CHANTIX: Aid for Quitting Smoking

The FDA has recently approved Pfizer's Chantix, the new aid to smoking cessation, and Hanover Family Practice Associates is proud to announce that Chantix is available to our patients effective immediately.

Pfizer scientists developed CHANTIX™ (varenicline) specifically to help smokers quit. And it comes with a support plan that can help you learn to break the smoking routine.

How does CHANTIX work? First, you have to know how nicotine works.

There are receptors for nicotine in the brain. When smoke is inhaled, nicotine attaches to these receptors. This sends a message to a different part of the brain to release a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine gives a feeling of pleasure. But it only lasts for a short time. The body wants to repeat this feeling. Based on research, it is believed that CHANTIX™ (varenicline) works by activating these receptors and blocking nicotine from attaching to them. However, CHANTIX does not contain nicotine.

No other treatment has been proven to be more effective than CHANTIX.

CHANTIX has been proven to be more effective in helping smokers quit than Zyban®,* the only other nonnicotine prescription medicine for smoking cessation. In 2 independent studies, more smokers quit with CHANTIX at the end of 12 weeks.

Results are from 2 identically designed clinical trials in which patients received either CHANTIX 1 mg twice a day, Zyban 150 mg twice a day, or sugar pills twice a day for 12 weeks. Patients were given a booklet on quitting smoking. They also received counseling at each visit.

From weeks 9 through 12 in the study, the smoking status of each patient was checked. This information was compared among the 3 groups. Patients were considered quit if they did not smoke a cigarette or use other nicotine products for the final 4 weeks of treatment.

Benefits of CHANTIX

CHANTIX is proven to be effective, but it's not a magic pill. For most people, smoking is both a physical and behavioral addiction. That's why we also offer a support plan. CHANTIX can help reduce the urge to smoke. The GETQUIT™ Support Plan can help you learn to break your smoking routine.

How is CHANTIX different?

CHANTIX is different from other ways to quit. It contains no nicotine but works on the same receptors as nicotine. And it's the addiction to nicotine inhaled from smoking that makes quitting so hard.

CHANTIX™ (varenicline) comes in convenient weekly dose packs. Remember to always take CHANTIX as prescribed by your doctor. Please see the chart below for full dosage information.

If you have side effects with CHANTIX that bother you or don't go away, be sure to tell your doctor.

If you have kidney problems or get dialysis, be sure to tell your doctor before taking CHANTIX. Your dose may be lowered.

Some important things to remember:

• CHANTIX should be taken after eating.
• Drink a full glass (8 ounces) of water with your dose.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it's close to the time of your next dose, wait. Then just take your next regular dose.
• Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking before taking CHANTIX. Especially tell your doctor if you take insulin, asthma medications, or blood thinners. When you stop smoking, there may be a change in how these and other medicines work for you.

How to get started

Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking.

Start taking CHANTIX 1 week (7 days) before your quit date. This lets CHANTIX build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Make sure that you try and stop smoking on your quit date. If you slip, try again. Some people need a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best.

Most people will keep taking CHANTIX for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, ask your doctor if another 12 weeks of CHANTIX may help you stay cigarette-free.

It's been shown that smokers trying to quit are generally more likely to succeed with the help of a support plan than with medicine alone.

Why does CHANTIX™ (varenicline) come with its own support plan? To begin with, it's been shown that smokers trying to quit are more likely to succeed with the help of behavioral support than with medicine alone.

CHANTIX is proven to be effective, but it's not a magic pill. For most people, smoking is both a physical and behavioral addiction. That's why we also offer a support plan. CHANTIX can help reduce the urge to smoke. GETQUIT™ can help you learn to break your smoking routine.

12 weeks of CHANTIX + The GETQUIT Support Plan

Pills not actual size.

Developed by experts in smoking cessation, GETQUIT was created for people taking CHANTIX. GETQUIT gives you personalized support. The plan starts on your first day of treatment and lasts for 1 year from when you start the plan. It's like having your own "virtual motivator" focused on helping you succeed.

CHANTIX is a prescription medicine to help adults stop smoking.

In studies, the most common side effects for people who took CHANTIX were nausea, changes in dreaming, constipation, gas and/or vomiting.

In studies, nausea was the most common side effect in about 30% of patients. Generally it was mild to moderate and for most people, but not all, it went away. Most people were not bothered enough to stop taking CHANTIX.

If you have side effects with CHANTIX that bother you or don't go away, be sure to tell your doctor.

Taking CHANTIX and other smoking cessation medicines at the same time has not been studied and is therefore not recommended.

It's possible that you might slip up and smoke while taking CHANTIX. If you do, you can stay on CHANTIX and keep trying to quit.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking before taking CHANTIX. Especially tell your doctor if you take insulin, asthma medications or blood thinners. When you stop smoking, there may be a change in how these and other medicines work for you.

CHANTIX is for adults. Do not use CHANTIX if you are younger than 18 years old. Because it is more common for older to people to have kidney problems, be sure to talk with your doctor about how your kidneys are working before you take CHANTIX.

If you have kidney problems or get dialysis, be sure to tell your doctor before taking CHANTIX. Your dose may be lowered.

CHANTIX has not been studied in pregnant or nursing women. You should stop smoking before you become pregnant. If you take CHANTIX, discuss ways to feed your baby, other than breast feeding, with your doctor.

When you stop smoking, your body will need time to adjust to the absence of nicotine. You may feel side effects from this.

This product information is intended only for residents of the United States.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

Copyright © 2006 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved.

For more information on Chantix, visit Chantix.com

For more information on quitting smoking, visit the QuitAssist Resource Center

For more information on youth smoking prevention, visit the Parent Resource Center