Chantix and Insomnia

Many side effects are possible with Chantix, and insomnia appears to be one of the more common ones. Up to 19 percent of people experienced it while taking the medication. If you are taking Chantix and insomnia occurs, try improving your sleep habits or contact your healthcare provider so that he or she can adjust your dosage or recommend another smoking cessation medicine.

 

Chantix and Insomnia: An Overview

Insomnia is one of the more common side effects of Chantix™ (varenicline tartrate). In studies, up to 19 percent of people taking the drug reported problems with insomnia. However, up to 13 percent of people not taking it also experienced insomnia.
 

What Is Insomnia?

People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:
 
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
  • Waking up too early in the morning
  • Non-refreshing sleep.
     
Other related Chantix side effects include abnormal dreams and nightmares, which may also contribute to insomnia.
 

Chantix and Insomnia: Suggestions

Insomnia is common in people who are trying to stop smoking. To make matters worse, most of the medications available to help with smoking cessation can also cause insomnia. For many people, improving sleep habits may help to alleviate insomnia. Some tips for better sleep include the following:
 
  • Keep a regular sleep-wake cycle. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the four to six hours before bedtime.
  • Don't exercise within two hours of bedtime. Exercising five or six hours before bedtime, however, may help you sleep more soundly.
  • Don't eat large meals within two hours of bedtime.
  • Don't nap later than 3 p.m.
  • Sleep in a dark, quiet room with a comfortable temperature.
  • If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, do a quiet activity somewhere else and return to bed when you're sleepy.
  • Wind down in the 30 minutes before bedtime with a relaxing pre-sleep routine, such as a warm bath, soft music, or reading.
     
(Click Good Sleep Habits for more suggestions.)
 
(Chantix and Insomnia Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;