varenicline tartrate at a glance
Medicine class
Partial agonist at neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Licensed use
Smoking cessation in adults.
Contains nicotine
No.
Administration
Swallow the tablet whole with water, with or without food.
Driving
Do not drive or use machinery if dizziness, sleepiness or visual effects occur.
What is varenicline tartrate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Helping adults stop smoking. Support from a stop-smoking adviser or service should accompany treatment where available.
How does varenicline tartrate work?
Varenicline partly stimulates α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, helping to ease cravings and withdrawal. It also occupies these receptors more strongly than nicotine, reducing nicotine’s rewarding effect if smoking occurs.
varenicline tartrate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 0.5 mg, 0.5 mg + 1 mg, 1 mg
How to take varenicline tartrate
Follow the prescriber’s instructions and the leaflet supplied with the product.
Swallow film-coated tablets whole with water.
They may be taken with or without food.
Do not drive, cycle or operate machinery until you know whether varenicline makes you dizzy, sleepy or affects your vision.
Speak to the prescriber rather than changing or stopping treatment yourself if adverse effects are difficult to tolerate.
varenicline tartrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea
- Headache
- Abnormal dreams or difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness or sleepiness
- Indigestion, reflux, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea
- Dry mouth or altered taste
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Fatigue
Get urgent medical advice
- New or marked changes in mood, behaviour or thinking, including aggression, depression or suicidal thoughts
- Seizure
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, especially with breathing or swallowing difficulty
- Blistering, peeling or otherwise severe rash
- Symptoms suggesting a heart attack or stroke
varenicline tartrate in pregnancy
Varenicline is generally avoided during pregnancy because experience is limited and other stop-smoking treatments have more safety information. If pregnancy occurs during treatment, contact the GP, midwife or prescriber for review; exposure alone does not usually require extra monitoring for major birth defects beyond routine antenatal care.
varenicline tartrate while breastfeeding
Varenicline is not usually recommended while breastfeeding because human milk-transfer and infant-safety information are lacking. Discuss alternative stop-smoking support with a doctor or pharmacist; if use is being considered, the benefits of breastfeeding and treatment require individual clinical assessment.
varenicline tartrate interactions
Varenicline itself has few clinically meaningful pharmacokinetic interactions, but stopping smoking can change the handling or effects of other medicines.
Theophylline or aminophylline
Stopping smoking may increase exposure, so clinical review and monitoring may be needed.
Warfarin
Varenicline does not directly alter warfarin, but smoking cessation may change anticoagulant requirements; review INR monitoring.
Insulin
Stopping smoking may alter insulin requirements, so glucose control should be reviewed.
Common questions about varenicline tartrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Does varenicline tartrate contain nicotine?
No. It is a nicotine-free treatment that acts on nicotine receptors in the brain.
Why can varenicline tartrate make smoking feel less rewarding?
It occupies α4β2 nicotine receptors and limits nicotine’s ability to activate the brain’s reward pathway fully.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.