"Chantix is especially toxic and dangerous and should be avoided at all costs," Mercola writes. "There is absolutely no reason to risk your life to become a non-smoker when there are more effective, all natural ways to overcome your nicotine addiction."
Side effects that have been linked to Chantix include a risk of suicidal thoughts and actions and increased aggression. Although smoking carries its own risks, including cancer, emphysema and other diseases, the risks associated with smoking may be more acceptable to some consumers than the risks associated with the anti-smoking medication.
Some consumers who have tried Chantix say they would never have taken the medication if they had known how serious the side effects would be. Some report that they or their loved ones attempted suicide shortly after starting the drug.
READ MORE CHANTIX LEGAL NEWS
Lawsuits have now been filed against the makers of Chantix, alleging that patients were not adequately warned about the risks associated with the drug. A black box warning has been added to Chantix, alerting consumers to the risks, including the risk of serious mental health events such as changes in behavior, depression, hostility and suicidal thoughts.
However, those warnings come too late for some people whose lives have already changed because they or someone they loved used that drug to help them quit smoking.