Safety Concerns and Side Effects of Chantix

Chantix (varenicline) is a prescription smoking cessation aid. It is produced by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The medication works by blocking the brain from experiencing the "pleasant" effects of smoking cigarettes.

Chantix is available by prescription only, so you must consult with a doctor to take it. It is taken in tablet form, usually once or twice a day. It's important to note, however, that several serious concerns about the side effects of Chantix—that involve changes in mood and behavior—have surfaced since its FDA approval in 2006.

This article discusses the side effects of Chantix, how it works, and what you need to know before you take this medication.

How Chantix Works

When you smoke a cigarette, nicotine targets receptors in your brain that then produce dopamine, the "feel-good" hormone. Dopamine produces pleasurable feelings, making people more likely to continue smoking in order to continue to feel these effects.

Chantix works by targeting these same receptors in the brain, blocking nicotine and its effects. If a person no longer feels the pleasurable sensations of smoking, the idea is that they are less likely to continue smoking.

According to the manufacturer's instructions, you begin taking Chantix one week before your quit date and continue taking it for a 12-week period. After that, you should discuss with your prescribing doctor whether an additional 12 weeks of treatment is necessary.

Common Side Effects of Chantix

The most common adverse side effects of Chantix include:

• Abdominal pain
  
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in the menstrual cycle
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dry mouth or unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Gas
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Insomnia
• Joint or muscle pain
• Lack of energy
• Nausea or vomiting
• Nightmares, abnormal dreams, or other sleep disturbances

Though some of these symptoms may only last a short time, speak to your prescribing doctor if they are persistent. A reduction in your dose may be necessary.

Severe Side Effects

There are also more severe side effects that people have experienced when taking Chantix. These include both physical and mental health effects.

Physical Side Effects

Serious physical effects include:

• Cardiovascular events
• Chest pain, pressure, or squeezing
• Difficulty speaking
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Hoarseness
• Loss of consciousness
• Numbness or weakness of the arms or legs
• Pain in the arms, back, calves, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Seizures
• Skin irritation
  
• Swelling
• Trouble swallowing

Several potential side effects involve skin irritation. This includes skin that is red, swollen, blistering, or peeling, blisters in the mouth, or rashes. Severe skin reactions such as mucosal legions have occurred as well as angioedema (swelling under the skin).

Some people also experience swelling in the eyes, arms, ankles, face, feet, gums, hands, legs, lips, neck, throat, or tongue.

Mental, Behavioral, and Emotional Side Effects

Severe mental, behavioral, and emotional side effects have been reported by some people when taking Chantix. They include:

• Aggression or agitation
• Anxiety
• Changes in behavior or mood
• Delusions
• Depression
• Hostility
• Mania
• Hallucinations
  
• Panic
• Sleepwalking
• Suicidal thoughts

Other neuropsychiatric adverse events included psychosis, paranoia, homicidal ideation, and suicidal ideation or actions. While some people already had these or other mental health concerns when taking Chantix, others developed them several weeks after they started taking Chantix.

If you, your loved ones, or caregivers notice these symptoms, talk to a doctor right away. While some people's symptoms went away after they stopped taking Chantix, others had a continuation of their symptoms.

Warnings and Interactions

It's recommended that a person reduces their alcohol consumption while taking Chantix until they know how they're affected by the medication. People also should use caution when driving or operating machinery until they know how they react to Chantix.

Be sure to tell your prescribing doctor if you're currently taking any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications before starting Chantix, especially if you're taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) like Coumadin or Jantoven (warfarin) or insulin.

You should also tell your doctor if you're taking other quit-smoking medications like Aplenzin, Forfivo, Wellbutrin, Zyban, or Contrave (bupropion) as well as any nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) such as nicotine gum, inhaler, lozenges, nasal spray, or skin patches.

Tell your doctor if you're taking Elixophyllin, Theo-24, or Theocron (theophylline). Your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of your prescription or OTC medications prior to taking Chantix.

Talk to a Healthcare Provider

If you experience any of these symptoms while taking Chantix, communicate closely with your prescribing doctor.

Before you start taking Chantix, talk to a healthcare provider about your mental health history, for instance, if you've ever experienced depression or other mental health conditions. If you've experienced a worsening of mental health issues due to nicotine withdrawal, it's best to tell the doctor about this as well.

If you have cardiovascular disease or experience somnambulism (sleepwalking), contact your doctor as Chantix should be immediately discontinued.

Other Methods for Quitting

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can be helpful for quitting smoking, especially for people who have trouble quitting cold turkey.

One review estimates that NRT can improve a person's odds of quitting smoking by 50% to 70%. It is not recommended that you take Chantix and use NRT products at the same time.

You may also find it helpful to join a support group, use a quit smoking app, or sign up for a quit smoking text service to send you tips for dealing with cravings. Speaking with a therapist can also help; they can teach you healthy coping mechanisms to cope with difficult emotions or other situations that can trigger you to smoke.