During your research for stop-smoking treatments, you may have come across mentions of Champix, but also seen that it has been discontinued. Well, there is an alternative available.
What happened to Champix?
In 2021, Pfizer, the company that owns Champix, temporarily withdrew the medicine after discovering some impurities in the product.
As the patent expired, Varenicline is now available generically to support people to stop smoking.
What is Varenicline?
Varenicline, pronounced var-EN-i-kleen, is the generic (unbranded) version of Champix. It contains the same active ingredient, Varenicline, as Champix and has been shown to work as well as vapes and better than nicotine patches (1) when quitting smoking. It is currently sold in tablet form as a prescription-only daily medicine.
How does Varenicline work?
Varenicline works by getting in the way of the nicotine ‘hit’ a person feels when smoking. Usually, when smoking, nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes, triggers the release of dopamine (the feel-good hormone) which makes a person crave and enjoy smoking.
Varenicline works by getting in the way of this process by ‘absorbing’ the nicotine, reducing the enjoyment and craving for smoking and cigarettes. It also helps symptoms of withdrawal like feeling irritable and trouble with sleeping.
As with any medicine, there are some risks of side effects including nausea, headaches, and vivid dreams so please speak to your GP if you experience any. Always read the Patient Information Leaflet for any medicine you are prescribed.
Is Varenicline as effective as Champix?
Because Varenicline is a generic form of Champix, it works as well as the branded version. When used with complementary support like the NHS Stop Smoking App and counselling, Varenicline has been shown to help around 1 in 4 people stop smoking for at least six months (2).
Why choose a proven stop-smoking medicine?
Many people first try to quit smoking by going cold turkey, chewing gum or practising meditation to overcome cravings. However, these treatments don’t tackle that nicotine craving head-on, which is what makes stopping, or restarting after stopping, so difficult.
If that has happened to you, you’re not alone. Quitting smoking isn’t easy but with a combination of behavioural support and proven stop-smoking medicine, you can improve your chances of success to stay off cigarettes.
With the recall of Champix, it’s understandable that you might feel uncertain about stop-smoking medicines like Varenicline. However, it is considered the gold standard treatment for stopping smoking and is approved by the MHRA for use.
Where to get Varenicline
Varenicline cannot be bought over the counter or in shops. It is a prescription-only medicine, meaning it can only be prescribed by a doctor. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to see your family doctor to get a prescription. There are regulated online pharmacies like ours that can prescribe you the medicine you need without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Why choose Oxford Online Pharmacy for stop-smoking medicine?
Deciding to quit smoking takes a lot of courage, and sometimes the time it takes to get an appointment and go to the pharmacy is enough to lose the drive. Choosing a UK-regulated online pharmacy like ours can help quickly streamline treatment delivery to you, helping you get on your stopping journey when you’re feeling ready.
We put our patients' care above all else and are trusted by hundreds of thousands of customers. We understand that quitting smoking takes immense willpower, so let us help you live the smoking-free life you deserve.
References
- Gunn T. NHS England offers an improved stop-smoking pill to help people quit - Cancer Research UK - Cancer News [Internet]. Cancer Research UK - Cancer News. 2024.
- NHS England. NHS England» NHS Rolls out “stop-smoking” Pill to Help Tens of Thousands Quit [Internet]. England.nhs.uk. 2024.