Ok...I just now read this, and I haven't done any research but why would you not use this drug in accord with pharmacological extinction?

How are you using it AJ?

Does this not sound eerily familiar?:

" Things to Remember

As you get on the road to quitting smoking using CHANTIX, there are some important things to keep in mind.
It's okay to smoke during your first week of CHANTIX. [italics mine]

You should start taking CHANTIX a week before your Quit Date. This gives CHANTIX time to build up in your body. You may choose to smoke for the first week you are on CHANTIX, but you should stop smoking completely on Day 8 of your CHANTIX treatment.
A slip-up is not a failure. [italics mine]

Many smokers are afraid of what might happen if they slip up and smoke after they quit. That's only natural, because quitting is hard. But a slip-up isn't a failure. It doesn't have to be a relapse. So remember if you slip up and smoke, don't give up. Some people need a few weeks for CHANTIX to work best. In studies, 44% of CHANTIX users were quit during weeks 9 to 12 of treatment (compared to 18% on sugar pill). Some people who smoked after their Quit Date were able to quit successfully. "

from wiki:

Varenicline is a partial agonist of the α4β2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In addition it acts on α3β4 and weakly on α3β2 and α6-containing receptors. A full agonism was displayed on α7-receptors.[3]

Acting as an agonist varenicline binds to, and partially stimulates, the receptor without creating a full nicotine effect on the release of dopamine. Varenicline also competitively binds to α4β2 receptors blocking the ability of nicotine to stimulate the central nervous mesolimbic dopamine system.

Me:
Isn't dopamine part of your brains reward system, or one of those pleasure neurotransmitters? Isn't any addiction a learned behavior? My dad and I will be very interested in your experiment.

bbl

WOW AJ_ -- You're a new man!! So glad the Chantix is working.

I

Awesome AJ! I'll definitely be trying that after I'm not drinking as much. Right now with the depression and suicidal ideation SE's, it isn't really a risk I can justify taking.

There is another potential issue that I thought of last week. Because of Chantix is a partial agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, a slow steady drip of dopamine is being released. When you quit the Chantix, you'll lose that. If this is indeed Chantix mechanism of action, you could probably expect some cravings upon discontiuing the Chantix.

So young- so healthy!

Here's one for ya AJ!:

Varenicline Reduces Alcohol Self-Administration in Heavy-Drinking Smokers
Biological Psychiatry, Volume 66, Issue 2, 15 July 2009, Pages 185-190
Sherry A. McKee, Emily L.R. Harrison, Stephanie S. O'Malley, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, Julia Shi, Jeanette M. Tetrault, Marina R. Picciotto, Ismene L. Petrakis, Naralys Estevez, Erika Balchunas

Background
Alcohol and tobacco dependence are highly comorbid disorders, with preclinical evidence suggesting a role for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in alcohol consumption. Varenicline, a partial nicotinic agonist with high affinity for the α4β2 nAChR receptor, reduced ethanol intake in rodents. We aimed to test whether varenicline would reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol craving in humans.
Methods

This double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation examined the effect of varenicline (2 mg/day vs. placebo) on alcohol self-administration using an established laboratory paradigm in non-alcohol-dependent heavy drinkers (n = 20) who were daily smokers. Following 7 days of medication pretreatment, participants were first administered a priming dose of alcohol (.3 g/kg) and subjective, and physiologic responses were assessed. A 2-hour alcohol self-administration period followed during which participants could choose to consume up to 8 additional drinks (each .15 g/kg).
Results

Varenicline (.5 ± SE = .40) significantly reduced the number of drinks consumed compared to placebo (2.60 ± SE = .93) and increased the likelihood of abstaining from any drinking during the self-administration period. Following the priming drink, varenicline attenuated alcohol craving and reduced subjective reinforcing alcohol effects (high, like, rush, feel good, intoxicated). Adverse events associated with varenicline were minimal and, when combined with alcohol, produced no significant effects on physiologic reactivity, mood, or nausea.
Conclusions

This preliminary investigation demonstrated that varenicline significantly reduced alcohol self-administration and was well tolerated, alone and in combination with alcohol in heavy-drinking smokers. Varenicline should be investigated as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorders.

What is your current dosage AJ?