05 Feb 10 New Warning Labels Required For Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix

Recent reports linking popular anti-smoking drug Chantix to psychiatric episodes in patients has prompted Canadian Health officials to inform patients of the increased risks associated with the drug. In the United States, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has associated the drug with these episodes dating back to February 2009.

In the United States, the drug continues to be sold even though it was related to nearly 400 episodes of depression, irrational behavior, suicidal tendencies and thoughts among patients consuming the drug as well as at least 98 incidents of suicide among patients since 2009. Nicotine-replacement have not been linked with similar statistics, according to the FDA.

In July 2009, the FDA required Chantix and its sister drug Zyban to carry a boxed warning notifying patients of the risk of the potential side effects. In lieu of a recall, the warning label is the harshest caution the FDA can issue. Additionally, studies that link Chantix to a loss of consciousness has caused the US Federal Aviation Administration to remove Chantix from a list of medications considered safe for air traffic controllers and pilots.

CBC News of Canada reported that Health Canada has received approximately 818 Champix side effects complaints, including 520 that involved psychiatric episodes. CBC News has reported that "Health Canada has been slower to act, posting a warning on its website months after the FDA issued its warnings."

Smoking-Aid Dangers Reported

Chantix, also Varenicline tartrate from Pfizer, was released in May 2006 and has since been prescribed to more than 3 million American smokers attempting to secede from smoking. According to Pfizer, the company that manufactures the drug, Chantix attaches "nicotine receptors in the brain" thus preventing nicotine from stimulating them. The drug does not use nicotine, but is responsible for the following side effects:

- nausea
- changes in dreaming
- constipation
- gas
- vomiting
- depressive behavior
- increased risk of suicide

Individuals who have been subject to the Chantix side effects should consider discussing these dangers with a medical professional and an experienced pharmaceutical attorney who can provide free legal advice as to the development of a Champix class action lawsuit, which may earn a victim monetary compensation for all of the damages endured by the Chantix side effects. However, consulting a possible lawsuit with a Chantix lawyer could prompt additional labels for the drug, which ultimately would benefit other patients who have or who are considering taking the drug.