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Champix is effective in smoking cessation as a result of its partial positive activity at the α4β2 nicotinic receptor where its binding produces an effect sufficient to alleviate symptoms of craving and withdrawal (agonist activity), while simultaneously resulting in a reduction of the rewarding and reinforcing effects of smoking by preventing nicotine binding to α4β2 receptors (antagonist activity).
When taking Champix for 12 weeks, 44% of over 2000 people in 2 official trials did not smoke at all for the last 4 weeks and 22% did not smoke at all up until a year after the start of the trial even though Champix was not taken after week 12. This quit rate was more than twice as good than if no medicines were taken, and champix was shown to be significantly better than zyban (bupropion). Champix was shown to reduce the craving and withdrawal and also reduced the pleasure from smoking.
It has also been shown that if champix is taken for a further 12 weeks (24 weeks in total) 70% of over 600 patients did not smoke at all in the 24 week period.
Always take champix exactly as your doctor has told you. Before starting your course of champix you should decide on a date in the second week of treatment (between day 8 and day 14) when you will stop smoking. You should write this date on the pack as a reminder.
The usual dose for adults which you should follow from Day 1 is described in the following table:
Week 1
Day 1 - 3: From day 1 to day 3, you should take one white Champix 0.5 mg film-coated tablet once a day.
Day 4 - 7: From day 4 to day 7, you should take one white champix 0.5 mg film-coated tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Week 2
Day 8 - 14: From day 8 to day 14, you should take one light blue champix 1 mg film-coated tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Weeks 3-12
Day 15 - end of treatment: From day 15 until the end of treatment, you should take one light blue champix 1 mg film-coated tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Should you experience adverse Champix side effects that you cannot tolerate your doctor may decide to reduce your dose temporarily or permanently to 0.5 mg twice daily. After 12 weeks of treatment, if you have stopped smoking, your doctor may recommend an additional 12 weeks of treatment with Champix 1mg film-coated tablets twice daily.