 [ Symptoms ] i have severe neurological symptoms like permanent exhaustion worsening memory lack of concentration anxiety and depression [ Disease ] no you definitely should not stop taking chantix varenicline abruptly in fact you would be wise to stop it only under the supervision of a medical professional varenicline is often given to help smokers quit cigarettes usually it is taken for 12 weeks and can be repeated for another 12 weeks if necessary that is a total of about six months since you are at the five month mark i strongly recommend you make an appointment with the prescribing health care provider to make a plan for discontinuing the varenicline at that time your provider also can assess how well the medication worked for you and help you with other smoking cessation support if necessary wishing you well