varenicline (Champix) Flashcards
1
Q
Class
A
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors agonist
2
Q
Indications
A
Nicotine dependence, aid to stopping smoking
3
Q
Dose Range
A
Start varenicline 7–14 days before stopping smoking.
Initially, 0.5 mg once daily for 3 days, then 0.5 mg twice daily for 4 days, then 1 mg twice daily for 11 weeks,
4
Q
Counselling/SE
A
- Start taking this medicine for at least a week before you stop smoking because it takes this long for it to become effective.
- Swallow tablets whole.
- You may feel nauseous when taking this medicine. Contact your doctor if this is severe, because it may improve with dose reduction.
- Stop taking varenicline and tell your doctor if you are agitated, depressed, have suicidal thoughts or find that you are behaving differently.
- Don’t use nicotine products while taking varenicline because it can cause or worsen side effects such as nausea and headache.
- This medication may cause dizziness, which could affect your ability to drive and operate machinery; avoid these activities until you know how it affects you.
SE:
- GI upset (nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, constipation, flatulence)
- increased appetite
- headache, dizziness
- taste disturbance
- insomnia, abnormal dreams, sleep disorder
- AF, palpitations,GORD (infrequent)
5
Q
Monitoring
A
- psych review (compliance, tolerability and worsening of condition)
- behaviour due to increase in suicidal thoughts
- weight
