Can You Buy Champix in the UK?

Champix was a popular smoking cessation medication until it was discontinued due to impurities within the product. This disruption in supply could potentially have led to around 4,200 fewer long-term ex-smokers, with estimates that 30,030 people wouldn’t take up an alternative treatment.

Then, in 2025, Champix’s manufacturer announced that it had updated its processes and that the medication would return to the market. So, can you buy Champix in the UK again? Join us as we answer this important question and explore why the treatment was withdrawn in the first place. We’ll also discuss potential alternatives, so you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you. Let’s begin. 

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Champix: How Does it Work?

Champix works by binding to and blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms that happen when you quit smoking. It also stops the rewarding and reinforcing effects of smoking a cigarette.

When you smoke, nicotine from the cigarette binds to its receptors in the brain, which releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine, also known as a ‘happy hormone’. This results in the euphoric feeling you get when you smoke, making you want to continue smoking cigarettes. Champix works in a similar way by attaching itself to the receptors to stop nicotine binding to them, and also releases dopamine to minimise the cravings and withdrawal symptoms you experience when you give up smoking. 

Is Champix Effective?

Champix is an effective quit-smoking medication with clinical trial data showing that it can more than double the chance of quitting smoking permanently compared to a placebo. When compared to bupropion and a placebo, during the last four weeks of treatment, 44% of people in the varenicline group had continuously stopped smoking compared to 17.6% in the placebo group and 30% in the bupropion group.

Comparative data between varenicline (Champix), bupropion, nicotine patches, and placebo show that more people achieved higher abstinence rates with Champix, and that the medication has a low incidence of adverse neuropsychiatric events, with no more than 3% of people being affected. 

Is Champix Available in the UK?

Yes, as of 2025, Champix returned to market in the UK after a 4-year absence. The treatment was originally withdrawn from sale in 2021 due to concerns about its safety, with generic varenicline taking its place in 2024. Champix’s manufacturer, Pfizer, said that it had taken steps to address the original issue and ensure the product meets regulatory requirements.

As a result of its availability again, you can now buy Champix online from Prescription Doctor or other services. This is in addition to our other smoking-cessation treatments, such as Zyban and Cytisine. These work similarly to Champix and Varenicline by blocking the effects of nicotine through binding to its receptors. We’ll discuss these alternative medications later in the article. 

Champix

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• Blocks the rewarding effects of smoking
• Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms 
• High long-term abstinence rates

• Discreet delivery next working day
• Online prescription - No doctor visit

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Why Was Champix Discontinued?

Champix was discontinued (in what Pfizer is calling a “temporary market withdrawal”) in 2021, after testing revealed that the product contained levels of a potentially carcinogenic impurity above acceptable safety limits. Following this revelation, Champix was withdrawn as a precautionary measure, a move that some studies suggested could have resulted in around 1,890 more avoidable deaths every year.  

In announcing Champix’s return to market, Pfizer said that the withdrawal was the result of new guidance on the management and detection of the impurity, rather than due to concerns over safety. 

Why is Champix Back in Stock in the UK?

Champix returned to market in the UK in the summer of 2025, following changes to the manufacturing and sourcing process for non-active ingredients. Pfizer said it had worked closely to reduce the level of nitrates in the product, thereby limiting the amount of the nitrosamine impurity. In February 2025, the improved processes were approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) found that the changes made to the product “ensure that the levels of nitrosamine impurity N-nitroso-varenicline present in Champix stay below the acceptable intake limit during manufacture and throughout the product’s shelf-life.”   

What Can I Buy Instead of Champix?

Although Champix is once again available in the UK, it may not be for everyone. Thankfully, there are several alternative treatments for smoking cessation that you can try. The main ones are: 

Varenicline

Varenicline is the generic form of Champix, containing the same active ingredient. It works by binding to nicotine receptors in the brain to block the effects of the addictive substance found in cigarettes. In doing so, varenicline reduces cravings and makes smoking less rewarding.

Generic varenicline is just as effective as Champix, helping more than 44% of people quit smoking continuously for four weeks compared to 17.7% given a placebo. Compared to placebo, varenicline significantly increases quit smoking rates within 24 weeks. From weeks 15 to 24 of varenicline treatment, 32.1% of people had continuously stopped smoking cigarettes compared to 6.9% on a placebo.

Zyban

Zyban is a prescription pill that contains the active ingredient bupropion, a type of antidepressant that has smoking cessation benefits. You start taking Zyban while you are still smoking, with the intention of quitting during the second week of treatment, and continuing to take it daily for 7 to 9 weeks.

Clinical trials have shown that bupropion can help 1 in 5 smokers give up and continue not smoking for one year. Further research shows that bupropion may be more effective for smokers with a history of depression compared to nicotine replacement therapy (29.8% vs 18.5%).

Cytisine

Cytisine pills contain cytisine, a natural substance derived from laburnum seeds, which targets the nicotine receptors in the brain to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and block the ‘high’ you get from smoking that’s triggered by dopamine release. A typical course lasts for 25 days, and you should stop smoking by day 5 of your treatment schedule.

Cytisine is a popular quit-smoking medication. A recent review concluded that cytisine increases the chance of successful smoking cessation by more than two-fold compared to a placebo and has no serious safety concerns.

Whichever you choose, finding the best stop smoking aid for you is paramount for success. Although each medication is effective, you should consider the treatment duration, when you want to quit smoking, and if you are fully committed to quitting before starting any pills. This can help you decide which option is right for you and which is likely to help you kick the habit for good. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that Champix is available in the UK again, you may have questions about where to obtain it and why it was previously discontinued. At Prescription Doctor, we have all the answers you need to make an informed decision. 

Where Can I Buy Champix Online in the UK?

Since it was re-released to market, you can buy Champix online in the UK from reputable providers such as Prescription Doctor. These efficient services are designed to take the hassle out of obtaining prescription medication by offering a simple consultation process and fast, discreet delivery.

We also offer alternative treatments such as Varenicline, Cytisine, and Zyban (bupropion). Simply complete a short consultation, and our clinicians will assess your suitability for the medication. Orders approved before 3pm on a weekday are eligible for next-day delivery. 

Can You Buy Champix Over the Counter?

No, Champix cannot be bought over the counter. Instead, you will need a prescription from a registered clinician to obtain them. A prescription is required because Champix is a potent medication that can cause potentially serious side effects and specific dosing requirements. 

When Will Champix Be Available Again?

Champix became available again in June 2025, via independent prescribers and through the NHS. This was after the manufacturer implemented new manufacturing processes, which were subsequently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 

What Replaced Champix?

When Champix was taken off the market, the generic form, Varenicline, was made available in 2024. This treatment contains the same active ingredient, in the same strength, and works in exactly the same way as Champix to help you give up smoking.

What Impurity Was Found in Champix?

Champix was originally discontinued after it was found to contain high levels of the nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, an impurity that is likely to cause cancer. This led Pfizer to pause the production and distribution of Champix in 2021. Since then, the manufacturing process has been modified to reduce the presence of the impurity and make the product safer. 

Stop Smoking Support You Can Rely Upon 

If you’re thinking about going smoke-free, the good news is that there are several options available to you. Smoking cessation medications in particular, such as Champix, are highly effective, nicotine-free solutions that don’t cause cravings and withdrawal symptoms — potentially making the journey easier to manage.

Now that you can once again buy Champix in the UK, Prescription Doctor is pleased to offer it as part of our stop-smoking service. Simply complete the online questionnaire and our specialist clinicians will assess your answers to determine whether the treatment is suitable for your circumstances. Orders approved before 3pm on a weekday are eligible for next-day delivery, so you can receive your medication with minimal fuss.

Our service doesn’t stop there, as we’ll be with you every step of the way. Our clinicians are available to answer any questions you may have and will regularly check in with you to monitor your progress, ensuring everything is working as it should. We also provide a wealth of information relating to quitting smoking, such as the impact it has on your body, a timeline of events, and even advice for social smokers.

Ready to take the first step towards a healthier you? Begin your Champix consultation with Prescription Doctor today.  

Authored By

Leanne Edermaniger

Medical Content Writer

Leanne is a science and health content writer focusing on human health and biology while utilising her solid academic background.

Published on: 10/10/2025

Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Reviewed on: 10/10/2025