Chantix Lawsuit
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FDA Issues Public Health Advisory Linking
Popular Anti-Smoking Drug, Chantix to Serious Side Effects,
Including the Potential for
Severe Changes in Mood and Behavior.
The alert by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was
issued to patients, caregivers and health care professionals
regarding important changes to Chantix prescribing information.
The changes include warnings about serious side effects including:
- Changes
in behavior
- Agitation
- Depressed mood
- Suicidal thoughts
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Tension
- Vivid Hallucinatory Dreams
- Attempted suicide
- Suicide
According to the FDA, while some patients may have experienced
these types of symptoms as a result of nicotine withdrawal, some
patient’s who experienced these symptoms had not yet discontinued
smoking. In most cases the symptoms developed during Chantix
treatment however, others experienced these symptoms following
withdrawal of the drug therapy.
Since it’s approval by the FDA in 2006, Chantix, also
known as Varenicline, has become a leading smoking-cessation
drug. The drug is manufactured by Pfizer. Last year, the drug
generated $681 million in sales in the U.S. alone ($883 million
worldwide). An estimated four million people in the U.S. have
taken Chantix since the drug hit the market.
The FDA first informed the public about the possibility of serious
side effects associated with Chantix in November 2007. At that
time a warning was added to the POST-MARKETING EXPERIENCE section
of the prescribing information. However, upon further review
the FDA has now requested that Pfizer elevate the prominence
of this safety information to the WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS section
of the prescribing information. In addition, the FDA is working
with Pfizer to finalize a Medication Guide for patients.
The FDA recommends the following for patients and healthcare
professionals
- Patients should tell their doctor about any history
of psychiatric illness prior to starting Chantix. Chantix may
cause
worsening
of a current psychiatric illness even if it is currently under
control and may cause an old psychiatric illness to reoccur.
- Healthcare professionals, patients, patients’ families,
and caregivers should be alert to and monitor for changes
in mood and behavior in patients treated with Chantix.
- Patients taking Chantix should immediately report changes in
mood and behavior to their doctor.
- Patients taking Chantix may experience vivid, unusual, or strange
dreams.
- Patients taking Chantix may experience impairment of the ability
to drive or operate heavy machinery.
PLEASE DO NOT STOP TAKING
ANY PRESCRIPTION DRUG, INCLUDING CHANTRIX, UNTIL YOU HAVE FIRST
SPOKEN TO YOUR DOCTOR.
If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered serious
injury or death by suicide as a possible result of taking Chantix,
you
may want to speak with an attorney regarding a potential lawsuit.
A lawyer familiar with new developments in the investigation
of Chantix may be able to help you make important personal
and legal decisions. Please CLICK HERE for a free consultation.
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