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Step 1
Get prepared. Choose a quit date to stop using tobacco. Chantix is designed to be taken one week before your quit date so that it will have time to build up in your body. Your first week of pills will be in lime green and white packaging.
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Step 2
Start taking Chantix. From Day 1 to Day 3, take one white pill in the morning. Each white pill is 0.5 mg. From Day 4 to Day 7, take one white pill in the morning and one white pill in the evening. You can continue to use tobacco during this first week.
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Step 3
Stop using tobacco on Day 8. Make sure that your environment is clear of tobacco products to reduce temptation. For weeks 2 to 12, take one blue pill in the morning and one blue pill in the evening. Each blue pill is 1 mg and is in blue and white packaging.
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Step 4
Take Chantix for 12 weeks. Do this even if you are doing well and quit smoking early in the process. In clinical studies, 44 percent of people taking Chantix for 12 weeks remained tobacco free at the end of the study. Don't get discouraged if you slip and use tobacco products after your quit date. Just start over again and stay encouraged. Talk with your doctor if you feel that you need an additional 12 weeks of Chantix to stay tobacco free.
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Step 5
Be aware of potential side effects. Nausea occurs in about 30 percent of people that take this medication. Other side effects that can occur include problems sleeping, constipation, gas and vomiting. Use caution when operating machinery or driving until you are aware of how Chantix affects your body.
