Chantix Side Effects Lawsuit News

Stop-smoking drug's side effects can be serious

-sgvtribune

12/26/2009 - What's the most important thing you can do for your health? If you smoke, the answer is unequivocal. Quit!

Of course, that is much easier said than done. Nicotine is incredibly addicting. Anything that can help someone kick the habit is a blessing. But some blessings carry a curse.

The stop-smoking drug Chantix is highly promoted. An early campaign played upon Aesop's fable of the tortoise and the hare. The TV commercial showed a turtle nearing the finish line ahead of a rabbit with the tag line "It's all about getting there."

A current commercial features Lisa, who quit smoking in June 2007. She tells us she lives in Fayetteville, N.C., and that she didn't think she ever would quit. But the ad concludes with Lisa saying that becoming a nonsmoker is the "best thing I've ever done, besides my husband and dogs and family. With the Chantix and with the support system, it worked."

Who can argue with that kind of success? But nearly half the television commercial is occupied by a litany of side effects. A newspaper ad for Chantix lists the following:

Thoughts about suicide or dying, or attempts to commit suicide

New or worse depression, anxiety or panic attacks

Feeling very agitated or restless

Aggression, anger or violence

Acting on dangerous impulses

An extreme increase in activity and talking

Abnormal thoughts or sensations

Seeing or hearing things that are not there

Feeling people are against you

Confusion

other unusual changes in behavior or mood.

The most common adverse reactions to Chantix include nausea, sleep problems (trouble sleeping or vivid, unusual or strange dreams), constipation, gas and vomiting.

The trouble with ads is that the problems do not seem as real as a success story like Lisa's. But many people who visit our Web site (www.peoplespharmacy.com) report that Chantix causes some very serious reactions. One shared her experience:

"I'm a 55-year-old wife, mother and nana of six. I work at a job I truly love (23 years), enjoy barbecuing, playing softball, exercising, family get-togethers and laughing!

"I was a closet smoker, two or three per day. My pharmacist was singing the praises of Chantix, so I decided to see my doctor and get a prescription. I followed the program to a T and quit.

"I started dreaming about deceased friends and relatives. I assured them I would be with them soon. I wasn't mad or sad, just flat, and I hated my husband. Everything he did annoyed me. I wanted to put a pillow over his face for about five minutes and put him out of my misery!

"One day my daughter called me to say, on behalf of all my kids, that I'd changed, and they were wondering what was wrong. I hung up, picked up my car keys and bought three bottles of sleeping pills. I drove to a rural area and wrote a note saying my work here is done.

"Six days later, I woke up in ICU surrounded by family. Last rites had been given as my family watched a ventilator breathe for me. I spent time in a psych unit, and baby-sitting rights with my beautiful grandchildren were taken away. It's been a year and a half, and I'm just now being forgiven. The emotional pain I suffered cannot be put into words. I have never felt so alone in my life. It was a total nightmare."

Chantix can help people stop smoking, but quitters and their families need to understand the potential hazards of this drug.

If you are currently taking Chantix and have concerns about its safety, you should consult with your doctor regarding your treatment options. Under no circumstances should you discontinue taking any medication, including Chantix, without first consulting with your doctor. For Chantix legal information contact the Chantix Attorneys of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. by filling out our free Chantix case evaluation form or by calling the toll-free number listed at the top of this page.