Strider333

Profile

Username:
strider333
Name:
Strider333
Location:
Greendale, WI
Birthday:
02/02
Status:
Married

Stats

Post Reads:
129,682
Posts:
396
Photos:
9
Last Online:
> 30 days ago
View All »

My Friends

14 days ago
26 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago

Subscribe

The Path

Life & Events > Chantix: the Smoke Screen
 

Chantix: the Smoke Screen

Anti-smoking drug tied to serious mental illness
By ELLEN GABLER
Posted: April 18, 2008-Journal Sentinel



EXCERPT:
Melinda and Kenny Peterson wanted to kick their two-pack-a-day smoking habit.

In early January, the Green Bay couple started taking three-month prescriptions of Chantix, a new anti-smoking pill. About six weeks later, they weren't smoking at all.
But what the Petersons didn't know was that as they were weaning themselves off cigarettes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert: Some patients taking the powerful drug had experienced serious neuropsychiatric symptoms. And Pfizer, the maker of Chantix, had recently added a warning about these symptoms in a more prominent position in the drug's information packet, at the FDA's urging.

The alert was issued in early February. But the Petersons didn't know about it until the end of March, when a friend who was a pharmacist filled them in.

By then, it was too late. About a week earlier, Kenny Peterson had spiraled into a deep depression. He told his wife he wanted to kill himself. His family checked him into a hospital psychiatric ward four days before Easter.

Chantix's safety is now under fire, as similar stories of patients with suicidal thoughts, depression and aggressive behavior surface. The FDA received reports of 37 suicides and 491 cases in which people had suicidal thoughts. The FDA also said it "appears increasingly likely that there is an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms." About 5 million people use the drug.

"I think the jury is still out on what's going on here," said Carlyle Chan, a professor in the psychiatric department at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "Be aware that there are some concerns about (Chantix). It needs to be watched closely."

A Pfizer spokeswoman said the company was rolling out Chantix globally but halted advertising the drug to consumers in February. The FDA approved the drug in May 2006.

COMPLETE STORY AT https://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=740914

Ask your Doctor....



posted on Apr 18, 2008 9:58 PM ()

Comments:

On the other hand, quitting any addictive habit can cause depression and suicidal thoughts, especially if it's a stimulant. And to think I used to smoke to relax.
comment by catdancer on Apr 26, 2008 5:17 AM ()
Well, now I have looked at the video... "What cigarette do you smoke, doctor?"
comment by sunlight on Apr 21, 2008 10:18 PM ()
Why don't we have a govt. agency to watch out for us. Oops we do. He said with sarcasm dripping.
comment by grumpy on Apr 20, 2008 7:36 AM ()
I kicked the habit in l989, cold turkey. You have to want to. The quick and easy route is full of pitfalls. Now, I wish I could get my son off the ciggies.
comment by elderjane on Apr 20, 2008 6:46 AM ()
I didn't watch the video because it's pretty late now, but I do know that so many pharmaceuticals are being exposed for so many negative side-effects these days. I think in their haste to make a profit, the companies may not be testing properly. Also, I think that the public clamor for a quick easy fix is helping the drug companies to get away with this practice. The solution is not going to be easy.
comment by sunlight on Apr 20, 2008 4:04 AM ()
The message here isn't "I might as well smoke." The message is: stop smoking without relying on some other drug that's equally dangerous. BTW, the inclusion of the Camel ad with the "doctor" was a stoke of genius!
comment by looserobes on Apr 19, 2008 2:33 PM ()
I'm going out to light up a smoke...
comment by jondude on Apr 19, 2008 5:54 AM ()
We are just a bunch of Ginnie pigs.
comment by wickedwitchofthewest on Apr 19, 2008 5:05 AM ()
Cold turkey--as difficult as it would be--is the safest route to take.
comment by angiedw on Apr 19, 2008 4:56 AM ()
well, might as well smoke..
comment by ekyprogressive on Apr 18, 2008 10:30 PM ()

Comment on this article   


396 articles found   [ Previous Article ]  [ Next Article ]  [ First ]  [ Last ]