually increase the dosage within the first few days. Use varenicline frequently to reap the greatest benefits.
You can choose between three ways to take varenicline. Discuss with your physician which one is the best one for you.
- Make a plan to quit smoking cigarettes and begin taking varenicline a week prior to the date. You must stop smoking before your quit date. Varenicline is a varenicline-based medication for a total of 12 weeks.
- Begin taking varenicline prior to setting a quit date. Choose the quit date to be within 8 to 35 days after the start of treatment. You can take varenicline for 12 weeks.
- Start taking varenicline. Gradually reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke throughout a 12-week time period until you don't smoke any cigarettes. You can continue taking varenicline for an additional 12 weeks, for an overall period of 24 weeks.
Take varenicline after eating. Consume the medicine in an entire glass of water.
If you quit smoking cigarettes, you might experience withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, regardless of whether you take medications like varenicline. Withdrawal symptoms include an increase in appetite, weight gain, problems sleeping, a slower heart rate, being anxious or agitated, and a desire to smoke.
The cessation of smoking can also lead to an increase or worsening of mental health problems, including depression.
Stop taking varenicline and consult your physician if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, being agitated, violent, and aggressive, or thoughts of taking your own life or hurting yourself.Keep at room temperature, free of heat and moisture.
Details on Dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Smoking Cessation:
The first 3 days: 0.5 mg once every day.
Days 4–7: 0.5 mg orally, 2 times per day.
Days 8 through the day 8: 1 mg taken orally two times per day
Time of treatment 12 weeks
Comments:
The patient must set an end date. The dose should begin about 2 to 3 weeks prior to the date. Alternatively, the patient could start treatment and stop smoking between the ages of 8 and 35.
Smoking cessation treatments tend to be successful when patients are motivated to quit smoking and are given additional information and assistance.
In treatment for quitting smoking, the chance of relapse is higher during the time immediately after the treatment has ended.
Use: As an aid in the treatment of smoking cessation
What Happens If I Miss a Dose?
The medication should be taken in the shortest time possible. Be sure to avoid missed doses when it's near the date of taking the following dose. Don't take two doses at a time.
Refill your prescription prior to the time that you are out of medication completely.
What Happens If I Overdose?
Get medical attention in an emergency or contact the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What Should be Avoided?
Do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol when you are taking varenicline. Varenicline can increase the effects of alcohol or alter your reaction to it. Certain varenicline users have reported strange and violent behavior or apathy when drinking alcohol.
Do not take other medications to stop smoking unless your physician recommends it. Utilizing varenicline when wearing nicotine patches could cause unpleasant adverse effects.
Avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you are aware of the effects of this medication on your body. Your reaction could be affected.
Interaction with Other Drugs
When you quit smoking, your physician may require adjustments to the dosages of some medications you take regularly.
Inform your doctor about the medicines you are currently taking as well as any medications you are about to start or stop taking.It includes over-the-counter and prescription medicines, vitamins and herbs. The interactions between these products are not included in this list.
