Smoking can be a very pleasurable experience. For some, smoking is an addiction that leads to a lifestyle.
Many people, however, don’t want to quit smoking. They’d rather not experience the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
And then there’s the fact that smoking can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart disease and cancer.
If you’re wanting to stop smoking, you’re likely to want to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help. But there’s another type of NRT that’s gaining popularity: varenicline (Chantix).
Varenicline is a prescription medication. It’s prescribed to treat nicotine dependence.
It works similarly to e-cigarettes, but has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Varenicline is also recommended by the American Lung Association (ALA) for smoking cessation.
How Does Varenicline Work?
Varenicline is a prescription medication. It’s available in a liquid form.
It works by blocking the brain receptors that cause nicotine to be released. This prevents nicotine from being absorbed.
Varenicline, however, doesn’t remove the nicotine from your body. It just prevents it from being absorbed by your brain.
It does this by affecting the brain’s ability to create dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s used by your brain to determine how pleasurable a stimulus is.
When you think about pleasure, your brain releases dopamine. So, using varenicline can help your brain release dopamine more often.
This can help you experience more pleasure from smoking.
It also decreases the amount of nicotine you feel when you smoke. It’s often recommended as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication.
Varenicline is also approved by the FDA for use in helping people quit smoking. It’s sometimes prescribed to people who are trying to quit smoking.
How Does Varenicline Compare To Other Nicotine Replacement Products?
Varenicline is a prescription medication. It’s approved by the FDA for use as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
This means it’s been approved by the FDA to help with your nicotine dependence. It’s also an FDA approved treatment for smoking cessation.
Varenicline shouldn’t be confused with nicotine replacement e-cigarettes (NREVs). Varenicline is a prescription medication approved by the FDA.
However, NREVs are still considered a form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They’re also approved by the FDA for helping you quit smoking.
NRTs are generally considered safer than cigarettes. They’re also known to be less addictive than cigarettes.
But they can still lead to nicotine addiction. And, if you’re trying to quit smoking, NRTs may not be as effective as the FDA-approved medication varenicline.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can also cause side effects like nausea, headaches, and difficulty sleeping.
In some cases, these side effects can be even worse than those of smoking.
How To Use Varenicline?
Varenicline comes in a liquid form that’s prescribed by a doctor.
The liquid is typically prescribed in one of two strengths: 10 milligrams (mg) or 20 mg.
The liquid can be taken by mouth, or it can be given as an injection under the skin.
Varenicline is also available in a patch that’s applied to your skin.
You’ll apply the patch to one of your upper arms. The patch is usually placed on one side.
The patch is worn for 46 hours. It can then be removed.
Varenicline can also be administered as a gum or lozenges.
You can purchase Varenicline in a generic form. But you can also purchase Varenicline online.
Varenicline is generally safe and effective for helping you quit smoking.
The typical recommended dosage for Varenicline is 10 mg daily. It’s usually taken in the morning.
In some cases, it’s recommended to take Varenicline 30 minutes before you go to bed.
If you’re trying to quit smoking, it’s also recommended to quit cold turkey. This is also known as “cold turkey quit day.”
You may need to use NRT for a few weeks before you’re able to quit cold turkey.
If you’re using Varenicline and you quit smoking, you may experience the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
It’s important to know that if you quit smoking using NRT, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms for a few weeks.
These symptoms may last for up to a year after you quit smoking.
You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Varenicline. These may include:
- Irritability
- Increased appetite
- Cravings
- Anxiety
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
These symptoms are likely to be worse than those of smoking. These symptoms are also likely to be more intense.
You may also experience other withdrawal symptoms that may last for a longer time. These are withdrawal symptoms that are associated with addiction to nicotine.
These symptoms may include:
- Agitation
- Increased heart rate
- Decreased blood pressure
It’s important to remember that using Varenicline is not considered a safe or effective way to quit smoking. It can also lead to nicotine addiction.
If you want to quit smoking, using NRT is considered the safest way to do it. You should only use NRT if you’ve tried all other treatments and have been unsuccessful.
If you’ve tried NRT and haven’t been successful, you may want to consider quitting smoking using other methods, such as nicotine patches or gum.
What To Think About Before Using Varenicline?
If you’re interested in using Varenicline to help you quit smoking, you should know that you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
It’s important to be aware of these symptoms so that you can make informed decisions about your quit smoking plan.
The symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are similar to those of smoking. They can include:
- Anxiety and irritability
- Cries
- Insomnia
- Sleep disturbances
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Weight loss
- Constipation
It’s also important to know that if you go cold turkey and quit smoking, you may experience withdrawal symptoms for a few months.
What’s the takeaway?
NRT is not a safe way to quit smoking. It can also cause nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
If you’re interested in using Varenicline to help you quit smoking, it’s important to be aware of these potentially more intense withdrawal symptoms
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