FDA reviews psychiatric side effects of Chantix (Pfizer’s stop-smoking drug)

Associated Press ^ | Apr 25, 2014 11:19 AM EDT | Matthew Perrone

[Olog-hai]

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday it will convene a public meeting in October to review the risks of psychiatric and behavioral side effects with Pfizer’s anti-smoking drug Chantix. […]

Since 2009, Chantix has carried the government’s strongest safety warning—a “black box” label—because of links to hostility, agitation, depression and suicidal thoughts. The warning was added after the FDA received dozens of reports of suicide and hundreds of reports of suicidal behavior among patients taking the smoking-cessation drug. …

[dfwgator]

https://screen.yahoo.com/chantix-000000719.html

[a fool in paradise]

What are the psychiatric affects of caffeine?

[a fool in paradise]

What are the psychiatric affects of pot?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Gave me the worst nightmares ever. Only took it for a week.

[Hot Tabasco]

I tried Chantix once in an effort to stop smoking. For the first week the dosage was 1 per day then you go to two a day.........

Well, the first week was fine but the day I graduated to two, I had the most bizarre and vivid nightmare that I've ever had in my life. I can still remember every aspect of it............That was the last time I ever took that drug.

[TexasCajun]

I work with my brother who used it to quit smoking 5 years ago.

I didn't see any side effects though I was aware of them and made sure he his wife also knew.

And as typical, he quit smoking and gained about a conservative 30 lbs.

[Mastador1]

Chantix has carried the government’s strongest safety warning—a “black box” label—because of links to hostility, agitation, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Since when did smokers need a drug to achieve this when they quit smoking? I thought it was a natural reaction.

[TomGuy]

I tried the gum briefly, but it didn't work.

I tried the patch briefly, but it didn't work.

I just could not see trading one form of nicotine for another.

Years later, I sort of developed my own program. I smoked ‘Native American’ cigarettes for a several years, because they did not have the sweetener additives, etc. One day, I just decided I was tired of smoking. That was in early 2003. I haven't had a cig since.

Some claim they have switched to the e-cigs to help quit. If using alternative substances works, go for it.

[Organic Panic]

Getting off topic here... I am reflexively untrusting and assume corruption of some sort in everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that comes out of the federal government. At this point I wouldn’t believe them if they said the sky is blue and ask who funded the study and how much is it going to cost. I don’t trust one single person in the federal machine. Not one. Not one at TSA and certainly not one at the FDA.

[Jack of all Trades]

Vivid dreams, none of them unpleasant for me, some actually very pleasant :)

[tcrlaf]

I tried Chantix myself.

It took about three weeks before the dreams started, and about a week for me to realize it. Scared the hell out of me.

That said, it definitely cut the urge to smoke, and I know people that have successfully quit using it.

[my4kidsdad]

I took Chantix for 90 days starting January 2008. After 2 weeks on the drug it was like someone turned my smoking switch “off”, and I haven't had one since January 20, 2008. I too had strange dreams, none of them were nightmares. But several times I dreamed that I was smoking and was disappointed that I had started back up, only to wake up as a non-smoker. The weirdest dream was a multi-layer dream about dreaming about dreaming about smoking. Talk about suicidal thoughts associated with Chantix were just being reported at that time, so I kept a pack of smokes with me the entire 90 days. If I had one suicidal thought I would have thrown away the Chantix and started smoking again.

[ßuddaßudd]

Had 2 friends try it chantix,, it scared them so much they quit taking th epills and would rather smoke than alter their mind like it did...

[Vinnie]

Very effective.
Wife and I used it starting about 3 yrs. ago.
Last puff, Labor Day 2012.

Took 1 tab in the AM and 1/2 tab in the evening. Avoided the insomnia that way.
No other side effects.
I’m a strong proponent if you can take it. I could.

Tried Wellbutrin some yrs. ago That stuff made me very short tempered.
Stopped after 1 week.

[catnipman]

Works for some, almost kills others:

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=21928&name=CHANTIX

[FreeperinRATcage]

Quitting smoking was the easiest thing in the world. I did it dozens of times!

I tried the patch....smoked with the patch on. Ever see the Simpsons with Krusty licking the patch? That was me.

I tried Wellbutrin..the anti-depressant. I still smoked, I was just a lot happier about it.

The I tried Chantix...I normally never remember my dreams, but when I took Chantix they became very vivid and varied. No real nightmares, just obviously my brain having fun resetting while I slept.
I took it for a double session...90 days. I never set a “quit” date, just took the pack out of my pocket one day and never had a “nic fit” at all. To this day, I still want to smoke, I just don’t NEED to.

[dfwgator]

I wonder if Chantix really leads to this?

[hinckley buzzard]

The mental status changes associated with Chantix are well known, although not everyone has them. These reactions are no secret, and the FDA is probably just deciding what, if anything more, they need to do in addition to their warnings. This actually appears to be normal regulatory activity. The outcome may be mildly interesting.

[sheana]

My doc had me try Wellbutrin. Lasted about 2 wks til the family pleaded with me to start smoking again. Apparently I had turned into a huge witch! lol It was the insomnia. I could sleep for no more than about 10 minutes at a time.
Almost a year and a half ago I used ecigs to quit. Easy.