Varenicline Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions ... - WebMD

Varenicline is used by adults to help stop smoking. To increase your chance of success, use this medication with a stop-smoking program that includes ... MENUDRUGSANDMEDICATIONSCENTERFindaDrugMyMedicinePillIdentifierInteractionCheckerFindaVitaminFindaPharmacyVITAMINS&SUPPLEMENTSCENTERFindaVitaminorSupplementVitaminLifestyleGuideAssessYourVitaminNeedsFIRSTAIDRESOURCESFirstAidHomeFirstAidKit&WoundCareFirstAidMobileDrugs&MedicationsVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-TypeUsesSideEffectsPrecautionsInteractionsOverdoseImagesReviews(43)UsesVareniclineisusedbyadultstohelpstopsmoking.Toincreaseyourchanceofsuccess,usethismedicationwithastop-smokingprogramthatincludeseducation,support,andcounseling.Quittingsmokinglowersyourriskofheartandlungdisease,aswellascancer.Vareniclineworksbyblockingnicotine'seffectsinthebrainthatmakeyouwanttosmoke.Discusstherisksandbenefitsofthismedication,aswellasotherwaystoquitsmoking(suchasnicotinereplacementtreatment),withyourdoctor.HowtouseReadtheMedicationGuideprovidedbyyourpharmacistbeforeyoustarttakingvareniclineandeachtimeyougetarefill.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,askyourdoctororpharmacist.Therearedifferentwaystousevarenicline.Onewayistosetadatetoquitsmokingbeforebeginningtreatmentwiththisdrug.Begintakingvareniclineasdirectedbyyourdoctor,1to2weeksbeforethequitdate.Takeone0.5-milligramtabletonceadayfor3days,thenincreasetoone0.5-milligramtablettwiceadayfor4days.Thedoseisslowlyincreasedtolessenthechanceofsideeffects(suchasnausea,unusualdreams).Itisokaytosmokeduringthistime.Stopsmokingonthequitdate.Takethedoseprescribedbyyourdoctortwiceadayfortherestofthetreatmentperiod(usually12weeks).Anotherwaytousevareniclineistostarttakingthedrugbeforeyouchooseadatetoquitsmoking.Startwiththe0.5-milligramtabletsandincreasethedoseasdirectedbyyourdoctor.Pickadatetoquitsmokingthatisbetweendays8and35oftreatment.Stopsmokingonthedateyouhavechosen.Takethedoseprescribedbyyourdoctorfortherestofthetreatmentperiod.Ifyouarenotabletopickaquitdate,yourdoctormaydirectyoutostarttakingthismedicationandgraduallyreducesmokingwithagoaltoquitbytheendofyourtreatment.Followyourdoctor'sdirectionscarefullyandreducesmokingasdirected.Ifthismedicationcomesinadosingpackage,carefullyfollowthedirectionsonthedosingpackage.Therearetwotypesofdosingpacks:astartingpackandacontinuingpack,eachcontainingdifferentstrengthsofthismedication.Ifthismedicationcomesinabottle,carefullyfollowyourdoctor'sdirectionsontheprescriptionlabel.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouthowtotakethismedication,talktoyourdoctororpharmacist.Takethismedicationbymouthaftereatingfoodandwithafullglassofwater.Thedosageisbasedonyourmedicalconditionandresponsetotreatment.Donotincreaseyourdoseortakethismedicationmoreoftenthanprescribed.Yourconditionwillnotimproveanyfaster,andyourriskofsideeffectswillincrease.Donottakemorethan1milligramtwiceaday.Takethismedicationregularlytogetthemostbenefitfromit.Tohelpyouremember,takeitatthesametime(s)eachday.Tellyourdoctorifyoucontinuetosmokeafterafewweeksoftreatment.Ifyouarenotabletoquitsmokingafter12weeksoftreatment,talktoyourdoctor.Ifyouaresuccessfulandcigarette-freeafter12weeksoftreatment,yourdoctormayrecommendanother12weeksoftreatmentwithvarenicline.SideEffectsSeealsoPrecautionssection.Nausea,headache,vomiting,drowsiness,gas,constipation,troublesleeping,unusualdreams,orchangesintastemayoccur.Ifanyoftheseeffectslastorgetworse,tellyourdoctororpharmacistpromptly.Rememberthatthismedicationhasbeenprescribedbecauseyourdoctorhasjudgedthatthebenefittoyouisgreaterthantheriskofsideeffects.Manypeopleusingthismedicationdonothaveserioussideeffects.Tellyourdoctorrightawayifyouhaveanyserioussideeffects,including:burningfeelinginfeet/toes,unusualpaininthelegswhenwalking.Stoptakingvareniclineandgetmedicalhelprightawayifyouhaveanyveryserioussideeffects,including:seizure,symptomsofaheartattack(suchaschest/jaw/leftarmpain,shortnessofbreath,unusualsweating),signsofastroke(suchasweaknessononesideofthebody,troublespeaking,suddenvisionchanges,confusion),harmfulbehaviortoself/others/property.Rarely,vareniclinemaycauseseriousmental/moodchanges,evenafterstoppingthemedication.Drinkingalcoholwhiletakingthismedicationmayincreasetheriskformental/moodchanges.Quittingsmokingitselfmayalsocausemental/moodchanges.Stoptakingvareniclineandtellyourdoctororpharmacistrightawayifyouhavesymptomssuchasdepression/suicidalthoughts,agitation,aggression,orotherunusualthoughtsorbehavior.Averyseriousallergicreactiontothisdrugisrare.However,getmedicalhelprightawayifyounoticeanysymptomsofaseriousallergicreaction,including:rash,itching/swelling(especiallyoftheface/tongue/throat),severedizziness,troublebreathing.Thisisnotacompletelistofpossiblesideeffects.Ifyounoticeothereffectsnotlistedabove,contactyourdoctororpharmacist.IntheUS-Callyourdoctorformedicaladviceaboutsideeffects.YoumayreportsideeffectstoFDAat1-800-FDA-1088oratwww.fda.gov/medwatch.InCanada-Callyourdoctorformedicaladviceaboutsideeffects.YoumayreportsideeffectstoHealthCanadaat1-866-234-2345.PrecautionsBeforetakingvarenicline,tellyourdoctororpharmacistifyouareallergictoit;orifyouhaveanyotherallergies.Thisproductmaycontaininactiveingredients,whichcancauseallergicreactionsorotherproblems.Talktoyourpharmacistformoredetails.Beforeusingthismedication,tellyourdoctororpharmacistyourmedicalhistory,especiallyof:kidneydisease,mental/mooddisorders(suchasschizophrenia,bipolardisorder,depression),heart/bloodvesseldisease(suchascoronaryarterydisease,peripheralvasculardisease,stroke),seizure.Thisdrugmaymakeyoudizzy,drowsy,loseconsciousness,ormakeitdifficulttoconcentrate.Alcoholormarijuana(cannabis)canworsentheseeffects.Donotdrive,usemachinery,ordoanythingthatneedsalertnessuntilyoucandoitsafely.Talktoyourdoctorifyouareusingmarijuana(cannabis).Thisdrugmayalsomakeyoumoresensitivetoalcohol(includingincreaseddrunkenness,unusualbehavior,andlimitedornomemoryofthingsthathappened).Limitalcoholicbeverages.Beawareofhowalcoholaffectsyouwhiletakingthismedication.Duringpregnancy,thismedicationshouldbeusedonlywhenclearlyneeded.Discusstherisksandbenefitswithyourdoctor.Itisunknownifthismedicationpassesintobreastmilk.Consultyourdoctorbeforebreast-feeding.InteractionsDruginteractionsmaychangehowyourmedicationsworkorincreaseyourriskforserioussideeffects.Thisdocumentdoesnotcontainallpossibledruginteractions.Keepalistofalltheproductsyouuse(includingprescription/nonprescriptiondrugsandherbalproducts)andshareitwithyourdoctorandpharmacist.Donotstart,stop,orchangethedosageofanymedicineswithoutyourdoctor'sapproval.Smokingcanaffectthewayyourbodyremovescertaindrugssuchasinsulin,theophylline,warfarin,amongothers.Whenyoustopsmoking,yourdosesofthesedrugsmayneedtobeadjustedbyyourdoctor.Tellallyourdoctorsandpharmaciststhatyouarequittingsmokingandofalltheproductsyoutake.DoesVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Typeinteractwithotherdrugsyouaretaking?EnteryourmedicationintotheWebMDinteractioncheckerCheckInteractionOverdoseIfsomeonehasoverdosedandhasserioussymptomssuchaspassingoutortroublebreathing,call911.Otherwise,callapoisoncontrolcenterrightaway.USresidentscancalltheirlocalpoisoncontrolcenterat1-800-222-1222.Canadaresidentscancallaprovincialpoisoncontrolcenter.NotesDonotsharethismedicationwithothers.MissedDoseIfyoumissadose,takeitassoonasyouremember.Ifitisnearthetimeofthenextdose,skipthemisseddose.Takeyournextdoseattheregulartime.Donotdoublethedosetocatchup.StorageStoreatroomtemperatureawayfromlightandmoisture.Donotstoreinthebathroom.Keepallmedicationsawayfromchildrenandpets.Donotflushmedicationsdownthetoiletorpourthemintoadrainunlessinstructedtodoso.Properlydiscardthisproductwhenitisexpiredornolongerneeded.Consultyourpharmacistorlocalwastedisposalcompany.ImagesNextYouMightAlsoLikeSmokingCessationHealthCenterSmokingandHearingLossTypesofImmunotherapyforLungCancerQuittingSmoking&12OtherHeart-HealthyGoalsHowSmokingAffectsYourBodyTheTruthAboutSmokingTipstoStayOffTobaccoSmokingandLungCancer:KnowtheStatsAreYouReadytoQuitSmoking?ViewMoreRelatedLinksListVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-TypesideeffectsbylikelihoodandseverityWhoshouldnottakeVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Type?DoesVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Typeinteractwithothermedications?ShouldIavoidcertainfoodswhiletakingVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Type?WhatshouldIknowregardingpregnancy,nursingandadministeringVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Typetochildrenortheelderly?WhatconditionsdoesVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Typetreat?SearchDrugsRelatedDrugsCommonSearchesAdderallCelexaCiproCymbaltaFlexerilHydrocodonePrilosecProzacSeroquelSynthroidTramadolTrazodoneLexaproLisinoprilMobicNaproxenNeurontinPradaxaPrednisoneVicodinWarfarinWellbutrinXanaxZocorZoloftShowMoreShowLessSelectaconditiontoviewalistofmedicationoptionsstopsmokingDrugSurveyAreyoucurrentlyusingVarenicline1MgTabletSmokingDeterrents-NicotinicOrBupropion(NDRI)-Type?YesNoThissurveyisbeingconductedbytheWebMDmarketingsciencesdepartment.FreeRXCouponSaveupto80%onyourprescriptions.ViewFREEWebMDRxcouponAvailablecouponsSaveupto80%onyourprescriptionwithWebMDRxViewFREEWebMDRxcouponSelectedfromdataincludedwithpermissionandcopyrightedbyFirstDatabank,Inc.Thiscopyrightedmaterialhasbeendownloadedfromalicenseddataproviderandisnotfordistribution,exceptasmaybeauthorizedbytheapplicabletermsofuse.CONDITIONSOFUSE:Theinformationinthisdatabaseisintendedtosupplement,notsubstitutefor,theexpertiseandjudgmentofhealthcareprofessionals.Theinformationisnotintendedtocoverallpossibleuses,directions,precautions,druginteractionsoradverseeffects,norshoulditbeconstruedtoindicatethatuseofaparticulardrugissafe,appropriateoreffectiveforyouoranyoneelse.Ahealthcareprofessionalshouldbeconsultedbeforetakinganydrug,changinganydietorcommencingordiscontinuinganycourseoftreatment.MedicationsThatMakeYouTiredCommonculpritsandwhatyoucando.PharmacyandMedicationTipsThingstorememberwhenyoufillyourprescription.MedicationSideEffectsTipsfordealingwiththem.ReadingMedicineLabelsHowtomakesenseofthem.MoreAboutDrugsandMedicationsPillIdentifierMyMedicineInteractionCheckerDrugsandMedicationsA-ZDrugsandMedicalConditionsLatestDrugNewsFindaPharmacyFindaVitaminHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads