It is imperative that health care professionals and tobacco users weigh the risks of continued smoking against those of any treatment. Thus far, the adverse reports regarding Chantix are anecdotal. There is no doubt about the risks of tobacco use!
UPDATE: The VA is sending letters to more than 30,000 veterans who are taking the smoking-cessation drug Chantix, warning them of the drug's possible side effects, including suicide. The move comes a few days after ABC News and the Washington Times reported that the agency had waited months before notifying vets taking Chantix as part of a study that the drug was associated with psychiatric side effects in some patients.
The vets in the study had PTSD and were trying to quit smoking. On a conference call yesterday, VA secretary James Peake suggested the drug didn't seem to be associated with suicidal thoughts in the study in question, the AP reports. Two percent of the vets who took the drug experienced thoughts of suicide, compared to 4.4% of those in the study who didn't take the drug. The letter urges patients who are experiencing side effects or are worried about the drug to consult with their doctor. Overall, Peake said, agency doctors are not seeing serious problems or trends and will continue to prescribe the Pfizer drug, which has recently been beset by safety questions. "This is a very important drug for our clinicians to be able to use when appropriate for patients," he said.
For more on how to quit smoking, read:
Preparing to Quit Smoking
How to Quit Smoking: Week 1
How to Quit Smoking: Week 2
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