Chantix, the brand name version of a drug called varenicline, is a nicotine-free prescription pill used to help people quit smoking gradually. Unlike nicotine replacement therapies, varenicline blocks the brain from getting pleasure due to nicotine.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. This is likely because it's so difficult to quit, thanks to how nicotine affects the brain.

When you smoke, nicotine attaches to receptors located in the brain's reward center. This causes those receptors to release dopamine, a hormone that elicits feelings of pleasure. Once that dopamine rush wears off, you begin to crave nicotine, says Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, the director of the Tobacco Treatment Clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Chantix helps break this nicotine addiction in two ways:

When smoking becomes an addiction, your brain associates certain smells, locations, or emotions with the action. This makes you want to smoke when you're in certain situations, even if your brain isn't in need of a dopamine rush, says Galiatsatos.

If you smoke on Chantix, not only will it be unsatisfying, but it will also break the association between specific circumstances and the need to smoke.

"If you try to smoke [while on Chantix], it won't be successful," says Galiatsatos. "Varenicline also keeps [higher] dopamine [levels] in the brain, satisfying pleasure sensors without nicotine, and cuts cravings."

Chantix is available by prescription only and is usually prescribed for 12 weeks. It's important to speak with your healthcare provider to determine the right dosage and plan for you.

There are three proven ways you can use Chantix to quit smoking:

How long quitting takes will depend largely, but not solely, on your smoking habit. "Some patients can quit immediately but others need to be on it for longer than 12 weeks. Guidelines are fine but they are not rules, you have to adapt treatment to the patient," Galiatsatos says.

In the United Kingdom, one in four people who quit smoking were using Chantix.

A 2020 report found that experts specializing in tobacco addiction recommended that those who wish to quit smoking take varenicline over all other treatment options. The experts also recommended pairing Chantix with a nicotine patch.

A 2016 review also found that varenicline is "the most effective single-use agent for treating tobacco addiction." Two large trial studies compared smokers who took either varenicline, bupropion, or a placebo for 12 weeks. It found that 44% of those in the varenicline group had successfully quit smoking four weeks after they completed their 12-week dose, compared to 30% in the bupropion group and 18% in the placebo.

The study also found that the efficacy of varenicline is improved when paired with bupropion an antidepressant and nicotine replacement therapies such as gum, patches, or lozenges.

While there are side effects to be aware of when taking Chantix, Galiatsatos says that the drug poses no more of a risk than commonly used antidepressants. However, some people, especially those with a history of mental illness, may experience serious adverse side effects, such as:

If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking Chantix immediately and see your doctor.

Chantix works by delivering a one-two punch to smoking: It blocks nicotine from reaching receptors in the brain, which breaks the pleasure cycle of habitual smoking, and prevents cravings by releasing small amounts of dopamine.

Studies show that Chantix is particularly effective when paired with nicotine replacement therapies such as a nicotine patch. However, those on Chantix should pay close attention to any adverse side effects, especially mood changes, and check-in with your doctor if you experience them.

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Chantix may be the most effective way to quit smoking here's how it works - Insider - INSIDER

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