Are You On The Point Of No Return - Champix Offers More Gain And Less Pain

Champix Side Effects

Smoking cessation, with or without treatment, can result in various symptoms like:

Mood changes

Feeling of depression
Irritability
Frustration
Anxiousness

Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty concentrating
Decreased heart rate
Increased appetite
Weight gain

Minor Side Effects of Champix

Quit smoking medicines, including Champix can bring on certain side effects that affect individuals in different ways. This side effect may or may not be a direct side effect of using this medicine and may possibly be a result of giving up smoking. However, stating a side effect here, in no way, means that everybody using Champix will experience that very side effect.

Mentioned below are some of the common side effects that are known to be associated with using Champix that helps in smoking cessation. The side effects that affect 1 in 10 people are:

Nausea
Headache
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
Abnormal dreams
Sleepiness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Change in taste
Dry mouth
Disturbances of the gut such as:

Constipation
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Abdominal discomfort or bloating
Indigestion
Flatulence

Increased appetite

Major Side Effects of Champix

Champix may also result in some not so common side effects that affect 1 in 1000 people approximately. These side effects are:

Decreased appetite
Inflammation of the:

Nose and throat (nasopharyngitis)
Sinuses (sinusitis)
Lungs (bronchitis)

Thirst
Shortness of breath, cough or hoarseness
Throat irritation
Runny nose
Snoring
Mood swings
Abnormal thinking
Changes in sex drive
Tremors
Abnormal co-ordination
Problems with speech
Restlessness or agitation
Palpitations or abnormal heartbeats
Abnormal intolerance to light
Skin reactions such as:

Rash
Itching
Sweating

Watery eyes
Increased urination
Chest pain
Increased blood pressure or heart rate
Increased weight
Joint stiffness
Feeling cold

Other rare but serious side effects that have come to light fairly recently are:

Depression
Suicidal thoughts
Heart attack

Combining Champix with other medications may not be such a good idea. Therefore, when you are on Champix, you must consult a doctor before starting any new medication or stopping any medication as your Champix dose may need altering. The doctor must have complete information about all the prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications you might be taking. This will ensure that the combination is safe for you.

Extensive studies have been conducted on combining Champix with other medications. Other smoking cessation medicines are therefore not recommended for use while on Champix. In addition, using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with Champix may bring on side effects like:

Nausea
Headache
Vomiting
Dizziness
Indigestion
Fatigue
Drop in blood pressure

Moreover, if you have severe kidney problems you must avoid taking drugs like Cimetidine in combination with Champix as this may increase the blood levels of Varenicline.

Likewise, the components in tobacco smoke have the potential to wash out medicines from the body at an above average pace. Similarly, if you are not smoking the same medicines are removed at a slower pace, causing the blood levels of Varenicline to increase. This means that your smoker or non-smoker status is going to be the deciding factor for most medicines you take. Medicines that can react with Champix are:

Clozapine
Dextropropoxyphene
Flecainide
Fluvoxamine
Olanzapine
Pentazocine
Phenylbutazone
Benzodiazepines like oxazepam
Beta-blockers like propranolol
Tacrine
Theophylline
Tricyclic antidepressants like imipramine
Warfarin

Smokers who suffer from diabetes normally need more insulin, as smoking reduces the amount of insulin that is absorbed into the blood from an injection under the skin.

Use of Champix is restricted in:

Pregnant women or women who plan on becoming pregnant
Children below the age of 18 years
Lactating mothers
People who are allergic to Champix ingredients