You are more likely to stop smoking if you are motivated to stop. Your doctor and pharmacist can provide advice, support and sources of further information to help ensure your attempt to stop smoking is successful.
Always take CHAMPIX exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Before starting your course of CHAMPIX you should usually decide on a date in the second week of treatment (between day 8 and day 14) when you will stop smoking. If you are not willing or able to set a target quit date within 2 weeks, you may choose your own target quit date within 5 weeks after starting treatment. You should write this date on the pack as a reminder.
CHAMPIX tablets should be swallowed whole with water.
The usual dose for adults which you should follow from Day 1 is described in the following table:
Week 1 Dose Day 1 - 3 From day 1 to day 3, you should take one white CHAMPIX 0.5 mg film-coated tablet once a day. Day 4 - 7 From day 4 to day 7, you should take one white CHAMPIX 0.5 mg film-coated tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Week 2 Day 8 14 From day 8 to day 14, you should take one light blue CHAMPIX 1 mg film-coated tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Weeks 3 - 12 Day 15 - end of treatment From day 15 until the end of treatment, you should take one light blue CHAMPIX 1 mg film-coated tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Should you experience adverse effects that you cannot tolerate your doctor may decide to reduce your dose temporarily or permanently to 0.5 mg twice daily.
After 12 weeks of treatment, if you have stopped smoking, your doctor may recommend an additional 12 weeks of treatment with CHAMPIX 1 mg film-coated tablets twice daily.
In smoking cessation therapy, risk of returning to smoking may be elevated in the period immediately following the end of treatment. Your doctor may decide to gradually lower your dose of CHAMPIX at the end of treatment.
If you have problems with your kidneys, you should speak to your doctor before taking CHAMPIX. You may need a lower dose.
If you take more CHAMPIX than you should
If you accidentally take more CHAMPIX than your doctor prescribed, you must seek medical advice or go to the nearest hospital casualty department immediately. Take your box of tablets with you.
If you forget to take CHAMPIX
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. It is important that you take CHAMPIX regularly at the same time each day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the tablet that you have missed.
If you stop taking CHAMPIX
It has been shown in clinical trials that taking all doses of your medicine at the appropriate times and for the recommended duration of treatment described above will increase your chances of stopping smoking. Therefore, unless your doctor instructs you to stop treatment, it is important to keep taking CHAMPIX, according to the instructions described in the table above.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.