Varenicline

Date: March 2025, Version 3.0

Quick read

Varenicline is rarely used during pregnancy as there is more safety information about other treatments to help with stopping smoking.

What is it?

Varenicline (Champix®) is a medicine to help people stop smoking.

Benefits

What are the benefits of taking varenicline?

Varenicline can help you to stop smoking. It is important not to smoke during pregnancy as this can harm your unborn baby.

For more information, please see the bump leaflet on Smoking during pregnancy.

Risks

Are there any risks of taking varenicline during pregnancy?

Only a small number of pregnant women taking varenicline have been studied. While no obvious problems have been noted, it is not possible to rule out effects on the baby. Because of this, varenicline would only be used in pregnancy if you have tried other methods to stop smoking but these have not worked.

If you are taking varenicline and find out that you are pregnant, please tell your GP or midwife as soon as possible as they will want to make sure that it is still the right treatment for you.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to taking varenicline?

Yes, nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gums, and tablets containing nicotine) can be used during pregnancy. If you need support to stop smoking before or during pregnancy, please speak to your midwife or GP.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take varenicline during pregnancy?

Varenicline can usually be avoided during pregnancy as there are other ways to help you stop smoking. Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

All pregnant women in the UK should be offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following varenicline use in pregnancy.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken varenicline?

We do not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes varenicline.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.