Champix

Order Champix Stop Smoking Tablets Online

By Clinical Pharmacist Hywel McGlinchy

You can order Champix tablets from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. No prescription is required. However, you will need to complete an online assessment for our doctors to review. 

If the doctors approve your order, a prescription is passed to our pharmacy team, who will then dispense and dispatch your medication. Delivery options include next working day delivery. If our doctors feel a face to face consultation would be best for you, a notification is sent via e-mail and a full refund is issued. 

About Champix

Champix tablets can be an effective aid for people trying to quit smoking. Champix contains the active ingredient Varenicline. It helps to reduce cravings for nicotine and can help with the withdrawal symptoms that happen when you stop smoking, like feeling irritable and difficulty sleeping.

How does Champix work?

Champix does not contain nicotine but the active ingredient mimics the effects of nicotine. It blocks nicotine receptor sites in the brain to mimic the effects of nicotine. This reduces the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that happen when you stop smoking.

You can read more about Varenicline here. Before you decide to buy stop smoking tablets, it is important to read the patient information leaflet. 

Smoking is one of the leading causes of death and illness in the UK. Smoking increases your risk of developing various health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and numerous cancers and lung conditions. Stopping smoking (smoking cessation) is incredibly beneficial for your health and the benefits can start almost immediately.

How effective is Champix?

Studies have shown that in comparison to smokers trying to quit without assistance, patients using Champix are three times more likely to be successful in their quit attempt.

Motivation will still play a role in quitting, and you should not expect that Champix will allow you to quit without any effort. However, stop smoking treatment should make it significantly easier to overcome the physical challenges associated with stopping smoking. This can increase your chances of stopping smoking.

How to take Champix

When planning to use Champix to help quit smoking, you should choose a date in the second week of your course on which to stop smoking. This will help prepare you mentally for your quit date, whilst also allowing enough Varenicline to be in your system to make the physical symptoms of stopping easier to handle.

The usual Champix dose for stopping smoking is:

• Day 1 - 3 - Take ONE 0.5mg tablet ONCE a day
• Day 4 - 7 - Take TWO 0.5mg tablets TWICE a day
• Weeks 2 - 12 - Take TWO 1mg tablets TWICE a day

The first week of your treatment will be contained in what is called a starter pack and maybe a two or four-week pack. The tablets are laid out by day, to make it easier for you to follow the dosage schedule.

After you've finished the starter pack, you will use maintenance packs that only contain 1mg tablets of varenicline to complete your course. You can also see this dosage guide for information.

Champix Alternatives

If you don’t feel the tablets are for you, or you’re just not quite ready to quit, alternative options include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and E-cigarettes.

One example of NRT is nicotine patches - these attach to your skin and deliver controlled doses of nicotine. By gradually reducing the strength of the patches, you can make stopping smoking easier. You can also use nicotine gum/lozenges, either alone or alongside patches if you’re a heavy smoker. Nicotine inhalators/sprays can be used in a similar way to the gum, as a when required dose to reduce your cravings for a cigarette and help you break your smoking habit.

For electronic cigarettes, further research is needed to know more about their benefits in helping people stop smoking. However, the NHS advises that the use of an electronic cigarette is much safer than traditional cigarettes, which contain tobacco.

For more support from the NHS, or to explore your options to stop smoking on the NHS, explore the NHS Quit Smoking site. You can find a full list of prescription medicines available to help stop smoking, as well as other helpful advice.

Champix Summary

Champix Prices

Content reviewed: 06/08/21

What is Champix?

Champix is a prescription medication used to help smokers overcome the cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping smoking.

How effective is Champix?

Trials have shown that taking Varenicline makes people three times more likely to stop, compared to people who try to quit without any assistance.

Can you buy Champix over the counter?

It is not possible to buy Champix (UK) over the counter. You can buy Champix online from registered pharmacies and online doctors, but only after completing an online medical assessment. 

You are, however, required to complete an online consultation form which is reviewed by one of our GPs to confirm that the treatment is suitable for you.

How much is Champix?

The Champix price for the Champix starter pack is £39.50. For a full 12 week course, the cost is £209.25.

How long do you take Champix for?

Champix is usually taken for 12 weeks to give the best chance of quitting smoking.

Can I get Champix on the NHS?

Yes. To get Champix on the NHS, you will need to speak to your local GP. They will then be able to assess your medical history, and if appropriate, issue you a prescription for Champix.

Some pharmacies are now able to issue Champix on the NHS too. Check in your local area for pharmacies that participate in this scheme.

Can you smoke whilst taking Champix?

Yes, however, you should ideally set a quit date within 1-2 weeks of taking Champix.

What is Zyban and how does it work?

Zyban is a medicine prescribed to help you stop smoking when you also have motivational support such as taking part in a ‘stop smoking’ programme. It contains the active ingredient Bupropion. Zyban will be most effective if you are fully committed to giving up smoking. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on treatments and other support to help you stop.

Champix Side Effects

There can be side effects when taking the tablets. As with any medicine, some side effects are common while others are rarer. Common side effects include sinusitis, decreased or increased appetite, abnormal dreams, headaches, dry mouth. 

Less commonly, it can cause serious serious psychiatric side effects. If you notice symptoms such as an agitated, depressed mood or other mood changes, seek advice from a healthcare professional immediately.

Read the patient information leaflet for further information on the possible side effects of Champix.

Before buying or taking Champix – it is important you read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL)

• Champix PIL

The makers of Champix are Pfizer, and they have also released a Champix guide to using the tablets and making your quit attempt successful.