Hi,

Thank you for posting your query.

I guess you have used CHAMPIX (Varenicline) for quitting smoking. Champix is an approved drug for this indication, and is both effective as well as safe.

Abnormal chemical smell is not an usually reported side effect of champix. Most of my patients report nausea, mild abdominal pain, gas in stomach, and mild metallic taste. These are very transient and disappear in a few days.

So, I think the abnormal smell may not be related to champix in your case. One method of confirming this would be to discontinue champix for 2-3 days and see whether this abnormal smell goes away or not.

Please discuss this with your doctor.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology)

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Thank you for getting back.

There are two likely causes for abnormal smell, if it is present all the time:

1. Local nose infection,

2. Injury to olfactory nerve endings located in the nose. This is usually due to a viral infection.

If the abnormal smell is episodic (that is, it comes and goes), then it can be due to intra cranial problems such as seizures.

But I think, in your case, it is continuos, so, the above causes are more likely. Both the above mentioned conditions are transient and they improve on their own in a few days.

I hope it helps.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

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