CHANTIX® Patient Counseling Information

(varenicline tartrate)

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide)

Initiate Treatment and Continue to Attempt to Quit if Lapse

Instruct patients to set a date to quit smoking and to initiate CHANTIX treatment one week before the quit date. Alternatively, the patient can begin CHANTIX dosing and then set a date to quit smoking between days 8 and 35 of treatment. Encourage patients to continue to attempt to quit if they have early lapses after quit day [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

For patients who are sure that they are not able or willing to quit abruptly, a gradual approach to quitting smoking with CHANTIX may be considered. Patients should begin CHANTIX dosing and reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, then quit by the end of that period and continue treatment for an additional 12 weeks for a total of 24 weeks [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Encourage patients who are motivated to quit and who did not succeed in stopping smoking during prior CHANTIX therapy for reasons other than intolerability due to adverse events, or who relapsed after treatment to make another attempt with CHANTIX once factors contributing to the failed attempt have been identified and addressed [see Dosage and Administration (2.1), Clinical Studies (14.6)].

How to Take

Advise patients that CHANTIX should be taken orally after eating, and with a full glass of water [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Starting Week Dosage

Instruct patients on how to titrate CHANTIX, beginning at a dose of 0.5 mg/day. Explain that one 0.5 mg tablet should be taken daily for the first three days, and that for the next four days, one 0.5 mg tablet should be taken in the morning and one 0.5 mg tablet should be taken in the evening [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Continuing Weeks Dosage

Advise patients that, after the first seven days, the dose should be increased to one 1 mg tablet in the morning and one 1 mg tablet in the evening [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Dosage Adjustment for CHANTIX or Other Drugs

Inform patients that nausea and insomnia are side effects of CHANTIX and are usually transient; however, advise patients that if they are persistently troubled by these symptoms, they should notify the prescribing physician so that a dose reduction can be considered.

Inform patients that some drugs may require dose adjustment after quitting smoking [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Counseling and Support

Provide patients with educational materials and necessary counseling to support an attempt at quitting smoking [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events

Inform patients that some patients have experienced changes in mood (including depression and mania), psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, aggression, hostility, agitation, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide when attempting to quit smoking while taking CHANTIX. Instruct patients to discontinue CHANTIX and contact a healthcare professional if they experience such symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

History of Psychiatric Illness

Encourage patients to reveal any history of psychiatric illness prior to initiating treatment.

Nicotine Withdrawal

Inform patients that quitting smoking, with or without CHANTIX, may be associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms (including depression or agitation) or exacerbation of pre-existing psychiatric illness.

Seizures

Encourage patients to report any history of seizures or other factors that can lower seizure threshold. Instruct patients to discontinue CHANTIX and contact a healthcare provider immediately if they experience a seizure while on treatment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Interaction with Alcohol

Advise patients to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume while taking CHANTIX until they know whether CHANTIX affects their tolerance for alcohol [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Driving or Operating Machinery

Advise patients to use caution driving or operating machinery until they know how quitting smoking and/or varenicline may affect them [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Cardiovascular Events

Patients should be instructed to notify their healthcare providers of symptoms of new or worsening cardiovascular events and to seek immediate medical attention if they experience signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction or stroke [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Somnambulism

Patients should be instructed to discontinue CHANTIX and notify their healthcare providers if they experience somnambulism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)].

Angioedema

Inform patients that there have been reports of angioedema, with swelling of the face, mouth (lip, gum, tongue) and neck (larynx and pharynx) that can lead to life-threatening respiratory compromise. Instruct patients to discontinue CHANTIX and immediately seek medical care if they experience these symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Serious Skin Reactions

Inform patients that serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and erythema multiforme, were reported by some patients taking CHANTIX. Advise patients to stop taking CHANTIX at the first sign of rash with mucosal lesions or skin reaction and contact a healthcare provider immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Vivid, Unusual, or Strange Dreams

Inform patients that they may experience vivid, unusual or strange dreams during treatment with CHANTIX.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant should be advised of: the risks of smoking to a pregnant mother and her developing baby, the potential risks of CHANTIX use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the benefits of smoking cessation with and without CHANTIX. Advise breastfeeding women to monitor the infant for seizures and vomiting [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1 and 8.2)].

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Patient Counseling Information

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide)

Initiate Treatment and Continue to Attempt to Quit if Lapse

Instruct patients to set a date to quit smoking and to initiate CHANTIX treatment one week before the quit date. Alternatively, the patient can begin CHANTIX dosing and then set a date to quit smoking between days 8 and 35 of treatment. Encourage patients to continue to attempt to quit if they have early lapses after quit day [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

For patients who are sure that they are not able or willing to quit abruptly, a gradual approach to quitting smoking with CHANTIX may be considered. Patients should begin CHANTIX dosing and reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment, then quit by the end of that period and continue treatment for an additional 12 weeks for a total of 24 weeks [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Encourage patients who are motivated to quit and who did not succeed in stopping smoking during prior CHANTIX therapy for reasons other than intolerability due to adverse events, or who relapsed after treatment to make another attempt with CHANTIX once factors contributing to the failed attempt have been identified and addressed [see Dosage and Administration (2.1), Clinical Studies (14.6)].

How to Take

Advise patients that CHANTIX should be taken orally after eating, and with a full glass of water [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Starting Week Dosage

Instruct patients on how to titrate CHANTIX, beginning at a dose of 0.5 mg/day. Explain that one 0.5 mg tablet should be taken daily for the first three days, and that for the next four days, one 0.5 mg tablet should be taken in the morning and one 0.5 mg tablet should be taken in the evening [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Continuing Weeks Dosage

Advise patients that, after the first seven days, the dose should be increased to one 1 mg tablet in the morning and one 1 mg tablet in the evening [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Dosage Adjustment for CHANTIX or Other Drugs

Inform patients that nausea and insomnia are side effects of CHANTIX and are usually transient; however, advise patients that if they are persistently troubled by these symptoms, they should notify the prescribing physician so that a dose reduction can be considered.

Inform patients that some drugs may require dose adjustment after quitting smoking [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Counseling and Support

Provide patients with educational materials and necessary counseling to support an attempt at quitting smoking [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events

Inform patients that some patients have experienced changes in mood (including depression and mania), psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, aggression, hostility, agitation, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide when attempting to quit smoking while taking CHANTIX. Instruct patients to discontinue CHANTIX and contact a healthcare professional if they experience such symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

History of Psychiatric Illness

Encourage patients to reveal any history of psychiatric illness prior to initiating treatment.

Nicotine Withdrawal

Inform patients that quitting smoking, with or without CHANTIX, may be associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms (including depression or agitation) or exacerbation of pre-existing psychiatric illness.

Seizures

Encourage patients to report any history of seizures or other factors that can lower seizure threshold. Instruct patients to discontinue CHANTIX and contact a healthcare provider immediately if they experience a seizure while on treatment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Interaction with Alcohol

Advise patients to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume while taking CHANTIX until they know whether CHANTIX affects their tolerance for alcohol [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Driving or Operating Machinery

Advise patients to use caution driving or operating machinery until they know how quitting smoking and/or varenicline may affect them [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Cardiovascular Events

Patients should be instructed to notify their healthcare providers of symptoms of new or worsening cardiovascular events and to seek immediate medical attention if they experience signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction or stroke [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Somnambulism

Patients should be instructed to discontinue CHANTIX and notify their healthcare providers if they experience somnambulism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)].

Angioedema

Inform patients that there have been reports of angioedema, with swelling of the face, mouth (lip, gum, tongue) and neck (larynx and pharynx) that can lead to life-threatening respiratory compromise. Instruct patients to discontinue CHANTIX and immediately seek medical care if they experience these symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Serious Skin Reactions

Inform patients that serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and erythema multiforme, were reported by some patients taking CHANTIX. Advise patients to stop taking CHANTIX at the first sign of rash with mucosal lesions or skin reaction and contact a healthcare provider immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Vivid, Unusual, or Strange Dreams

Inform patients that they may experience vivid, unusual or strange dreams during treatment with CHANTIX.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant should be advised of: the risks of smoking to a pregnant mother and her developing baby, the potential risks of CHANTIX use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the benefits of smoking cessation with and without CHANTIX. Advise breastfeeding women to monitor the infant for seizures and vomiting [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1 and 8.2)].

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