Using Chantix to Quit Smoking

Chantix, or its medical name, Varenicline tartrate, is specifically geared to help people quit smoking cigarettes and kick the nicotine habit. Nicotine is rapidly metabolized in your body, which makes you need to smoke more often to continue to feel the same pleasurable effects.

Nicotine addiction has such a grip on you because of the physiological basis of nicotine addiction, which occurs when you take a hit of nicotine and it stimulates the adrenal glands that cause the release of adrenaline. This adrenaline arouses the body and causes a release of glucose, as well as an increase in respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate. There is also the psychological basis of nicotine addiction, which occurs when you quit smoking cigarettes and go through a sort of grieving phase because cigarettes were such a large part of your life.

How Chantix Works

Chantix works in two ways - it partially activates sites in the brain known as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are affected by nicotine. This provides you with mild effects reminiscent of nicotine and eases symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Second, Chantix has the distinctive ability to neutralize the effects of nicotine if a person smokes while using this drug - which means that the nicotine "high" or "rush" becomes less pleasurable and inviting.

Using Chantix to quit smoking may be a favorable option if you do not want to undertake a treatment program that uses nicotine to help you quit smoking cigarettes. These would include nicotine replacement treatments (NRTs), such as nicotine gum, the transdermal patch, nicotine nasal spray and an inhaler. As with any other prescription medication, you will have to consult with your doctor before using Chantix to quit smoking.

Another choice, if you would prefer to quit naturally but not cold turkey, is the use of herbal smoking cessation products. These are all-natural alternatives to using Chantix and other drugs to quit smoking.