Posted on 02/01/2008 5:13:32 PM PST by DakotaRed
FDA: Connection between Chantix, psychiatric problems ‘increasingly likely’
The Associated Press updated 1:33 p.m. PT, Fri., Feb. 1, 2008
WASHINGTON - Government regulators said Friday the connection between Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix and serious psychiatric problems is "increasingly likely."
The Food and Drug Administration began in November investigating reports of depression, agitation and suicidal behavior in patients taking the popular twice-daily pill.
The agency's announcement comes two weeks after Pfizer added stronger warnings to the drug. In doing so, the company stressed that a direct link between Chantix and the reported psychiatric problems has not been established, but could not be ruled out.
In a public advisory released Friday, FDA said patients taking Chantix should tell their doctor about any history of mental illness.
"Chantix may cause worsening of current psychiatric illness even if it is currently under control," reads the statement. "It may also cause an old psychiatric illness to reoccur."
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I Took Chantix, 3 Months Smoke Free, No side effects, but maybe Chantix™ is not right for you.....
I used tobacco for 25 years, and took Chantix for four weeks and have been tobacco free for six months. Great stuff
Right On Bro!
I took Chantix for one month and couldn’t sleep all month. Still smoking
That Sucks...., You Will Quit, Stay Strong!
I'd love to hear results.
I tend to be a little depressed and anxious (gee anyone wonder why I smoke?). I'm interested in this med but afraid to try it.
I’ll start, I quit Oct 28, and have not smoked since. This drug might not be right for you, but it was easy for me.....20 Year Smoker.
Carter Albrecht, the musician in Dallas that went crazy and was shot by his neighbor in a case of mistaken identity, did a show with my daughter once. I’d met him a few times. Brilliant, soft spoken, encouraging to a young artist. His girlfriend said he’d never acted out of sorts until taking Chantix. I’ll pass.
Specifically I was anxious, unfocused, restless but unmotivated to do anything. I could perform any task, but my job involves creative thinking and planning. I was useless at work. I could only stay on the full strength dose for five days and then I weaned myself off of it. I did quit smoking. However while drinking over the holidays I had a cigarette and well, you can never have one again. Ever. I am going to quit again, but no drugs this time.
I also found myself sleep walking and they do give you very weird dreams. I also had crying fits.
One of my friends had severe ringing in the ears and the other thought she was going bi-polar. She started screaming at her kids all of the time.
On the plus side, Chantix really makes you lose your desire for cigarettes. I wish I had been stronger and succeeded. It is possible, I am just not sure that Chantix agreed with me.
It didn’t work for me. I had horrible nightmares and woke up 4=5 times a night. I couldn’t function right during the day. Anyway, I stopped taking it. I tried a second time and the dreams and sleep disruption was even greater. I went off it again. I got a third prescription, but before I started it I heard all these reports. Now I’m afraid of trying it. I’ll have to find another way, guess. My cousin had the same problems.
P.S. The high cost of cigarette's never motivated me to quit. My dear Goddaughter haunting me about quiting was my motivation. Thanks, Meggie :-)
I took Chantix for 3 weeks. After the first week (and after moving up to the full dose), every morning I got nauseous, and threw up within ten minutes of taking the pill. Horrible drug - the cure was worse than the disease.
I quit cold turkey after smoking 25 years but to do it I had to quit drinking for 6 months too. I realized in all of my previous attempts alcohol had been my downfall. Been off cigarettes over 2 years now.
I spoke to my doctor about this just yesterday, my brother used it and it worked great for him. My doctor and I decided against it for me, I too am anxious and get into funks as well. I don’t believe I am suicidal at all but when I read about these side effects it scares me. I’m going to try hypnotism first.
Since the Wellbutrin fiasco, however, I have been smoking considerably less. Half a pack on a stressful day, but four or five smokes a day is more my norm.
Not an issue. I work as an Engineer in a high stress environment. Before that I was in the Navy for 14 years. I had been smoking for close to 22 years. I followed the Chantix program... 1 week smoking and taking the drug then 3 weeks not smoking and taking the drug. I am married to a smoker with tried to quit with me. I made it she didn’t. I tried to help her but she just isn’t ready to quit. I was. Bottom line it worked for me... almost a year now smoke free. The wife still smokes in the house. I still get cravings I guess I always will. It is a matter of willpower now. I know I don’t “have” to have a cigarette and when the urge does sneak up and blind side me I manage to fight it down. Now all I have to do is loose some weight and I’m all good.
I don’t know if Chantix will be right for you but I do know that If YOU are not ready to quit then nothing will help. So before you set yourself up for failure make sure you ARE ready. Have a supply of trident available and be ready for sore jaw muscles..... chewing gum is hard work if you don’t chew it regularly. You need to change a number of your habits. Identify where and when you blaze up. then change it. Break out of the cycles by doing things differently. I used to smoke on the drive into work. That was the hardest habit to break. I took to chewing gum on the ride in. Driving different routes, doing things like changing the music I listened too.
Bottom line Chantix is a crutch. It was useful to me. BUT YOU HAVE TO WANT TO QUIT!
I took it for about a week and a half before I came down with pnuemonia and was in the hospital for a week. Never took it again. I didn’t smoke while in the hospital, but two days after I got home, I started smoking again. I still have the chantix but I never got back on it.
My husband and I and my parents have been discussing all the stressors that keep me down and my job is #1 on my list. Last week, we had 5 people out with uppper respritory sickness, then some others wouldn’t go home, then the boss’s daughter brought one of her kids who had the stomach flu to work with her because she couldn’t leave him at home - then my boss wonders why I get sick.... Now, we’re in “cedar season” again and what do you know, here I am with another bout of pnuemonia again! Luckily we caught it early enough I didn’t have to stay in the hospital. However, I believe I may have cracked a rib from all the coughing. Going back to the dr. today to see if I’m getting better. I haven’t worked since last Thursday. Not sure I’ll have a job when it’s all said and done, but maybe that’s a good thing.
It sucks being so addicted to something you know is going to kill you eventually. I sat with my granny 2 years ago as she lay in her bed dying from copd - and even in the last hours of her life, she would reach for her Camel’s just to take a puff. I see that in myself and it scares me. As bad as I feel though, I still light one and hold it or draw in just enough to fill my mouth to let the nicotine get in my system just to calm down. I’ve often gone head to head with people over my kids and have said I’d go up against the devil himself for my kids. I feel like I’m up against him now over these damn cigarettes. Ugh.
I wonder if I’ll ever break this addiction and finally get well.
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