Canadian health officials recently informed Chantix patients of increased potential adverse side effects associated with the use of the smoking cessation drug. Chantix, which is sold as Champix in Canada, has already been linked to several severe psychiatric episodes among patients in the United States, according to reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dating back to February 2008.
In the United States, the drug continues to be sold even though it was related to nearly 400 episodes of depression, irrational behavior, suicidal tendencies and thoughts among patients consuming the drug as well as at least 98 incidents of suicide among patients since 2009. The FDA noted nicotine-replacement products have not been linked with similar statistics.
In July 2009, the FDA required Chantix and its sister drug Zyban to carry a boxed warning notifying patients of the risk of the potential side effects. The warning is the most severe caution the FDA requires without demanding a recall. Additionally, studies that link Chantix to a loss of consciousness has caused the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to remove Chantix from a list of medications considered safe for air traffic controllers and pilots.
Additionally, CBC News of Canada recently reported on approximately 818 complaints associated with Champix side effects including 520 involving psychiatric episodes among patients, according to Health Canada. CBC News has reported that "Health Canada has been slower to act, posting a warning on its website months after the FDA issued its warnings."
Smoking-Aid Dangers Reported
Chantix, also Varenicline tartrate from Pfizer, was released in May 2006 and has since been prescribed to more than 3 million American smokers attempting to secede from smoking. The drug works by targeting "nicotine receptors in the brain" and then attaches to them and "blocks nicotine from reaching them," according to Pfizer. The drug does not use nicotine, but is responsible for the following side effects:
- nausea
- changes in dreaming
- constipation
- gas
- vomiting
- depressive behavior
- increased risk of suicide
Individuals who have been subject to the Chantix side effects should consider discussing these dangers with a medical professional and an experienced pharmaceutical attorney who can provide free legal advice as to the development of a Champix class action lawsuit, which may earn a victim monetary compensation for all of the damages endured by the Chantix side effects. Additionally, discussing a potential Chantix case with a medical attorney could result in additional warnings for the drug, which will benefit
others who have suffered as a result of the smoking cessation drug.
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