In a recently released Public Health Advisory, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a second alert to the public about severe psychiatric side-effects linked to the smoking-cessation drug, Chantix.[1] Back in November 2006 when the FDA published its initial findings, they were o...
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Chantix, Psychiatric Risks and the FDA
4/15/08 12:57pm
Just wanted to say thank you for a heads up about this. I have a box of Chantix just waiting for the day I vow to quit. I willl watch this more closely before attempting to give Chantix a try!
1/12/09 1:07pm
10/28/09 9:35am
I too am shocked the FDA and Pfizer did not use more BRAIN when pushing this poison. Some like Elizabeth might have needed a psychiatric drug to change their brain function to not like the pleasure reward. Others like myself did not need these educated professionals to LIE and DECEIVE in order to make money and put my life and liberty at risk doing so. What were they thinking? It is OK to kill a few smokers and who would care? Our brains were MADE to respond to the reward of dopamine and no one is immune.
1/16/10 9:37pm
This drug might as well have been Heroine, I suffer from constant heighten anxiety levels and frequent panic attacks. I was diagnosed with panic disorder by the doctor who prescribed this worse than crack to me. Evil drug that should not be peddled by doctor's and pharmacies to people who are not told the truth about its side effects during, and long after its use.
5/14/10 11:45am
I took/filled two scripts of Chantix between Oct. '06 - Oct. '07. Two hospital stays in '08. I was a closet smoker, 2 - 4 cigarettes per day. As a na na of 6, decided it was time to put this habit to rest. Almost put myself to rest instead.
Jan. '08 - - taken by ambulance in middle of nite w/severe chest pains, extreme shortness of breath, sharp headache and stomach spasms so strong and painful it felt like contractions!! Stayed a week & received morphine, antibiotics and oxygen around the clock while undergoing extensive testing of every sort. Released w/diagnosis - - possible virus.
May '08 - - had great day as usual at a job I've loved for the past 23 years. Daughter called when I got home and says, "mom, you've changed, people are worried. What's going on??" Thought, "hmmm...don't need THIS s _ _ t! Picked up keys, took drive to rural area, purchased 3 bottles of sleeping pills and mini-diabetic razors along the way. Wrote short note, "it's been real..." woke up six days later in ICU surrounded by devastated family members and clergy.
Spent time in psyche unit, underwent and STILL undergoing outpatient therapy/counseling of every sort, (family, individual, group, etc). This has been one, long, never ending nightmare. Before the "attempt" I was beyond exhausted...I thought I was just tired of living! I didn't think I was depressed, in fact, I didn't think at all. My dreams were so real, I could no longer tell if I was asleep or awake! I dreamt nightly of deceased loved ones coming to my room at nite, begging me to join them! They made heaven sound like paradise and I could actually feel them hugging me! They assured me my job was done here. I wanted to go. My mind was so distorted...it was no longer a matter of "if"....but, "when"....
My babysitting rights w/my grandchildren were revoked. My husband took up residence in guest bedroom. And, I am now "labeled." It's been two years of groveling, apologizing, soul searching. & just plain begging for forgiveness. I have no answers/explaination. I have no idea how/why I was so eager to just throw myself away. I LOVE my life, family, friends, job, barbecued pork steaks, snowcones, reading, comfy quilts, etc. I honestly...DON'T KNOW what happened. As I look back, my thoughts, actions, mind,....were not my own. I was literally taken over by a drug so powerful, I lost myself...my identity...my credibility. Please...listen to me...do not take this little, blue pill.
6/24/10 4:57pm
may I ask, was there a pre existing mental condition?
I have been taking chantix now for the better part of 8 months, quit smoking 3 times with the most recent being the longest at 10 days today, I to have the vivid dreams, headaches, stomach cramps (occasionally) and sleep disruption.
However, never have I ever even remotely considered ending my life!
The thought of doing such a thing is incomprehensible and vile- I to have a great life with many family members that love me and cherish my life-
Perhaps there is an unknown preexisting condition that promotes this behavior or action in certain people?
Granted, I do seem to have a shorter temper but I am aware of the volatility of the situations that bring the temper out and I manage to control it with little effort.
I am truly puzzled at the amount of negative propaganda that I have seen about a drug such as this with such great helping potential- perhaps the people with these deplorably dangerous side effects should be tested and monitored to determine the actual cause in relation to the drug itself and there by finding a resolution so that those people to can benefit from it as well?
My thoughts go out to you- may you find peace, happiness, & health!
mikepongrass@yahoo.com
9/ 4/10 7:20pm
Mike, I agree that some test to see if you going to go nuts or quit smoking on chantix would be great...Do you know of this test? You could save a lot of lives. I can tell you that 2 years after taking chantix if you gave me a choice of 100 million dollers or my life back. I, my wife and my son would choose my life to return to what it was.
I WAS of good health never had any sort of anxiety, bi-polar disorder suicidal thoughts, no history of violence, not even a family history of any of the above. The majority of people diagnossed with bi-polar disorder are are diagnossed from 15 - 20. To live with this disorder without being diagnosed is virtually impossable. The odds of being diagnosed with short cycle bi-polar for the first time at 47 are astronomical...you got a better chance of winning the lottery.
I now cant remember the last time I slept for more than 4 hours a night (I take the largest dose of ambian I can every night). I am verbally abusive, have been told I have a stare like a serial killer, Constant thoughts of suicide, constant thoughts of shoving an icepick into my skull just to let the "fog" out. Dreams that make fiction seem like reality even though you know (maybe) not real. And then tomorrow every thing is somewhat normal. And then just as unexpectadly some, many or all symptoms return. Thank god my family remembers me as I was, and have not abandend me yet.
I think my point is try everything available before you try chantix! And if you decide that chantix is the best choice. Are you willing to commit suicide or live withn these other symptoms everyday to quit smoking?
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