CHANTIX® How should I take CHANTIX?

(varenicline tartrate)

How should I take CHANTIX?

  • There are 3 ways that you can use CHANTIX to help you quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider about the following 3 ways to use CHANTIX:
    • Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking. Start taking CHANTIX 1 week (7 days) before your quit date. Take CHANTIX for 12 weeks.
      OR
    • Start taking CHANTIX before you choose a quit date. Pick a date to quit smoking that is between days 8 and 35 of treatment. Take CHANTIX for 12 weeks.
      OR
    • If you are sure that you are not able or willing to quit smoking right away, start taking CHANTIX and reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, as follows:

Weeks 1 through 4

Reduce your smoking to reach one-half of your starting daily number of cigarettes.

Example: If you usually smoke 20 cigarettes each day, reduce your smoking to 10 cigarettes each day during weeks 1 through 4.

Weeks 5 through 8

Reduce your smoking to reach one-quarter of your starting daily number of cigarettes.

Example: If you usually smoked 20 cigarettes each day, reduce your smoking to 5 cigarettes each day during weeks 5 through 8.

Weeks 9 through 12

Keep reducing your smoking until you are no longer smoking (you reach zero cigarettes each day).

 
Aim to quit by the end of the 12th week of treatment, or sooner if you feel ready. Continue to take CHANTIX for another 12 weeks, for a total of 24 weeks of treatment.
Starting CHANTIX before your quit date gives CHANTIX time to build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Take CHANTIX exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
  • CHANTIX comes as a white tablet (0.5 mg) and a blue tablet (1 mg). You start with the white tablet and then usually go to the blue tablet. See the chart below for dosing instructions for adults.

Day 1 to Day 3

  • White tablet (0.5 mg)
  • Take 1 tablet each day

Day 4 to Day 7

  • White tablet (0.5 mg)
  • Take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening

Day 8 to end of treatment

  • Blue tablet (1 mg)
  • Take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening
  • Make sure that you try to stop smoking on your quit date. If you slip-up and smoke, try again. Some people need to take CHANTIX for a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best.
  • Most people will take CHANTIX for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, your healthcare provider may prescribe CHANTIX for another 12 weeks to help you stay cigarette-free.
  • Take CHANTIX after eating and with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
  • This dosing schedule may not be right for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are having side effects such as nausea, strange dreams, or sleep problems. Your healthcare provider may want to reduce your dose.
  • If you miss a dose of CHANTIX, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take your next dose at your regular time.

Find CHANTIX® medical information:

Find CHANTIX® medical information:

Our scientific content is evidence-based, scientifically balanced and non-promotional. It undergoes rigorous internal medical review and is updated regularly to reflect new information.

CHANTIX® Quick Finder

Medication Guide

Health Professional Information

How should I take CHANTIX?

How should I take CHANTIX?

  • There are 3 ways that you can use CHANTIX to help you quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider about the following 3 ways to use CHANTIX:
    • Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking. Start taking CHANTIX 1 week (7 days) before your quit date. Take CHANTIX for 12 weeks.
      OR
    • Start taking CHANTIX before you choose a quit date. Pick a date to quit smoking that is between days 8 and 35 of treatment. Take CHANTIX for 12 weeks.
      OR
    • If you are sure that you are not able or willing to quit smoking right away, start taking CHANTIX and reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, as follows:

Weeks 1 through 4

Reduce your smoking to reach one-half of your starting daily number of cigarettes.

Example: If you usually smoke 20 cigarettes each day, reduce your smoking to 10 cigarettes each day during weeks 1 through 4.

Weeks 5 through 8

Reduce your smoking to reach one-quarter of your starting daily number of cigarettes.

Example: If you usually smoked 20 cigarettes each day, reduce your smoking to 5 cigarettes each day during weeks 5 through 8.

Weeks 9 through 12

Keep reducing your smoking until you are no longer smoking (you reach zero cigarettes each day).

 
Aim to quit by the end of the 12th week of treatment, or sooner if you feel ready. Continue to take CHANTIX for another 12 weeks, for a total of 24 weeks of treatment.
Starting CHANTIX before your quit date gives CHANTIX time to build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Take CHANTIX exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
  • CHANTIX comes as a white tablet (0.5 mg) and a blue tablet (1 mg). You start with the white tablet and then usually go to the blue tablet. See the chart below for dosing instructions for adults.

Day 1 to Day 3

  • White tablet (0.5 mg)
  • Take 1 tablet each day

Day 4 to Day 7

  • White tablet (0.5 mg)
  • Take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening

Day 8 to end of treatment

  • Blue tablet (1 mg)
  • Take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening
  • Make sure that you try to stop smoking on your quit date. If you slip-up and smoke, try again. Some people need to take CHANTIX for a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best.
  • Most people will take CHANTIX for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, your healthcare provider may prescribe CHANTIX for another 12 weeks to help you stay cigarette-free.
  • Take CHANTIX after eating and with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
  • This dosing schedule may not be right for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are having side effects such as nausea, strange dreams, or sleep problems. Your healthcare provider may want to reduce your dose.
  • If you miss a dose of CHANTIX, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take your next dose at your regular time.
Prescribing Information
Download Prescribing Information

Health Professional Information

How should I take CHANTIX?

How should I take CHANTIX?

  • There are 3 ways that you can use CHANTIX to help you quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider about the following 3 ways to use CHANTIX:
    • Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking. Start taking CHANTIX 1 week (7 days) before your quit date. Take CHANTIX for 12 weeks.
      OR
    • Start taking CHANTIX before you choose a quit date. Pick a date to quit smoking that is between days 8 and 35 of treatment. Take CHANTIX for 12 weeks.
      OR
    • If you are sure that you are not able or willing to quit smoking right away, start taking CHANTIX and reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, as follows:

Weeks 1 through 4

Reduce your smoking to reach one-half of your starting daily number of cigarettes.

Example: If you usually smoke 20 cigarettes each day, reduce your smoking to 10 cigarettes each day during weeks 1 through 4.

Weeks 5 through 8

Reduce your smoking to reach one-quarter of your starting daily number of cigarettes.

Example: If you usually smoked 20 cigarettes each day, reduce your smoking to 5 cigarettes each day during weeks 5 through 8.

Weeks 9 through 12

Keep reducing your smoking until you are no longer smoking (you reach zero cigarettes each day).

 
Aim to quit by the end of the 12th week of treatment, or sooner if you feel ready. Continue to take CHANTIX for another 12 weeks, for a total of 24 weeks of treatment.
Starting CHANTIX before your quit date gives CHANTIX time to build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Take CHANTIX exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
  • CHANTIX comes as a white tablet (0.5 mg) and a blue tablet (1 mg). You start with the white tablet and then usually go to the blue tablet. See the chart below for dosing instructions for adults.

Day 1 to Day 3

  • White tablet (0.5 mg)
  • Take 1 tablet each day

Day 4 to Day 7

  • White tablet (0.5 mg)
  • Take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening

Day 8 to end of treatment

  • Blue tablet (1 mg)
  • Take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening
  • Make sure that you try to stop smoking on your quit date. If you slip-up and smoke, try again. Some people need to take CHANTIX for a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best.
  • Most people will take CHANTIX for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, your healthcare provider may prescribe CHANTIX for another 12 weeks to help you stay cigarette-free.
  • Take CHANTIX after eating and with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
  • This dosing schedule may not be right for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are having side effects such as nausea, strange dreams, or sleep problems. Your healthcare provider may want to reduce your dose.
  • If you miss a dose of CHANTIX, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take your next dose at your regular time.

Resources

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Contact us.

MI Digital Assistant

Chat online with Pfizer Medical Information regarding your inquiry on a Pfizer medicine.

Call 800-438-1985*

*Contact Medical Information.9AM-5PM ET Monday to Friday; excluding holidays.

Report Adverse Event

Pfizer Safety

To report an adverse event related to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and you are not part of a clinical trial* for this product, click the link below to submit your information:

Pfizer Safety Reporting Site

*If you are involved in a clinical trial for this product, adverse events should be reported to your coordinating study site.

If you cannot use the above website, or would like to report an adverse event related to a different Pfizer product, please call Pfizer Safety at (800) 438-1985.

FDA Medwatch

You may also contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directly to report adverse events or product quality concerns either online at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call (800) 822-7967.