Chantix Lawsuit

The smoking-cessation prescription drug Chantix has been linked to suicidal thoughts and actions, as well as mood and behavioral disorders. In early 2008, FDA officials acknowledged receiving troubling reports from Chantix patients throughout the United States. These reports included 34 cases of suicide and nearly 420 reports of suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and completed suicides.

As of July 2009, the most serious reports to the FDA involving Chantix were¹:

• 98 suicides in Chantix users
• 188 attempted suicides in Chantix users

According to a new study from the U.K. drug regulatory agency and the University of Bristol, any risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts is likely to be very small. This conclusion is at odds with earlier studies, though. The epidemiologist behind the new study says that larger studies are needed to further quantify the risk. Web MD reported that the study "compared the incidence of suicide and self-harm among smokers taking Chantix to that of smokers using the drug Zyban or nicotine-replacement products."

Chantix and Smoking Cessation

Chantix, known by the generic name varenicline, works by blocking the effect of nicotine on the brain. When a person quits smoking, the lower levels of dopamine and other brain chemicals causes the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Chantix combats these withdrawal symptoms by stimulating the release of low levels of dopamine and other brain chemicals. Chantix also blocks the brain's nicotine receptors, so future cigarettes do not have the same effect, thus potentially stifling a relapse to regular smoking.²

Chantix Side Effects

• Nausea
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Gas
• Insomnia
• Vivid, abnormal dreams
• Changes in the way food tastes

FDA Warnings

FDA warnings about Chantix begin with a 2008 advisory to health care professionals to be alert to and monitor for changes in mood and behavior in people taking Chantix. On July 1, 2009, it required varenicline to carry the most severe safety warning, the black box label. Signs and symptoms may include:

• anxiety
• nervousness
• tension
• depressed mood
• unusual behaviors
• thinking about suicide
• attempting suicide

The FDA also advises consumers³:

• tell your doctor about any history of psychiatric illness prior to starting Chantix
• changes in mood and behavior should be reported to a doctor immediately
• patients may experience vivid, unusual, or strange dreams
• it's evaluating varenicline for additional potential side effects, including angioedema, serious skin reactions, visual impairment, and accidental injury
• your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected

As a result of the machinery warning, the Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited Chantix for pilots and air-traffic controllers on the job.

Contact the Simmons Firm

If you or someone you love has suffered serious harm as a result of taking Chantix, you may be eligible to seek compensation, including medical bills, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. Contact the Simmons firm today to get in touch with caring and experienced lawyers who can evaluate your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal rights, including the filing of a Chantix lawsuit.

¹ http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20090701/warning-on-stop-smoking-drugs-chantix-zyban
² http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stop-smoking/HA00020
³ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stop-smoking/HA00020/NSECTIONGROUP=2