Varenicline Tartrate
About Varenicline Tartrate
Varenicline Tartrate is a prescription oral medicine used to help adults stop smoking. It helps reduce the urge to smoke and relieves the withdrawal symptoms that often come with giving up nicotine. Using this medicine makes it easier to quit smoking permanently when combined with a support program.
To get the best results, you must take Varenicline Tartrate consistently every day as directed by your doctor, usually starting a week or two before your target quit date. It is best taken after a meal with a full glass of water to reduce the chance of experiencing nausea. Combining this treatment with counselling and behavioural support significantly increases your chances of successfully quitting.
While taking Varenicline Tartrate, you may experience some common side effects like unusual dreams or mild nausea. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects, such as severe mood changes, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Before starting Varenicline Tartrate, talk to your doctor if you have a history of kidney problems, depression, or other mental health conditions, as well as any heart or blood vessel issues. Do not take this medicine if you have had a severe allergic reaction to it in the past.
This medicine can interact with alcohol, which may increase your risk of experiencing unusual or aggressive behaviour and lower your alcohol tolerance. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or elderly, you should consult your healthcare provider before starting Varenicline Tartrate to ensure it is safe for your situation.
Uses of Varenicline Tartrate
Medicinal Benefits
Varenicline Tartrate helps you quit smoking by reducing cravings and making it easier to stay committed to a smoke-free lifestyle.
The following are the benefits of Varenicline Tartrate:
- Helps reduce the urge to smoke during the quitting process.
- Reduces nicotine withdrawal symptoms that can make quitting difficult.
- Improves your ability to stay smoke-free and lowers the chance of relapse.
- Supports breaking the habit of smoking by making cigarettes less appealing.
- Provides long-term health benefits by reducing the risk of smoking-related diseases.
Directions for Use
- Varenicline Tartrate should be taken after food, or as a doctor advises.
- It is usually taken once or twice a day. However, follow your doctor's instructions regarding dosage and timing for optimal results.
- Swallow Varenicline Tartrate as a whole with a full glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Varenicline Tartrate
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Nausea or stomach discomfort
- Trouble sleeping or unusual, vivid dreams
- Headache
- Changes in taste or dry mouth
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- New or worsening mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, agitation, aggression, or thoughts of hurting yourself
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, skin rash, or peeling skin
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in your calf
- Seizures or sudden weakness on one side of your body
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Monitor your mood: Pay attention to any changes in your mood, behaviour, or thoughts. Ask a family member or close friend to watch for any unusual changes as well.
- Seek help for serious mood changes: Stop taking Varenicline Tartrate and contact your doctor immediately if you feel severely depressed, unusually aggressive, or have thoughts of harming yourself.
- Be careful with daily activities: Avoid driving, operating machinery, or doing tasks that require full alertness until you know how Varenicline Tartrate affects you.
- Report sleep problems: If you have vivid or disturbing dreams that affect your sleep, speak with your doctor. They may adjust the timing of your evening dose.
- Check the tablets before use: Make sure the tablets and their packaging are not damaged or discoloured. Do not take the medicine if the packaging is broken or the tablets look unusual.
Drug Interactions
- Medicines used to treat stomach ulcers (e.g., cimetidine): Taking this medication with cimetidine may increase the amount of Varenicline Tartrate in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects, especially if you have kidney problems.
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy (e.g., nicotine patches, gum, or sprays): Using these products while taking Varenicline Tartrate may increase side effects such as nausea, headache, vomiting, and dizziness.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Varenicline Tartrate as it may increase intoxicating effects.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is recommended to avoid taking Varenicline Tartrate if you are pregnant. However, please consult your doctor if you are pregnant before taking Varenicline Tartrate.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorVarenicline Tartrate may be excreted in human milk. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are breastfeeding as it is given to breastfeeding mothers only if the doctor thinks benefits are greater than risks.
Driving
unsafeVarenicline Tartrate may cause drowsiness, dizziness or temporary loss of consciousness. Therefore, avoid driving if you experience any of these effects after taking Varenicline Tartrate.
Liver
cautionTake Varenicline Tartrate with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Varenicline Tartrate with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeVarenicline Tartrate is not recommended for children below 18 years as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help relieve dry mouth and support your body's recovery while you quit smoking.
- Limit alcohol intake: Avoid or reduce alcohol while taking this medicine, as it may increase the risk of mood changes and affect how the medicine works.
- Manage smoking triggers: Recognise situations that make you want to smoke, such as stress, social events, or your morning coffee, and replace smoking with healthier habits like chewing sugar-free gum or taking a short walk.
- Stay physically active: Exercise regularly to help reduce stress, control nicotine cravings, and lower the chance of weight gain after quitting smoking.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Tobacco (nicotine) addiction: Smoking or chewing tobacco is both a psychological habit and physical dependence. Tobacco contains a chemical called 'nicotine', which is short-lived but highly addictive, and its regular usage can make a person crave it. Breathing or chewing tobacco provides a rush of adrenaline in the bloodstream and also triggers dopamine, which is associated with the brain's pleasure and reward centre. Regular nicotine consumption is hazardous to health and puts a person at high risk of lung and heart diseases. However, quitting nicotine is not an easy task. It causes withdrawal symptoms in the body, including irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, restlessness, depressed mood and insomnia (sleeplessness or lack of sleep).
FAQs
Varenicline Tartrate belongs to a group of medicines called smoking cessation aids used to reduce the craving to smoke and relieve withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking.
Varenicline Tartrate contains Varenicline tartrate that acts as a smoking cessation aid. It works by stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain and mimics the effect of nicotine. This produces an effect that decreases the urge to smoke and relieves withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking.
You are not recommended to take cimetidine with Varenicline Tartrate as it may increase the levels of Varenicline Tartrate in blood especially if you have a severe kidney problem. However, please consult your doctor before taking other medicines with Varenicline Tartrate.
Varenicline Tartrate may cause depression, changes in behaviour or suicidal thoughts in some people. However, if you experience any of these, avoid taking Varenicline Tartrate and consult your doctor immediately.
You are not recommended to stop taking Varenicline Tartrate without consulting your doctor as it may worsen the condition. Therefore, take Varenicline Tartrate for as long as your doctor has prescribed it and if you experience any difficulty while taking Varenicline Tartrate, please consult your doctor.
You are recommended to consult a doctor before using Varenicline Tartrate with other smoking cessation therapies.
It is recommended to limit or avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can increase the risk of unusual behaviour, mood swings, and memory issues, and you may find that your tolerance for alcohol is lower. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about alcohol use.
Some people experience mood changes, depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts while taking this medicine. If you or your family notice any unusual changes in your behaviour, stop taking the medicine and contact your healthcare provider right away. Talk to your doctor.
Nausea is a common side effect, especially during the first few weeks. To help prevent or reduce nausea, always take your tablet after a meal or a snack with a full glass of water. If the nausea is severe or does not go away, talk to your doctor.
There is limited research on the safety of this medicine during pregnancy or breastfeeding. You should weigh the benefits of quitting smoking against the potential risks with your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor.
Weight gain is very common when people quit smoking, regardless of whether they use medication, due to changes in metabolism and appetite. This medicine itself does not directly cause weight gain, but managing your diet and staying active can help. Talk to your doctor.
Combining this medicine with nicotine replacement therapies (like patches or gum) is generally not recommended as a first option, as it can increase side effects like nausea and headache. Do not combine these treatments unless specifically instructed. Talk to your doctor.
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