Smoked: One Man’s Brain While On Chantix
For all the puzzling or disturbing stories about the Pfizer smoking-cessation drug, the details have usually been restricted to dry recitation of scientific data and specific, but brief descriptions of strange side effects, predominantly hallucination. However, Derek De Koff, a contributor to New York magazine, writes a lengthy first-person account of what it was like to take the controversial med. And the tale he tells is troubling, especially given that the FDA recently upgraded warnings about suicidal behavior amid reports of 34 suicides. Here are a few excerpts…
“The most unsettling thing about sleeping on Chantix is that I never felt like I was truly asleep. Some part of me remained on guard. It was more like lucid dreaming, what I thought it might feel like to be hypnotized. And it didn’t entirely go away come morning,” he writes, after being told by his doc that taking Chantix would the most important decision he would ever make. “As I showered, shaved, and scrambled into clothes, I tried to shake a weird, paranoid sense that I’d just been psychically raped by a household appliance….”
“For me, self-destructive fantasies slowly began cropping up as cartoonish flights of fantasy - nagging, almost imperceptible chatter that became a little more concrete and domineering with every passing day…It felt as if the essential barrier between reality and my imagination had eroded. Was it because I wasn’t getting enough R.E.M. sleep, so my dream life was rebelling, pouring into daylight, insisting to be attended to, one way or another?
“…I’ve blacked out a handful of times before, but now it wasn’t unusual to have five or six hours completely wiped out of my memory. I’d wake up with my clothes on, music blasting, and strange half-eaten sandwiches lying on the floor that I had no recollection of buying. One morning, I found an unopened container of dental floss in my coat, as well as a batch of business cards from people whom I couldn’t remember at all. Later that day I received a text message: “I had a great time meeting you … I could have talked to you for another two hours. :)” I have no idea who that person was.
One night, after leaving a party where De Koff writes that he was impersonating himself, he took a cab home. “Running up the stairs to my apartment, I barely had the door open before the crying started again. I sat on the edge of the bed, doubled over, and I felt severely ill, as though some freakish primal despair had finally been loosened from my stomach. The sensation was more like vomiting than any sadness I’ve ever experienced, and the shrieking sobs were punctuated by sudden jags of rage…
“Like a spoiled teenager, I’d suddenly uproot drawers from the bureau, push all the belongings off shelves with a sudden swat of the arm, smash a glass against the wall, and then the crying would take over yet again. Meanwhile, the room seemed to be pulsing and reverberating around me, and my eye would keep zeroing in on objects—the television, the AC, a pair of shoes—and feel as though they were somehow buzzing with life and gleefully watching me endure the biggest meltdown I’d ever had. I had somehow ruined myself, and suicide seemed like a good way to avoid the embarrassment of this fact’s being exposed.”
In the end, he got off Chantix, which he calls the second most important decision in his life.
Laurie
I’ve talked to people who relate the same thing with themselves or family members.
Brian
Did he feel better once he started smoking again? That would be interesting…
Nathan
Here’s a brief article describing a potential biochemical mechanism that could account for some of what this writer observed:
http://brainmodulation.blogspot.com/2008/02/chantix-experience.html
It certainly reminds us that we need to be very serious about watching for side effects of CNS active drugs. Side effects this severe would have come certainly come up in the clinical trials if they were widespread.
I wonder why this guy didn’t get off the drug sooner. Reading his account almost reminds me of Michael Moore’s “Supersize Me”. It’s almost as if this guy deliberately kept taking the drug (in spite of its ill-effects) just so he could have a good story to write at the end. He certainly kept good records of everything that he experienced.
Truthman
“It certainly reminds us that we need to be very serious about watching for side effects of CNS active drugs. Side effects this severe would have come certainly come up in the clinical trials if they were widespread.
I wonder why this guy didn’t get off the drug sooner. Reading his account almost reminds me of Michael Moore’s “Supersize Me”. It’s almost as if this guy deliberately kept taking the drug (in spite of its ill-effects) just so he could have a good story to write at the end. He certainly kept good records of everything that he experienced” …
“Side effects this severe would have come certainly come up in the clinical trials if they were widespread” .. Says Nathan
We all know that Pharmas clinical trials can be doctored in any number of ways Nathan..
Side effects as severe (and worse) were seen in Paxil Clinical trials but GSK did their little job on them and made them look better (changing endpoints etc) ..
Pharmaceautical companies are always tampering with the clinical trials for their drugs… And then we have the business of undisclosed negative studies..
Chris
Oh please - clinical trials are by definition controlled investigations. Once in the public domain it’s rather difficult to control what else people are doing once on medications. Has the writer offered details of anything else he was ingesting? Beyond this there are numerous reports from ex-smokers, drinkers etc of bizarre and almost halucinatory experiences from deprivation of the respective agent (cigs and booze) so let’s not be too influenced with one person’s experiences on Chantix. No doubt scary but is it solely attributable to Chantix? Probably not.
Truthman
“Oh please - clinical trials are by definition controlled investigations” Says Chris
… Not when they are done to serve the interests of the pharmaceutical industry… “controlled investigations” is correct.. Controlled by the drug companies who design and fund them.. (in otherwords ..completely susceptible to biased methods and results) ..
…and let’s not forget about the unfavourable and unpublished drug studies which rarely see the light of day, and when they do it’s usually by unsealing court documents in defective drug litigation cases..
(Vioxx/Paxil/Zyprexa .. Hello? Earth to Chris…)
“so let’s not be too influenced with one person’s experiences on Chantix”..
Open your eyes Chris..
The propaganda is paper thin…
The public don’t swallow it anymore..
And if pharma keeps up this unethical behaviour… soon they will be reluctant to any swallow pills at all ..
Idle Observer
Truthman (sic), please take your conspiracy theories to another blog where you and other lunatics can have a feeding frenzy. You have zero credibility.
Matt
I think once you introduce any alien chemical in to a body, you increase the risk of suicide. There are so many drugs out now that include suicide as a side effect it is Fing crazy. People are so stupid nowadays that they consider suicide as an acceptable side effect.
People who accept such risks are idiots.
Truthman
Idle Observer
Truthman (sic), please take your conspiracy theories to another blog where you and other lunatics can have a feeding frenzy. You have zero credibility.
Idle Observer(sic)
I have more credibility than you , I’ve been researching the topics i speak about for over 5 years…
What credibility do you have to be such an lemon?…
And , no I have no intention of going anywhere..
(so you’re just going to have to put up with my “conspiracy truths” for the time being)
Truthman
One more thing “Idle Observer”(sic)
If you think that bringing attention to one of the biggest medical scandals of recent times(ie the Paxil scandal) is a lunatic conspiracy then you are greatly mistaken…
I have backed up all my views and opinions..
While you dismiss them without even a notion or an attempt at validating yours …
So if it is a question of credibility…?
I would very much like to see what yours is…
If you can so easily dismiss the paxil scandal , vioxx and zyprexa as “conspiracy theories” .. Then i would say you are either totally stupid or sublimely naive… Either one adds up to “zero credibility” in my estimation…
Chris
Truthman - I’ll respond to your note to me. Incidentally I’m not the pharma industry Chris who also is on here. I have no bias either way. I did work in the industry for 15 years and for the past 13 years have worked on its periphery. I have worked all over the world and seen many regulatory authorities’ approach to clinical trials. The vast majority - I mean vast - are carefully controlled (sic), managed and regulated. Protocols are independently reviewed, trials monitored to standards approved by regulators, and in general, studies conducted by reputable investigators. There is little incentive for them to do anything else.
So Truthman, when you continue to propagate your theories and at the same time show that you do not understand how the pharmaceutical industry is regulated, you really don’t help your cause. And I say that because I do understand. Your theories just do not stack up. Yes, there are lapses as with any industry populated by ‘people’, but your relentless chorus of evil manipulation and cynical profiteering is tiresome and weak. It’s obviously important to you and I respect that, but you need to realize you are just wrong.
Jack2
I had the same Super Size Me vibe.
It seems reasonable, based on the CNS- (and periphery-)based mechanism of the drug it could alter your experiences and way of thinking, but….
This is an open-label, case-report, without placebo-controls from a guy who knew about (and was probably looking for) the controversial aspects of this drug. On top of that he needed to write an article, and this article makes for more interesting reading than:
“I took the drug. I felt bad, but it could have been from the drug or not smoking. Ultimately, it didn’t work and I’m still a smoker.”
I wonder if this guy can get drunk on O’douls?
Truthman
Chris…
Have you read bout Paxil ? ..
What is your opinion on it?…
Chris
Truthman,
I have to work…there is only so much time in the day I can do this…I type slowly…I am not so bound up in this that I care to debate all types of topics…plus I’m late for my Scientology class.
Truthman
Well enjoy your scientology class, and in future don’t eneter into a discussion and make sweeping assumptions about topics which you clearly have no knowledge of…
harpy
I quit smoking two times, cold turkey, and was never suicidal nor did I suffer hallucinations. However, I was overcome with a powerful urge to punish any fool who made stupid comments in my presence. I called this “irritability.” I have known many people to quit smoking over the years and not one ever mentioned suicide or suicidal thoughts. Homocide, frequently; suicide, never. While my corner of the world may not be indicative of the world at large, I still think there is more going on with this drug than we currently know about.
FYI - “Supersize Me” was done by Morgan Spurlock, not Michael Moore.
Chris
I think Truthman, if you look back on this thread, you will see that my posts and the majority of others’ have been fact based and grounded by many years’ involvement in the processes which you are trying to disparage. I believe also that you will see there are statisticians, medics, open minded observers who have commented on this topic and added valuable, objective (and occasional subjective) input to the discussion. I think the sweeping assumptions come from elsewhere. Becaue I don’t want to enter into another ranting exchange nad another topic, Paxil, I’m signing off. If you see that man on the bus talking aloud to nobody in particular, it doesn’t mean you have to sit next to him or join his conversation, if you get my point.
truthman
I do apologise Chris..
But you have to understand that on the subject of Paxil i am extremely knowledgeable and it is difficlut for me not to view anything from the pharmaceutical industry without some degree of cyncism ..
Bryan
I took Chantrix this time last year. I successfully quit the first time! That’s the good news. I wasn’t hearing anything about side effects last January/February, but I wasn’t looking for them. I was only on alert to the side effects listed on the product insert - basic stuff. Reflecting back in time, I also had some interesting “can’t explain how this happened” episodes, one thing in particular ruined a relationship. So one year later I still have what I now think are lingering side effects. I call it mind clutter…at times it feels like if I could see into my head, it would look like a TV between channels. It is transient, but it can really ruin a mood and is very confusing and anxiety is higher. Then it passees. Has anyone else experienced this lingering effect?
Chris
Truthman,
Agreed. A healthy degree of cynicism is appropriate for all businesses, including pharma. Keyword being ‘healthy’ of course and the other I suppose, is ‘industry’ because that’s what it is.
Bob
Truthman-You are about as knowledgeable as LVS-To break it down, you aren’t very knowledgeable.
You don’t present facts, just conspiracy theories, and a high school diploma.
Shouldn’t you be filling up my gas tank?
truthman
Hello Bob
Well I wouldn;t expect anymore from you really considering your comments are always loaded with conceited sarcasm, not to mention your complete lack of ability to debate anything which doesn’t conform to your pro-pharma views…
Actually, I bet I am more educated and knowledgeable than you about lot of things .. (we have a good education system on this side of the water Bob, TV is not our teacher ) ..
If i was filling up your gastank I would be sure to stick a banana up your bloated exhaust pipe…
In short Bob.. get a life ..
Ed Silverman
Hi Folks,
Just thought I’d gently remind everyone to try to stick to the subject and not discuss one’s explicit personal views of others who show up to chat.
No, I’m not censoring anyone. And I do appreciate your passion about the subject.
But I would prefer if we all try to remember this is supposed to be the equivalent of a discussion - however intense - that takes place in a comfortable living room. In this case, my living room.
Thanks much,
ed
truthman
Apologies Ed..
I was just defending myself from some very juvenile remarks from Bob, Nathan and the pro-pharma damage limitation team..
I should have refrained from stooping to their innane level of communication..
I will try to bite my tongue in future..
Fear 'n Loafing
I read Derek’s article. It was really quite entertaining. I’d rate it a “9″. It had a good beat and was easy to dance to. Somewhere between Hunter Thompson and Philip Dick… Did it really happen…? if it did, one of Chantix SEs is vivid memory recall… I can’t wait for Derek’s sequel…
Nathan
Truthman, you can take issue with Bob - but leave me out of this. I only posted one time in this thread. If you look back at it, you’ll see that I acknowledge potential problems with Chantix, post a link to a helpful science-based discussion of its side effects, and questioned the tone of Derek’s article. What exactly do you mean by saying that my post was stooping to “innane levels of communication”? Stop calling me a “pharma damage limitation team” and start debating the facts with me.
Bob
Truthman-You have no credibility. Just like your little friend LVS, you bring Paxil into about every conversation.
Don’t you realize no one takes you seriously?
pg
ROTFL Bob. Really :-)
Dont you realise that YOU are the joke?
Fred
After all the debate on Chantix and knowing that O.J. was not set-up is there anyone in the house that would be comfortable giving the drug to a loved one.Ceasing to smoke because you’re dead seems a far way to go. Maybe?
Bob
PG-Do you think I really care what you crusaders think?
I can’t wait for the day when you need a medication from one of the “evil drug companies.”
truthman
Bob
Truthman-You have no credibility. Just like your little friend LVS, you bring Paxil into about every conversation.
Don’t you realize no one takes you seriously?
Well well.. The true colours of Bob the pharma weasel begin to illuminate..
The problem is Bob.. the arrogant attitude of people like you who work in the pharma industry actually compound its uncaring reputation in the minds of the public..
It is why we “crusaders” shout so loud, to drown out the bull which people in the industry have been advocating for decades…
Now it is the publics turn to have a say, and that doesn’t sit well with you because you are conceited…
And by the way LVS is not my friend, i have never met her not had any correspondence with her ever, although i must say i would be honoured to be friends with someone who has the balls to speak out against the crimes of the pharmaceautical industry and I think it is people like her who are doing more of a public service than you would ever comprehend…
That is , until maybe you or someone you care about is damaged by a defective medication…
And you continually miss the point ..
Which is.. We are not anti-pharma or anti-drugs..
Just anti-pharma lies and anti-pharma greed which kills hundreds of thousands of people every year…
And it is because of this that we speak out…
If you don’t get it, then that is your loss…
Donna
Truthman,
“BRAVO”.!!!!!!!!!
Bob
Truth-”Honoured.”
You must be Canadian. That explains a lot.
Donna
Bob
Wrong again but nice try.
Bob
Donna-The British or Australian. His grammar (or lack thereof) screams Canadian, so I just followed the norm…
Donna–Nice to see you make a post that isn’t anti anti-psychotics.
Keep up the good work!
Bob
I hope you see through the sarcasm and puns of my post directly above…
Donna
Bob,
At least Truthman can actually write an entire paragraph without calling someone a name…but when it come’s to a good belly laugh, your my favorite…Keep up the good work!
Donna
Bob,
Don’t forget I’m the “Resident Crackpot” which you so fondly nicknamed me, sarcasm and pun’s not a problem.
jeanne
I’d heard only good things about this drug especially as compared to wellbutrin. the banner in the Ledger yesterday was the first i’d heard of these kinds of symptoms. my MD said nausea was the only reported side effect.
instead of wasting time w/ the personal trashing, how about seeking out some more coments from people who’ve had similar or at least negative experienes w/ this drug? that’s what i came here for.
my life insurance will pay my beneficiaries if i die of lung cancer or COPD (at leaas I think they would), but not if i off myself while trying to quit.
this is NOT a trivial matter for the people who really want to believe a drug can help them save their health, their lives, their relationships and their money by making it possible to quit smoking.
Brian
When a person turns their life over to a drug like nicotine (or heroin, cocaine) there is no guarantee they will be able to make it back safely to normal hood. The treatments beyond counseling that are currently available are designed to help while many other clinical candidates fell by the wayside, believe me! Most people do fine on chantix, zyban or the patch, obviously some do not. Most folks are not fine on nicotine and by the time they realize it their health, whether mental or physical, may be at extreme jeopardy. Until now, most people underestimated the impact that nicotine has on their lives. They would not be “normal” without it. We should not be so quick to focus too much attention on the most recent drug these folks have taken without factoring in the impact of all the time they have spent on a drug which is addictive physically and mentally…
truthman
Bob
Truth-”Honoured.”
You must be Canadian. That explains a lot.
Bob
Donna-The British or Australian. His grammar (or lack thereof) screams Canadian, so I just followed the norm. ”
This a a message for you Bob….
You are a waste of space, not only are you arrogant, conceited and rude, but you are quite clearly a racist…
I don’t engage in dialogue with racists …
truthman
Oh and by the way Bob..
I’m not canadian..
Lisa
I personally have been on Chantix for seven weeks; been very successful in quiting smoking. But, like this article, have very weird dreams - not ever feeling like I’m *really* asleep. And, with alcohol, have started major fights with my husband. I did have one situation of suicidal thoughts…
All in all, I believe that drugs such as these need to be the responsibility of the individual.