Chantix is one of the most recent pharmaceuticals branded by Pfizer and aiming to help adult patients cease smoking.
Public health worldwide is seriously affected by smoking, which made Chantix make it to the priority list of FDA researched medicines. Statistics reveal that nicotine addiction is present in more than 44 million adult habitants of the US, while more than 8 million of them suffer from serious conditions and disorders due to smoking.
Furthermore, smoking proved to be the cause of multiple forms of cancer, chronic and degenerative conditions and serious heart and lung damage.
Considering this general information, it becomes obvious the importance of marketing a medical product which may contribute to a significant improvement in so many people's lives.
Chantix is approved by FDA
Chantix was officially declared valid for sale and treatment by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. in May, 2006.
Chantix in Clinical Studies
Chantix was approved by FDA as a result of six successful clinical trials developed on 3659 patients with chronic tobacco addiction and treated with Chantix.
Chantix efficiently helped subjects who previously smoked an average of 21 cigarettes a day for almost 25 years, to quit smoking in 12 weeks' time.
Clinical trials developed for FDA's approval also revealed that Pfizer's release offers more efficient results than other similar products such as Zyban marketed by Glaxo Group Limited.
Chantix 1mg twice a day increases the likelihood of quitting tobacco consumption two times compared to Zyban 150 mg twice a day and four times compared to placebo controlled patients.
Additionally, Chantix reduces significantly the pleasure offered by smoking if continuing tobacco consumption while taking Chantix.
Chantix is a breakthrough prescription drug containing varenicline tartrate as main active ingredient.
It is recommended for 12 week treatment and an additional 12 week treatment for long lasting results.
As Pfizer responsible, Karen Katen stated on Chantix release, common smokers will be the ones to appreciate the benefits of Chantix most, because placebo effects last only few days and it takes up to 10 attempts to succeed in giving up on tobacco and nicotine.
Moreover, Chantix is part of a cost free program initiated by Pfizer, destined to treat addictive smoking and provide the necessary support to patients.
How to use Chantix
- Chantix is marketed in form of tablets
- Chantix is a prescription drug
- Chantix is intended in patients 18 years and above
Chantix tablets are bi-colored depending on concentration and order in treatment.
White Chantix tablets (0.5 mg) are taken first, while blue Chantix tablets (1mg) come in the second phase of the therapy.
Quitting Date:
Before starting the treatment with Chantix, it is recommended that patients settle a specific date when they want to cease smoking. One week prior to the ceasing time, patients are advised to begin the treatment with Chantix so that the body adjusts to the new brain stimuli.
During the first week transitory period, patients are allowed to continue smoking.
However, the ceasing time settled by each of the patient should be respected for optimum results of the treatment. In case the patient fails to respect his ceasing time, he/she should try again until success.
You must know there are organisms that take longer to accept the effect of Chantix.
Once started, Chantix is recommended for a 12 week period, taken daily after meals with a lot of water. Even though the dosing schedule should be prescribed by each patient's personal physician considering his unique characteristics, there is a general dosing scheme.
It features:
- an initial three day period of one white tablet a day
- followed by a three day period of two white tablets a day
- a final phase of the rest of the weeks of one blue tablet taken twice a day, mornings and evenings
- Pfizer specialists suggest that another 12 week therapy would significantly increase the efficiency of the treatment and prolong the abstinence duration.
Chantix Side effects
During clinical trials developed to determine Chantix' efficiency and safety, most reported adverse reactions included:
- nausea
- digestive disturbances such as constipation, flatulence and vomit
- disturbed taste perception (dysgeusia)
- sleep disorders, like insomnia and changes in dreaming
In a majority of cases, these reactions were only temporary, but in certain patients they persisted and needed to cease the intake of Chantix. Should the side effects become disturbing and persistent, seek medical help and advice.
Chantix Restrictions
In order to start a Chantix treatment, you must keep in account the following:
- Chantix is a prescription drug only
- Chantix is not recommended in patients younger than 18 years old.
- Chantix is not recommended in patients allergic to any of its ingredients
- DO NOT USE Chantix if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or under 18
Chantix hasn't been studied on pregnant women, therefore it is not recommended to pregnant, planning to be pregnant or breast feeding female patients. However, they should cease smoking before pregnancy starts to develop.
Chantix features restrictive regime to patients suffering from kidney conditions, diabetes, asthma and cardio vascular diseases. Such patients may need a lower prescribed dose or may not adjust to Chantix
Furthermore, patients undergoing specific insulin, blood thinners and asthma medicine therapies may be confronted with changes in these drugs efficiency as smoking ceases.