‘Miracle’ drug helping people quit smoking and vaping comes with 'unsettling' side effect

For those hoping to kick their vaping or smoking habit, there is one medication dubbed a 'miracle' which can be prescribed.

Varenicline can be given to help those addicted to nicotine, and is a tablet which lessens the urge to smoke by easing withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and trouble sleeping.

It works by attaching to nicotine receptors in the brain to block the pleasant effects of smoking, making cigarettes less enjoyable.

It's the perfect time for many users to consider packing it in altogether, with new laws on the advertisement and sale of nicotine now enforced in the UK. This also includes new price hikes to the likes of liquids, which could price some people out of the habit.

But there are some unusual and 'unsettling' side effects of taking it, according to experts, which many people experience when taking it.

Videos on TikTok recently have hailed the medication a 'miracle' drug which was dubbed the 'easiest way ever' to quit vaping or smoking.

After 23-years addicted to nicotine, one user, Iwan Steffan told his 360,000 followers about how it worked for him, describing the first day he hadn't had nicotine in the entire time he had been smoking.

"What this medication has done has been life changing," he said. "I've been on it for 12 days and I feel like I've never really vaped."

However one common side effect that has been common among users are vivid, unusual or unsettling dreams.

Some can be so severe there are examples of people 'acting out' disturbing dreams, according to pharmacists.

Forums online discuss the 'disturbing' side effect, as one Reddit thread explained: "It is seriously messing with my sleep and dreams. Can anyone relate?"

Another user responded: "I've used it 3 times to successfully quit smoking. You must eat beforehand, a big breakfast or dinner. If I just had a bagel and banana I would be useless with nausea for hours.

"Crazy dreams. Very vivid. Very crazy."

According to the NHS, varenicline reduces cravings but also assists with the withdrawal you get when you stop smoking.

These symptoms can include an urge to smoke again, feeling depressed or irritable, and difficulty sleeping.

Expert weighs in on 'unsettling' side effects

Jennifer Kaur, pharmacist at online pharmacy The Family Chemist, told LADbible that nausea is actually the main side effect of using the medication.

However this is followed by difficulty sleeping and often vivid and unusual dreams which can sometimes also result in sleepwalking for some users, as well as changes to taste.

She said many people don't always spot the side-effects of the medication because many are similar to the impacts of quitting vaping or smoking.

“Nausea is the most frequently reported side effect," she explained. "Headaches, difficulty sleeping and unusual dreams are also very common.

"Some people experience dizziness, constipation or a change in how things taste, but it can be hard to tell what’s causing some symptoms, because nicotine withdrawal can itself disrupt sleep and leave people feeling irritable, anxious or low."

On how the medication works, Kaur added: “Varenicline acts on the same receptors in the brain that nicotine targets, helping to reduce cravings and making smoking feel less rewarding.

"Vivid or unsettling dreams are a recognised side effect, but we don’t know exactly why the medicine makes dreams feel so intense for some people.

"Sleep can also be disrupted when you quit smoking, so more than one factor may be at play.

"There have also been reports of people appearing to act out disturbing dreams while taking varenicline. These are different types of sleep behaviour, and the reports don’t establish exactly how varenicline might trigger them.”

When to act on repeated side effects of medication

Jennifer Kaur explained that if some side effects persist, users must contact their doctor or pharmacist, especially those who notice a change in mood or behaviour.

"People taking varenicline have reported changes in mood or behaviour, including depression," she explained.

"Quitting smoking can itself affect mood, but any new or worsening symptoms should be taken seriously.

“If nausea, vivid dreams or difficulty sleeping are bothering you or keep coming back, speak to your pharmacist or prescriber. Your prescriber can review whether a lower dose or another stop-smoking treatment would suit you.

"If you start sleepwalking or someone notices you doing things in your sleep that could put you or someone else at risk, contact your prescriber promptly for advice before taking another dose.”

Anyone who develops serious symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, hallucinations or changes in behaviour should seek urgent medical help. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.