The Hell of Chantix: In Their Own Words

Chicago, ILThere is nothing more compelling than someone's own story, and the stories involving Chantix and its Canadian and European counterpart Champix, abound.

The smoking-cessation system introduced by Pfizer in 2006 does, indeed work for some. However, it appears that a greater proportion of users encounter serious side effects, not the least of which are aggression and anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. To that end, some have ended their own lives tragically while on the drug, which is designed to block nicotine from reaching the brain.

"The US Food and Drug Administration has Chantix under review, and beyond issuing product alerts has compelled physicians to prescribe Chantix carefully, and has required the manufacturer to beef up the warning label.

The suicide aspect of Chantix is, of course, of grave concern given the tragedy, and the trauma that comes with such a decision. And yet, there have been suicides, include that of a popular video editor in the U.K. who reportedly died after slashinghis wrists and stabbing himself while on a regimen of Champix. Others have reported becoming so depressed, that the thought of ending ones' own life appeared to be no big deal, almost laughable—as tragic and horrendous as that sounds.

But it has happened. Individuals, tragically, have ended their lives successfully, and others have given it serious, (if misdirected under the influence of Chantix) thought:

"I have been through what I call sheer hell after taking Chantix last June," says one Chantix user. "Things got so bad I thought about ending it all. After my 5th week on Chantix I was a blooming idiot. I couldn't think, no concentration, I would do things and forget I had done them. My husband came to the conclusion it was the Chantix.

"I still have bouts with depression. I did quit smoking but it was not worth the price. Don't know if I will ever be the same again. I was such a happy-go-lucky person, now I have been told by numerous friends and family that I am not the same person I was.

"I am absolutely convinced Chantix is the reason..."

A Champix user from Canada talks about her treatment over a nine-week window. "I had the same side effects as most but after three weeks I seemed to adjust to them. I still have lost my get-up-and-go.... my desire to workout; go for a walk, anything that requires energy is very difficult or impossible to do. My husband went off the Champix due to the side effects, has been off for over a month and is STILL experiencing the side effects. He gets angry very quickly, is still feeling like he is in a fog, depressed and has no energy."

And while it wasn't a suicide, one can imagine the anguish of this man, after the tragic death of his beloved wife.

"On July 26 of last year my wife, age 61 years started Chantix on the advice of her cardiologist. She was being treated for a blockage of a small artery, had never had a heart attack, was generally in good health, and her check up with her cardiologist the day before was all good and she was in very high spirits.

"Very shortly after starting Chantix she started experiencing coughing, nausea, back, abdominal and chest pains and shortness of breath. These symptoms worsened over the weekend and we saw her primary physician on Tuesday. She believed the symptoms were not Chantix related but possibly gall bladder. Subsequent tests ruled out the gall bladder.

"Her condition worsened and early on August 8th I took her to the ER. That evening she had emergency cardiac surgery to remove a large amount of fluid from around her heart.
She seemed to have come through the surgery just fine, but the next afternoon she started going downhill, and by the next morning she was gone...

"When our son arrived here he had a friend who had taken Chantix and had become deathly ill, but did survive. His symptoms were very similar to my wife's.

"Yes, my wife was a smoker for 40 years or so. She almost immediately lost her desire to smoke after the first pill, but the symptoms also started. She continued taking Chantix for the five days prior to seeing her doctor (her doctor did not recommend stopping, as she felt 'not smoking' was more important). My wife did discontinue the Chantix, but her condition continued to worsen leading to the ER visit and subsequent death.

"Did Chantix have any part in causing my wife's death? I may never know. But I find it very ironic that my wife smoked for 40 years, was in seemingly good health the day before, and two weeks after starting Chantix and not smoking she was dead.

"I have tried to keep my posts factual and unemotional, but I lost the love of my life of the past 36-plus years, and if this FDA approved, doctor-recommended drug had anything to do with it, then DAMMIT I want to know..."