Varenicline

Varenicline is a medicine that can be prescribed to help people quit smoking. It is different from other smoking cessation medications in that it does not contain any nicotine. The drug comes in tablet form and is generally taken once or twice a day for 12 weeks. Side effects that have been reported with varenicline include headache, insomnia, nausea, and abnormal dreams.

What Is Varenicline?

Varenicline tartrate (Chantix™) is a prescription medication that is used to help people stop smoking. Unlike many other medications used for this purpose, varenicline does not contain nicotine.
 
(Click What Is Varenicline Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Side Effects of Varenicline

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with varenicline.
 However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects include, but are not limited to:
 
(Click Side Effects of Varenicline to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 
You can learn more about a few specific side effects of varenicline in the following eMedTV articles:
 
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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