Smoking:

Indications for: CHANTIX

Smoking cessation aid.

Adult Dosage:

Provide patients with counseling and educational support. Set a target "quit date". Begin therapy 1 week before target quit date. Alternatively, may begin therapy and then quit smoking between Days 8 and 35 of treatment. Take after eating with a glass of water. Initially 0.5mg once daily on Days 1–3, then 0.5mg twice daily on Days 4–7, then 1mg twice daily thereafter. May reduce dose if intolerable nausea or other adverse effects occur. Treat for 12 weeks; may continue 12 more weeks if patient successfully stops smoking to further increase the likelihood of abstinence. Patients who are not able or willing to quit abruptly: consider a gradual approach; begin Chantix dosing and reduce smoking by 50% from baseline within the 1st four weeks, by an additional 50% in the next four weeks, and continue reducing with the goal of complete abstinence by 12 weeks; continue for a total of 24 weeks of treatment. If patient motivated to quit and did not succeed, encourage another attempt with Chantix once factors contributing to failed attempt have been addressed. Severe renal impairment: initially 0.5mg once daily; may titrate to max 0.5mg twice daily. ESRD with hemodialysis: max 0.5mg once daily if tolerated.

Children Dosage:

≤16yrs: not recommended. 17–19yrs: not established.

CHANTIX Warnings/Precautions:

Monitor for neuropsychiatric adverse events (eg, behavioral changes, agitation, depression, suicidal ideation); evaluate and consider dose reduction, continue therapy under closer monitoring, or discontinuation if occur. Pre-existing psychiatric disorders. History of seizures or other factors that can lower seizure threshold. Cardiovascular disease; monitor for new or worsening signs/symptoms. Renal impairment. Elderly. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers: monitor infant.

CHANTIX Classification:

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist.

CHANTIX Interactions:

May affect alcohol tolerance; reduce alcohol consumption until effects are known. Smoking cessation may affect metabolism of other drugs (eg, warfarin, theophylline, insulin). Increased adverse effects with nicotine replacement therapy.

Adverse Reactions:

Nausea, other GI effects (eg, constipation, flatulence, vomiting), sleep disturbance (eg, abnormal dreams, insomnia); nicotine withdrawal symptoms (due to smoking cessation), neuropsychiatric symptoms (may be serious), cardiovascular events; seizures, somnambulism, angioedema, hypersensitivity reactions, serious skin reactions (rare); discontinue if occurs.

Generic Drug Availability:

YES

How Supplied:

Tabs—56; Starting 4-week card (0.5mg x 11 tabs + 1mg x 42 tabs)—1; Continuing 4-week card (1mg x 56 tabs)—1; Starting Month Box (0.5mg x 11 tabs + 1mg x 42 tabs)—1; Continuing Month Box (1mg x 56 tabs)—1