What is Champix?

Champix, which contains the active ingredient varenicline is a member of a group of medications known as smoking cessation therapies. It helps people quit smoking when nicotine replacement therapy proved to be ineffective or is found to be inappropriate. Champix is intended to be used by adults in combination with counselling and quit-smoking education.

How does Champix work?

Champix works in the brain to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The medication also decreases the pleasure that people get from smoking. It blocks the nicotine’s effects in your body. The brain has receptors for nicotine. When cigarette smoke is inhaled, the nicotine binds with the receptors to trigger a release of a feel-good chemical called dopamine.

Shortly after your smoking is done, the levels of nicotine and dopamine begin to drop, setting your craving and feelings of withdrawal, making you crave for another cigarette. Champix is believed to work at the receptors that are affected by the nicotine from cigarettes. It is not clear how Champix exactly works.

What are the benefits of using Champix?

The main benefit of Champix is the help it provides in quitting smoking when nicotine replacement therapy proved to be ineffective or is found to be inappropriate.