How and when to take varenicline

Varenicline comes as 0.5mg and 1mg tablets.

You’ll usually take the lower dose tablet, 1 or 2 times a day for the first week. This increases to the higher dose, twice a day for the rest of your treatment. If varenicline causes side effects you cannot cope with, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about taking a lower dose.

Follow the instructions that come with your medicine, carefully. This is because your dose changes after the first 3 days.

It’s important to complete the full 12-week course, even if you have stopped smoking. Finishing the course can increase the chance of stopping for good.

Your doctor may prescribe a longer course of treatment if they think that it will help you stop for good.

How to take it

Always take varenicline exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure.

It’s important to decide on the date you want to stop smoking as you’re more likely to stop if you have.

If you cannot set a date to quit within 2 weeks, you can choose your own target date. But this should be within 5 weeks of starting your treatment.

To start varenicline, take your tablets 1 to 2 weeks before your stop smoking date. This allows you to build up the dose and gradually helps your body get used to the medicine.

If you’re taking varenicline twice a day, you’ll usually take it once in the morning and once in the evening.

You can take varenicline tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.