How does Champix help you quit smoking?
Champix, or varenicline tartrate, has a two-way mechanism of action to help you quit smoking. As a partial agonist, it binds with the receptors in your brain that are stimulated every time you derive nicotine from smoking. This binding partially stimulates these nicotine receptors, but at the same time partially blocks them too. First, the stimulation they create mimics the way nicotine affects your brain, so it’s like tricking your body into feeling that its nicotine cravings are at least partly satisfied. This leads to a lesser intensity of cravings and withdrawal symptoms on your part.
Second, the blocking they do to these receptors is a helpful action every time nicotine is actually present in your bloodstream—that is, when you do get tempted to puff a cigarette. Because Champix occupies the nicotinic receptors, nicotine cannot bind to them and thus cannot elicit the pleasurable effects they usually have without Champix treatment. With this blunting of the positive response to smoking, you would feel less urged to continue the habit.
What dosage strengths and Champix packs are available?
Champix comes in two dosage strengths. The lower dosage (0.5mg) is a white tablet, while the higher dosage (1mg) is a light blue tablet. Standard Champix therapy starts off with a dose of 0.5mg once daily for the first three days. For the following Days 4 to 7 of treatment, the dosage is increased to 0.5mg twice daily, one taken in the morning and the other taken in the evening. Starting Day 8 until the therapy is completed for a total of 12 weeks, the dose is further increased to 1mg taken twice a day, again with one morning and one evening dose.
You can buy Champix online, and the tablets are usually pre-packaged to contain a supply for a specified period of time. An initial or starter pack includes a combination of both 0.5mg and 1mg tabs enough for the first two weeks of therapy. A combo pack which packages the 2-week starter pack with a 2-week continuation pack is also available for a full month’s supply of the drug. If you don’t want any more calculating of the number of tablets you’ll need to purchase for the entire course of treatment, a full course pack which already includes the 2-week starter kit plus 10 weeks’ worth of refill is also available for a single purchase that will save you from any more hassles.
After buying your Champix tablets online, make sure you store them in a cool, dry place at temperatures not exceeding 30˚C to maintain their potency. Individually take out each tablet from the pack only when it is time to take it. It may also help if you take Champix about the same time daily. Consistently following the prescribed treatment regimen will definitely help you succeed in quitting smoking with through Champix.