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Written by

David Robbins

David Robbins

Thu, July 09, 2009

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two popular anti-smoking drugs will now carry warnings about the risk of severe mental health problems, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The FDA said Chantix and Zyban will carry the warnings to alert consumers to the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts when using the drugs.
The drugs also have been reported to cause changes in behavior, hostility and agitation in users, whether users had a history of psychiatric illness or not. In many cases, side effects started shortly after use began and ended when the medication was stopped. The FDA does not know what is causing the changes and said people taking these products should be monitored by their doctor.
"The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The FDA says that since Chantix was approved in 2006, the agency has had reports of 98 suicides and 188 attempted suicides. Zyban has had reports of 14 suicides and 17 attempts.
Zyban contains the same active ingredient as the antidepressant Wellbutrin and already carried a box warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior.


Its hard to quit smoking. After having read this article I am fortunate that I do not smoke.  Not only is the price tag for cigs high so is the cost of what it does to the body.

If you smoke that is your right. Quitting is also your right.

 

Dave

7/10/09 4:24am

When you start putting reactive chemicals in your body, ones that are intended to have an effect; it is almost inevitable that there will be side effects. I believe that pharmaceutical drugs should be used only in severe cases or circumstances like when there is no other alternative. The ironic thing is that many people who suffer from sz also smoke cigarettes so for someone who already has problems to be taking these drugs to quit will only be compounding the problems they already have. It makes you wonder if they are not using people as lab mice. It is like illegal rooster fighting and dog fights is "unethical" but two humans can kill each other on pay per view and that is "OK".

7/10/09 10:25am

Hi Dave,

 

My mother quit smoking with Zyban and luckily she didn't become suicidal.  This was ten years ago.

 

I'm also lucky that cigarette smoking disgusted me and I never tried it, not even once.

 

It is quite addictive and hard to kick.

 

Regards,

Christina

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