Posts Tagged ‘ Chantix ’

Chantix and the Damage Done

October 27th, 2009. By janem

I’ve interviewed many people who’ve taken Chantix to help quit smoking. They talk about the damage it caused, not only to themselves, but their family and friends. All their stories are upsetting but just now I talked with Tim and his account is heart-wrenching.

Tim’s wife died from cancer a few months ago, but his grief is compounded by the fact that he was never able to apologize to her. “Soon after I took Chantix I was so short-tempered; I would get mad at my wife, Judy, for any little thing,” says Tim, his voice breaking. “Now that Judy is dead, I can’t say sorry for being so mean.”

“Judy and I were long-distance truck drivers, we were a team,” Tim explains. “When I got on the Chantix, we argued constantly on the truck. I just thought it was from nicotine withdrawal, but even our friends asked Judy what was wrong with me. Before Chantix, I was happy-go-lucky…

Judy could just move a pop can and I would get irate.  And I was mad at myself because I was making her so upset but I had no idea why. Sometimes I’d be driving and forget where I was. I’m talking about driving a semi. It was dangerous. It got so bad that I thought of wrecking the truck more than once, then we would both die. I just kept hurting her…

I saw an ad on TV a few weeks ago that explained how Chantix causes mood swings, suicidal thoughts and aggression. I didn’t read the Chantix warning label because my doctor said, ‘Just go ahead and try Chantix; it’s a new drug and pretty much reliable’. I guess that’s the problem with new drugs-you don’t know the side effects until it’s too late.

If I knew of the Chantix side effects, or if my doctor explained them to me, I wouldn’t have tried it. And I won’t be beating myself up now. And I’m smoking again. I’m really irate at the drug company and I’m so upset just thinking about it, knowing how much I hurt my wife.”

Tags: Chantix, chantix side effects, chantix suicide
Posted in Drugs/Medical | 5 Comments »

Chantix Risks Outweigh the Benefits?

July 3rd, 2009. By janem

On July 1, the FDA said it will immediately require boxed warnings about the risk of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms on the packaging of Chantix, a popular smoking cessation drug. The warning is a result of countless reports of behavioral changes, depressed mood, agitation, hostility, and suicidal thoughts and behavior associated with use of the drug.

Chantix is so dangerous that the agency reported 98 suicides and 188 attempted suicides in Chantix users, yet according to Curtis Rosebraugh, MD, director of the agency’s Office of Drug Evaluation II, discontinuation of the medication is not recommended because it has shown to be effective for quitting smoking.

The FDA further recommends, in its infinite wisdom, that “clinicians monitor their patients for neuropsychiatric symptoms after initiating treatment. ” Well, that’s all fine and dandy if you and your doctor have the time, and you have health insurance. But more often than not, people with behavioral changes noted above do not seek medical help, and several people I have spoken with, who have suffered Chantix side effects, can’t afford to see a doctor on a constant basis.

Of course illnesses and deaths caused by smoking has cost a gazillion dollars to the medical system and hey, I’m not condoning smoking but it seems like the FDA needs a lesson in common sense, and reconsider taking Chantix off the market before they have more reported suicides.

Tags: Chantix, smoking cessation, suicide
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues | No Comments »

NAMI – Drug Money Laundering is Illegal

April 18th, 2009. By Evelyn Pringle

The National Alliance for Mental Illness is the latest member of the psycho-pharmaceutical cartel whose Big Pharma money trail is under investigation by the US Senate Finance Committee, with Iowa’s Republican Senator Chuck Grassley leading the charge. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Chantix, Cymbalta, Lilly, MHA, NAMI, Pfizer, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyprexa
Posted in Emerging Issues | 22 Comments »