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What Should Be Done After Stopping Chantix Cold Turkey?
Question: Made it through the starter pack of Chantix for 1 month. It's been several weeks I've been off of it. Should I ask for another starter pack or the maintenance pack?
Brief Answer:
One pack was enough, Sign up to support group
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. Varenicline / chantix is a low dose nicotine provider and a good quitting aid for smoking. If you feel like desire is still there for smoking then you may request an other prescription as its use is associated with some adverse effects and mood swings and depression, you will need an addiction medicine expert to take care of . Now that you have been off of it for a few weeks, i would not advise its use as it takes at least 2 weeks to reach a steady state and is advised to start 2 weeks prior to quitting smoking.
I want you to know that the most effective strategy to quit smoking for good is to combine a quit-smoking product with a program that includes support from professionals trained to treat tobacco dependence. Consider joining a community stop-smoking group or starting in-person or telephone counseling. Call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) to obtain free telephone counseling services and information about stop-smoking programs near you.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
One pack was enough, Sign up to support group
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. Varenicline / chantix is a low dose nicotine provider and a good quitting aid for smoking. If you feel like desire is still there for smoking then you may request an other prescription as its use is associated with some adverse effects and mood swings and depression, you will need an addiction medicine expert to take care of . Now that you have been off of it for a few weeks, i would not advise its use as it takes at least 2 weeks to reach a steady state and is advised to start 2 weeks prior to quitting smoking.
I want you to know that the most effective strategy to quit smoking for good is to combine a quit-smoking product with a program that includes support from professionals trained to treat tobacco dependence. Consider joining a community stop-smoking group or starting in-person or telephone counseling. Call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) to obtain free telephone counseling services and information about stop-smoking programs near you.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I agree with the support group, but am I correct that if I want another prescription that it would be basically starting all over. By that I mean with a starter dose level. I hate to start all over, wouldn't the maintenance pack/dosage be more advantageous to me? Especially since the maintenance dose is higher if I understand this correctly. I believe I may have been off the medication for 4 to 8 wks and started the cravings again.
Brief Answer:
1mg twice a day for 12 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
The reason for cravings is you did not complete the dose. We recommend it for 12 weeks and if cravings still there so then 12 more weeks. 1 mg twice a day is the dose you should start with and they will use it if prescribed.
So yes get a refill and this time use for 12 complete weeks.
I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan
1mg twice a day for 12 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
The reason for cravings is you did not complete the dose. We recommend it for 12 weeks and if cravings still there so then 12 more weeks. 1 mg twice a day is the dose you should start with and they will use it if prescribed.
So yes get a refill and this time use for 12 complete weeks.
I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I apologize again. I took the prescribed starter pack as prescribed. I have been OFF of it for at least 6 to 8 wksp, p a few Do more wks, but I don't believe 12 wks. Has it been too long for me to askin for the maintenance dose, which a friend of mine states it's 1mg. I was on 5 mg, 2 times daily I believe. Again, I fully agree with a support group aspect wI just don'tould not hurt for sure! I just want to know if being off of it for several wks, if it would be okay to request a maintenance dose, which is not the lower dose. I also forgot that I was prescribed Abiify at the same time, but would NOT take it, for I understood it to be for Bipolar Disorder which I do NOT HAVE. I only want to know if I should have my doctor call in another starter level since it's been multiple wks. Do I need to build up again like before. Thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
1 mg twice a day is constant dose. start at 0.5
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
There is no such thing as maintenance dose. It's started at 0.5 mg for 3 to 4 days twice a day and then shuffled to one mg a day twice a day for 12 weeks. What so ever is the delay since last chantix dose you can be prescribed with new cycle. Talk to addiction medicine expert and let them help you in this regard. .
I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan
1 mg twice a day is constant dose. start at 0.5
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
There is no such thing as maintenance dose. It's started at 0.5 mg for 3 to 4 days twice a day and then shuffled to one mg a day twice a day for 12 weeks. What so ever is the delay since last chantix dose you can be prescribed with new cycle. Talk to addiction medicine expert and let them help you in this regard. .
I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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