As you get on the road to quitting smoking using CHANTIX, there are some important things to keep in mind.
It's okay to smoke during your first week of CHANTIX.
You should start taking CHANTIX a week before your Quit Date. This gives CHANTIX time to build up in your body. You may choose to smoke for the first week you are on CHANTIX, but you should stop smoking completely on Day 8 of your CHANTIX treatment.
A slip-up is not a failure.
Many smokers are afraid of what might happen if they slip up and smoke after they quit. That's only natural, because quitting is hard. But a slip-up isn't a failure. It doesn't have to be a relapse. So remember if you slip up and smoke, don't give up. Some people need a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best. In studies, 44% of CHANTIX users were quit during weeks 9 to 12 of treatment (compared to 18% on sugar pill). Some people who smoked after their Quit Date were able to quit successfully.
Quitting can be tough. Support may help.
The GETQUIT™ Support Plan was created just for CHANTIX users and designed to help them think and act like quitters. GETQUIT provides just-in-time support, real-life strategies, and live quit coaches — trained and certified by Mayo Clinic — who can talk you through moments when you may be tempted to smoke.
Next: Planning for Your QuitImportant Safety Information
Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.
Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHANTIX, some of which can become life-threatening. These can include rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin. Some people can have allergic reactions to CHANTIX, some of which can be life-threatening and include: swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms or have a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, stop taking CHANTIX and get medical attention right away.
The most common side effects include nausea (30%), sleep problems, constipation, gas, and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away, tell your doctor.
You may have trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual, or strange dreams while taking CHANTIX. Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how CHANTIX may affect you.
CHANTIX should not be taken with other quit-smoking products. You may need a lower dose of CHANTIX if you have kidney problems or get dialysis.
Before starting CHANTIX, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines, or blood thinners. Medicines like these may work differently when you quit smoking.
CHANTIX is a prescription medicine to help adults 18 and over stop smoking. You may benefit from quit-smoking support programs and/or counseling during your quit attempt. It’s possible that you might slip-up and smoke while taking CHANTIX. If you do, you can stay on CHANTIX and keep trying to quit.
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