Could Taking Chantix Hurt My Body's Ability To Produce Vitamin D?

Chantix is the brand name for the drug varenicline, which is used to help people quit smoking. Chantix works on your brain, making smoking less pleasurable. If you enjoy smoking less, you're more likely to give it up. Chantix works best when you combine it with counseling and behavior modification. Your body produces vitamin D from sunlight on your skin and processes it from food you eat. Chantix does not affect your body's ability to produce vitamin D.

About Chantix

The Pfizer company introduced Chantix in August of 2006. Previous smoking cessation medications focused on delivering gradually decreasing levels of nicotine, in the form of gum or patches. Chantix is available in 0.5 mg and 1 mg tablets. Most people take Chantix daily for a week or two before they quit smoking, then for 10 to 22 weeks afterward. Chantix is available by prescription only.

Side Effects

The primary side effects of Chantix are psychological. Some people report trouble sleeping or particularly vivid dreams. Stomach upset is a problem for other people. Of most concern are reports of feelings of rage and hostility or severe depression in people taking Chantix. In 2008 the Federal Aviation Administration forbid pilots and air traffic controllers from using Chantix, based on concerns about the psychological effects of the drug. The Food and Drug Administration cautions that if you or your family and friends notice any behavior or mood changes while you're taking Chantix, you should stop taking the drug and contact your doctor immediately. In July 2011, the Canadian Medical Association released the results of a study that showed taking Chantix could increase your risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has been linked to everything from bone health to cancer prevention. Your body makes some of the vitamin D it uses from sunlight on your skin, but use of sunblocks, more time spent indoors, and living in northern latitudes can decrease the amount of vitamin you're able to produce. You can also get vitamin D from foods, especially fish and fortified dairy products. The the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine has established recommended daily requirements of vitamin for adults of 600 IU. Your doctor can conduct a blood test to determine if you need more vitamin D. Supplements can supply the vitamin if you don't get enough in your diet.

Chantix and Vitamin D

The FDA does not cite any interactions between Chantix and vitamin D supplements. You should take Chantix after a meal, with a full glass of water. If you're taking a vitamin D supplement, ask your doctor if you should take it at the same time as your Chantix or some other time. No studies show that Chantix has any impact on your body's vitamin D production.