How And When To Take Varenicline

Dosage and strength

Varenicline comes as 0.5mg and 1mg tablets.

You'll usually take the lower dose tablet, 1 or 2 times a day for the first week. This increases to the higher dose, twice a day for the rest of your treatment. If varenicline causes side effects you cannot cope with, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about taking a lower dose.

Follow the instructions that come with your medicine, carefully. This is because your dose changes after the first 3 days.

It's important to complete the full 12-week course, even if you have stopped smoking. Finishing the course can increase the chance of stopping for good.

Your doctor may prescribe a longer course of treatment if they think that it will help you stop for good.

How to take it

Always take varenicline exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're not sure.

It's important to decide on the date you want to stop smoking as you're more likely to stop if you have.

If you cannot set a date to quit within 2 weeks, you can choose your own target date. But this should be within 5 weeks of starting your treatment.

To start varenicline, take your tablets 1 to 2 weeks before your stop smoking date. This allows you to build up the dose and gradually helps your body get used to the medicine.

If you're taking varenicline twice a day, you'll usually take it once in the morning and once in the evening.

You can take varenicline tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.

How long to take it for

A course of varenicline lasts for 12 weeks. If they think you need it, your doctor may prescribe another 12-week course to make sure you do not start smoking again.

If you think you're not ready or you're unable to stop during your first 12 weeks, try to cut back on your smoking anyway.

If you're still smoking after 24 weeks because varenicline is not working for you, talk to your doctor or nurse. They may be able to recommend something else.

If you forget to take it

If you forget a dose of varenicline, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's less than 3 hours before your next dose is due. In this case it's better to leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

Contact 111 for advice now if:

If you take more than your prescribed dose of varenicline and need to go to A&E, do not drive. Ask someone to drive you r call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring the varenicline box or the leaflet inside it, any remaining medicine and any other medicines you take.

Stopping varenicline

Unless your doctor tells you to stop your treatment, it's important to keep taking varenicline until you finish the full 12-week course, even if you managed to stop smoking before the end of your treatment. This reduces the chance of you smoking again.

Stopping varenicline can sometimes cause nicotine withdrawal symptoms for a short time. You may have an urge to smoke again, feel depressed or irritable, and have difficulty sleeping.

To reduce the risk of these effects, your doctor may suggest reducing your dose gradually at the end of your treatment.

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