Champix 1mg tablets for Quitting Smoking

Champix (varenicline) is a prescription-only medication specifically designed to help people quit smoking. It is the most effective single-agent smoking cessation medication available, approximately tripling quit rates compared to willpower alone (around 25–35% of users remain smoke-free at 12 months). Champix works as a partial agonist at alpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain — it provides a low level of stimulation to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while simultaneously blocking nicotine from binding if you do smoke, reducing the rewarding effect of cigarettes. Through the NHS Quit Smoking service, pharmacists can supply Champix to support your quit attempt.

Champix follows a dose escalation schedule: Days 1–3: 0.5 mg once daily. Days 4–7: 0.5 mg twice daily. Day 8 onwards (your quit date): 1 mg twice daily. The total course is usually 12 weeks. Set your quit date for day 8–14 of treatment — this allows the medication to reach effective levels before you stop smoking. Take Champix after meals with a full glass of water to reduce nausea. If you successfully quit, your prescriber may extend treatment for a further 12 weeks to reduce relapse risk.

The Champix initiation pack contains the tablets you need for the first two weeks of treatment. It includes 0.5 mg tablets (white) for the first week and 1 mg tablets (blue) for the second week, all pre-organised in a blister pack with clear day-by-day instructions. This makes the dose escalation period straightforward. After the initiation pack, you continue with 1 mg twice daily using standard Champix 1 mg tablet packs for the remaining 10 weeks.

Champix availability has been affected by a global recall in 2021 due to NDMA (nitrosamine) impurity concerns, and supply has been limited since then. However, generic varenicline and alternative formulations are being reintroduced. Check with your pharmacist or the NHS Quit Smoking service for current availability. When available, Champix/varenicline can be supplied through NHS smoking cessation services including community pharmacy.

Very common: nausea (affects around 30% of users — the most common side effect, usually mild to moderate and improves over time). Common: insomnia, abnormal or vivid dreams, headache, dizziness, taste disturbance, increased appetite, dry mouth, and flatulence. Taking Champix after food and with water significantly reduces nausea. If nausea is severe, the dose can be temporarily reduced to 0.5 mg twice daily. Most side effects diminish over the first few weeks of treatment.

Champix can be used alongside NRT (nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, etc.) if needed, although this combination should be supervised by a healthcare professional. Some studies suggest the combination may improve quit rates further. However, combining Champix with NRT may increase the risk of nausea and other side effects. Discuss with your pharmacist or prescriber whether combination therapy is appropriate for you.

Champix should be used with caution in patients with a history of psychiatric illness (depression, anxiety, psychosis), as there have been reports of mood changes and suicidal thoughts, although large studies have not confirmed a causal link. It should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Dose reduction is needed in severe kidney impairment. Tell your pharmacist about your full medical history and any medications before starting Champix.

Champix (varenicline) is the most effective single-agent smoking cessation treatment. It approximately triples the odds of quitting compared to placebo, whereas NRT roughly doubles them. Cytisine has similar efficacy to varenicline at lower cost. Bupropion (Zyban) also doubles quit rates but has different side effects. Combining NRT products (e.g., patches plus gum) can achieve efficacy approaching that of varenicline. Your pharmacist can help you choose the best option based on your health, preferences, and medication history.

NowPatient’s NHS Quit Smoking service is a free 12-week programme that helps you continue your quit smoking journey after a hospital stay. Qualified Stop Smoking Practitioners provide behavioural support and prescribe medication through remote video consultations, so you do not need to visit your GP.

The programme runs for 12 weeks from your initial consultation. It includes four consultation stages: an initial assessment, a 1-week interim check-in, a 4-week milestone consultation, and a final 12-week consultation where you are discharged from the service.

The consultations and delivery are completely free. If your clinician prescribes medication and you are not exempt from NHS prescription charges, you will pay a single prescription charge. If you are exempt (for example, you are over 60 or on Income Support), there is no charge at all.

No. The service is commissioned by NHS England and is only available to patients registered with a GP in England. It is not available in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or outside the UK.

You may qualify if you are aged 18 or over, registered with the NHS in England, and have been referred by an NHS hospital or NHS Trust tobacco dependency team. The service is for patients who started smoking cessation treatment during a hospital stay and wish to continue after discharge.

No. You need a referral from an NHS hospital or NHS Trust tobacco dependency team. You cannot access this service without one. If you are looking for smoking cessation support without a hospital referral, contact your GP or local stop smoking service.

If you do not qualify, NowPatient will signpost you to the right NHS care provider or service so you can still get the support you need.

Your clinician will verify your hospital referral details, confirm whether you received medication on discharge, assess your suitability for treatment, and agree on a treatment plan with you. If appropriate, a prescription will be issued. You should book this within 5 days of your referral.

Your clinician checks in on your progress and smoking status, provides behavioural support, discusses any challenges or side effects, and prescribes additional medication if needed.

This is a key milestone. Your clinician assesses your smoking status, records your 4-week quit outcome, and discusses continuing treatment to prevent relapse. Research shows that staying smoke-free for 4 weeks makes you 5 times more likely to quit for good.

Your clinician assesses your final smoking status, records your 12-week quit outcome, provides advice on staying smoke-free long-term, notifies your GP and the hospital tobacco dependency team of your progress, and discharges you from the service.

NowPatient sends you reminders 7 days before each planned follow-up consultation via push and in-app notifications. You do not need to track the dates yourself.

With your consent, your clinician will inform your GP of the treatment prescribed at each stage. We recommend agreeing to this, as your GP is responsible for your overall care and should have a record of your consultations and medication.

Log in to your NowPatient account and go to the NHS Quit Smoking Service Card in the NHS Hub. Select ‘Check Eligibility’, complete the screening quiz, and if you qualify, follow the prompts to choose your date, time, and clinician.

Yes. During booking, you can browse available clinicians and filter by gender and spoken languages. You can view each clinician’s name, licence number, and credentials before selecting.

After booking, you will see ‘Pre-consultation Requirements’ with preparation tips. You will also be asked to provide your consultation address and emergency contact details. You can opt in to an SMS reminder 30 minutes before your appointment.

Your clinician may prescribe Cytisinicline tablets, Varenicline tablets (Champix), or a range of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products including patches (24-hour and 16-hour), lozenges, gum, oral spray, inhalator, nasal spray, and sublingual tablets. The choice depends on your medical history, dependence level, and preferences.

Yes. Combination therapy — for example, patches plus a fast-acting product like lozenges or gum — may be recommended for heavier smokers. Your clinician will discuss the best approach with you.

No. Medication is provided only at the discretion of the assessing clinician and based on NHS eligibility criteria. Your clinician will prescribe treatment only if it is safe and suitable for you.

Yes. NowPatient’s pharmacists provide medication advice and counselling across all dispensing services. If you have questions about your smoking cessation medication, our pharmacy team is available to help.

After your consultation, go to your Cart, complete the NHS Exemption Declaration for each item, choose your delivery address and method, confirm your billing address, review your order, and submit payment. Delivery is free.

If you are not exempt from NHS prescription charges, you will pay a single prescription charge. If you are exempt, there is no charge. You confirm your exemption status during checkout.

Our clinicians are board-certified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). All undergo DBS background checks and licence verification. The medications they prescribe are strictly governed and reviewed in line with NHS guidelines.

Yes. The service is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations. It complies with NHS standards DTAC, DCB 0160, and DCB 0129. Consultations are delivered via live video to ensure clinical safety.

Yes. NowPatient operates from a HIPAA, DTAC, and Cyber Essentials Plus certified platform with the highest levels of information security. Clinicians access systems on a zero-trust basis with single sign-on (SSO) technology.

Yes. As an NHS patient, our clinicians can access your GP record, including medications, observations, and investigations. This helps them assess your condition safely and make appropriate prescribing decisions.

Yes. During the consultation, we will ask for your consent to provide the service. This allows us to communicate with your GP and share information with NHS England, NHS Improvement, and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) when required.

We deliver to all postcodes in England. Some rural areas may experience slightly longer delivery times. Delivery is free for all NHS Quit Smoking orders.

All orders are shipped in discreet, unmarked packaging. Temperature-sensitive items are sent in cold chain-validated packaging to maintain product quality and safety.

We offer Royal Mail Standard Tracked & Signed (2–3 days) and Royal Mail Special Delivery (next working day, guaranteed before 1pm). Orders placed before 3pm Monday–Friday are dispatched the same day.

Your first order must be delivered to the address registered with NowPatient. After that, you can choose any delivery address, including your workplace or a neighbour’s address.

Check the tracking details in the ‘Notification Feed’ section of your dashboard. If your delivery has not arrived within 10 days of dispatch, contact us and we will work to resolve the issue.

NowPatient sends status updates by email and in-app notifications at every stage of your order.

You may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you meet specific eligibility criteria. To claim exemption, the appropriate category must be selected on the prescription form and valid evidence may be required. The exemption categories are listed below:

Age-Related Exemptions

• A: Aged 60 or over, or under 16 (unless date of birth is printed on the form)

• B: Aged 16, 17, or 18 and in full-time education

Certificate-Based Exemptions

• D: Maternity exemption certificate

• E: Medical exemption certificate

• F: Prescription prepayment certificate

• W: HRT-only prescription prepayment certificate

• G: Ministry of Defence prescription exemption certificate

• L: HC2 (full help) certificate

Benefit-Related Exemptions

• H: Receiving Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• S: Receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (including partners)

• U: Receiving Universal Credit and meeting eligibility criteria (Earnings ≤ £435, or ≤ £935 [if UC includes child element or limited capability for work)], in most recent assessment period)

Important

You must only claim an exemption if they are entitled to it. Incorrect claims can result in penalty charges. Proof of eligibility should be provided if requested when collecting medication.

Prescription Item Level Exemptions

You may be entitled to certain medication items for free as listed below. Make sure you declare this when you checkout your prescription order.

• For Contraceptive Use

• For STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) Treatment

• For latent or active Tuberculosis (TB) or to treat adverse effects of TB treatment

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