Chantix

Chantix is a non-nicotine prescription medication used to help people stop smoking and is manufactured by the drug giant Pfizer. The drug was fast-tracked by the FDA because of the promise it showed during clinical trials, and the medication was approved for market by the Food & Drug Administration in May of 2006. Within months of its approval, the FDA issued public warnings about the increasing likelihood of Chantix being associated with serious changes in patients' behavior including agitation, hostility, depression, suicidal thoughts, and reports of attempted and completed suicide. In many cases, the problems began shortly after starting the medication and ended when the mediation was stopped.

Chantix Safety Warnings Mount

Within two years of the drug being on the market in the United States, warning bells rang when the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory on February 1, 2008, to alert patients, doctors, and caregivers to important new safety warnings on the drug label relating to suicidal behavior and several other neuropsychiatic symptoms. Pressure continued to mount from several sources including the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, an organization that placed Chantix on its Worst Pill List, to further strengthen warnings on this medication. On July 1, 2009, the FDA announced that Pfizer must place a Boxed Warning - the strongest warning possible - on the prescribing information for Chantix highlighting the risk of serious medical health events associated with this medication. The FDA said additional warnings were warranted based upon voluntary reports submitted to the agency's Adverse Event Reporting System and based upon analysis of information from clinical trials and scientific literature. To date, the FDA has received approximately 100 reports of suicides by persons taking Chantix and hundreds of other reports pertaining to strange behavior and suicidal thoughts.

If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking Chantix and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking Chantix.

The law firm of Alley, Clark & Greiwe is actively accepting cases of persons who have been serious injured or died after taking Chantix. If you believe that you or someone you love was harmed by taking this medication, please contact our office for important information regarding your legal rights.

Helpful Consumer Links:

Click here to view Safety Information regarding Chantix

Click here to view Public Health Advisory from July of 2009

Click here to view Public Health Advisory from February of 2008

Click here to view FDA consumer warnings about Chantix in 2007

Click here to read FDA Approval Notice from May of 2006

Click here to learn more about Chantix