Comments on: The Chantix Suicide Watch Spreads To The UK http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:11:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: terri http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-651030 terri Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:32:00 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-651030 I'm with Jim. I no longer trust anyone in the medical industry either. As a teen I feared drugs, yet at 55, I can describe first hand in vivid detail...an hallucination. When Chantix first hit the market in '06, I overheard a conversation between two pharmacists regarding this new miracle stop smoking pill!! Of course, I had to ask the name. I immediately made an appt. w/doctor and was THRILLED to get my prescription!! As promised, it DID deaden my smoking receptors and had it STOPPED there...I would've been singing Chantix' praises also. But, it DIDN'T. Once in my system it grew feet...and SLOWLY yet THOROUGHLY snaked thru to OTHER parts of my brain affecting me in ways I was totally oblivious to!! I DID stop smoking for a couple months, but started reaching again. Went BACK to the doctor for 2nd script. Something went TERRIBLY wrong this time around. Started feeling beYOND exhausted. Could no longer decipher my "state". The hallucinations were of deceased loved ones coming to my room at nite, BEGGING me to come w/them. Said, "heaven is a blast." Tried to convince me my job was done here. My daughters have children and lives of their own and it's time to go. Bottom line: two hospital stays in '08. Both involved ambulances, hospital and psyche unit. Jan. '08 - - taken by ambulance in middle of nite w/severe heart attack symptoms, mind blowing headache, stomach spasms as strong as contractions and EXTREME shortness of breath. Stayed a week. Diagnosis - - possible virus. May '08 - - had great day at work as usual (love my job of 23 years), decided after work after heated discussion w/daughter, it was a good day to die. Wasn't sad, mad, glad...just FLAT! Took long drive to rural area, found a closed, used car parking lot, wrote short note, "it's been real"...downed 240 sleeping pills, cut self up w/razors...woke up six days later when being taken off vent...surrounded by devastated, confused family members. They wanted answers...I didn't have any. Yes, this is ONE, POWERFUL, PILL. IT WILL OWN YOU ONCE IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM, AND ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW/WHERE YOU WILL LAND. People do NOT go to the trouble and expense of getting this prescription filled w/hopes of suffering horrendous side effects. I canNOT believe it hasn't been RECALLED!!! It is a KILLER!!! I’m with Jim. I no longer trust anyone in the medical industry either. As a teen I feared drugs, yet at 55, I can describe first hand in vivid detail…an hallucination.

When Chantix first hit the market in ‘06, I overheard a conversation between two pharmacists regarding this new miracle stop smoking pill!! Of course, I had to ask the name. I immediately made an appt. w/doctor and was THRILLED to get my prescription!!

As promised, it DID deaden my smoking receptors and had it STOPPED there…I would’ve been singing Chantix’ praises also. But, it DIDN’T. Once in my system it grew feet…and SLOWLY yet THOROUGHLY snaked thru to OTHER parts of my brain affecting me in ways I was totally oblivious to!! I DID stop smoking for a couple months, but started reaching again. Went BACK to the doctor for 2nd script. Something went TERRIBLY wrong this time around.

Started feeling beYOND exhausted. Could no longer decipher my “state”. The hallucinations were of deceased loved ones coming to my room at nite, BEGGING me to come w/them. Said, “heaven is a blast.” Tried to convince me my job was done here. My daughters have children and lives of their own and it’s time to go.

Bottom line: two hospital stays in ‘08. Both involved ambulances, hospital and psyche unit.

Jan. ‘08 - - taken by ambulance in middle of nite w/severe heart attack symptoms, mind blowing headache, stomach spasms as strong as contractions and EXTREME shortness of breath. Stayed a week. Diagnosis - - possible virus.

May ‘08 - - had great day at work as usual (love my job of 23 years), decided after work after heated discussion w/daughter, it was a good day to die. Wasn’t sad, mad, glad…just FLAT! Took long drive to rural area, found a closed, used car parking lot, wrote short note, “it’s been real”…downed 240 sleeping pills, cut self up w/razors…woke up six days later when being taken off vent…surrounded by devastated, confused family members. They wanted answers…I didn’t have any.

Yes, this is ONE, POWERFUL, PILL. IT WILL OWN YOU ONCE IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM, AND ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW/WHERE YOU WILL LAND. People do NOT go to the trouble and expense of getting this prescription filled w/hopes of suffering horrendous side effects. I canNOT believe it hasn’t been RECALLED!!! It is a KILLER!!!

]]> By: stop smoking america http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-411644 stop smoking america Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:11:44 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-411644 you have more info on your topic than anyone - truly amazing! are you on twitter? thumbsup from me! you have more info on your topic than anyone - truly amazing! are you on twitter? thumbsup from me!

]]> By: Stop Smoking http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-382616 Stop Smoking Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:34:45 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-382616 No other prescription drug had more reported complaints in the last quarter than Chantix. What else needs to happen for this highly controversial drug to be shelved? No other prescription drug had more reported complaints in the last quarter than Chantix. What else needs to happen for this highly controversial drug to be shelved?

]]> By: Anon http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-381321 Anon Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:27:24 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-381321 Doug, Perhaps there is some off-target receptor it effects or an intracellular pathway it effects. Perhaps you could look into these with regards to Chantix and other drugs that cause suicide and psychotic reactions. Plus it doesn't have to be in the frontal lobe it could could be in the limbic system. Doug,

Perhaps there is some off-target receptor it effects or an intracellular pathway it effects. Perhaps you could look into these with regards to Chantix and other drugs that cause suicide and psychotic reactions. Plus it doesn’t have to be in the frontal lobe it could could be in the limbic system.

]]> By: James R http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-381317 James R Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:00:08 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-381317 Since there seems that Chantix is toxic to some people, I think it is appropiate to have more trials. To blame nicotine withdrawal for causing severe psychotic episodes is absurd. This drug has some serious problems, no doubt, that’s why Pfizer should do what is right and have more trials. They should be honest, and give truthful information to physicians, not just the “good stuff”. More and more physicians are taking a second look at the drug. That is a good thing. I do not think that thousands of people from thousands of different parts of the country have gotten together as part of a conspirancy to make Pfizer look bad. Since there seems that Chantix is toxic to some people, I think it is appropiate to have more trials.
To blame nicotine withdrawal for causing severe psychotic episodes is absurd.
This drug has some serious problems, no doubt, that’s why Pfizer should do what is right and have more trials. They should be honest, and give truthful information to physicians, not just the “good stuff”.
More and more physicians are taking a second look at the drug. That is a good thing.
I do not think that thousands of people from thousands of different parts of the country have gotten together as part of a conspirancy to make Pfizer look bad.

]]> By: Jim http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-381022 Jim Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:53:48 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-381022 Another prediction: they will increase their promotional campaign. Another prediction: they will increase their promotional campaign.

]]> By: Doug Bremner http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-381019 Doug Bremner Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:43:12 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-381019 Here's a hypothesis for how Chantix makes people suicidal. It affects the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls emotion. Duh! When a drug jets to the top of adverse reactions and is a leader in psychiatric events you have to take notice. Prediction: makers of Chantix will stall and say there is no evidence for an association. Here’s a hypothesis for how Chantix makes people suicidal. It affects the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls emotion. Duh!

When a drug jets to the top of adverse reactions and is a leader in psychiatric events you have to take notice.

Prediction: makers of Chantix will stall and say there is no evidence for an association.

]]> By: Jim http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-380988 Jim Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:23:28 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-380988 As I have written here in the past, my use of Chantix is what initially led me to this site. This is an extremely dangerous drug and the Risk of Using it far outweighs its benefit. I know the anti-smoking fanatics will challenge me on this assertion but smoking is a vice that takes years of use to exact its damage. They will quote the 438,000 annual deaths attributed to tobacco use as proof positive that the benefits far outweigh the risks. While I will not dispute the number I will dispute the manner in which it is used. The number is derived from all smoking related deaths; the age of the deceased is not relevant. An individual who dies at the age of 90 is given the same weight as an individual who dies at 50. It is also well known that damage from smoking is associated with years of use and not weeks or months. Conversely the list of side effects associated with Chantix use are extensive; a possibly of 165 Adverse events are described in the Physicians Prescribing Information; this for a drug that is marketed and designed for 12 to 24 weeks of use. I took Pfizer's Poison Pill for 4 weeks and had and still have symptoms which I ascribe to my use of Chantix. I developed sub-clinical hyper-thyroidism; was diagnosed as a diabetic and during the immediate period following my cessation of Chantix, I experienced extreme panic attacks and made at least 4 visits to the ER. Prior to my use of Chantix I had visited the ER once in the past 8 years and that was because my son suffered an injury playing baseball. My experience with Chantix led to me to distrust the members of the medical industry and pharmaceuticals in particular. I contacted Pfizer, my Congressman, and the FDA. These contacts were futile. The FDA gave me a line of B/S, stating that this drug was given careful scrutiny. I find the Pfizer ad campaign to be particularly despicable and the FDA's complicity in this new campaign to be outrageous. While drugs such as Humira are required to disclose in their advertisements infrequent adverse events such as lymphoma, Pfizer is given a pass. As an example and infrequent side effect of Chantix use is diabetes yet this fact is never disclosed during their commercials. The advertisement is also misleading with the continued use of their 44% claim of effectiveness as opposed to only 17% of those that were given a placebo. The ad also fails to mention a much cheaper alternative, buproprien, which is only marginally less effective then Chantix without as many side effects (1 year study). Those 44% just traded one substance for another; both Chantix and nicotine are dopamine agonists. So while Pfizer claims its product does not contain nicotine it is still performing essentially the same function, however with the added risk of altering critical brain chemistry in the nicotinic receptors and with the release and absorption of dopamine in general. I recently began reading Alicia Mundy's book on the Fen-Phen tragedy, "Dispensing with the Truth" and was drawn immediately to one of the similarities between Fen-Phen and Chantix and that was the rush to label obesity as a Chronic Condition; there is a similar push to label smoking as a chronic condition which will open the floodgates to more ill-prepared and poorly studied pharmaceutical products. In a recent paper released by the NIH, they endorsed the use of pharmaceuticals as a means to quit smoking. The NIH's endpoint was 6 months. This is ridiculous on its face, since Chantix is designed for up to 6 months of use, this is essentially the same as asking a heroin addict if he or she has used heroin in the past 6 months and they reply no I am still taking my methadone. A more realistic endpoint should be one year and any respondents should be asked if they are still using a form of nicotine replacement therapy. As I have written here in the past, my use of Chantix is what initially led me to this site. This is an extremely dangerous drug and the Risk of Using it far outweighs its benefit. I know the anti-smoking fanatics will challenge me on this assertion but smoking is a vice that takes years of use to exact its damage. They will quote the 438,000 annual deaths attributed to tobacco use as proof positive that the benefits far outweigh the risks. While I will not dispute the number I will dispute the manner in which it is used. The number is derived from all smoking related deaths; the age of the deceased is not relevant. An individual who dies at the age of 90 is given the same weight as an individual who dies at 50. It is also well known that damage from smoking is associated with years of use and not weeks or months. Conversely the list of side effects associated with Chantix use are extensive; a possibly of 165 Adverse events are described in the Physicians Prescribing Information; this for a drug that is marketed and designed for 12 to 24 weeks of use.
I took Pfizer’s Poison Pill for 4 weeks and had and still have symptoms which I ascribe to my use of Chantix. I developed sub-clinical hyper-thyroidism; was diagnosed as a diabetic and during the immediate period following my cessation of Chantix, I experienced extreme panic attacks and made at least 4 visits to the ER. Prior to my use of Chantix I had visited the ER once in the past 8 years and that was because my son suffered an injury playing baseball.
My experience with Chantix led to me to distrust the members of the medical industry and pharmaceuticals in particular.
I contacted Pfizer, my Congressman, and the FDA. These contacts were futile. The FDA gave me a line of B/S, stating that this drug was given careful scrutiny.
I find the Pfizer ad campaign to be particularly despicable and the FDA’s complicity in this new campaign to be outrageous. While drugs such as Humira are required to disclose in their advertisements infrequent adverse events such as lymphoma, Pfizer is given a pass. As an example and infrequent side effect of Chantix use is diabetes yet this fact is never disclosed during their commercials. The advertisement is also misleading with the continued use of their 44% claim of effectiveness as opposed to only 17% of those that were given a placebo. The ad also fails to mention a much cheaper alternative, buproprien, which is only marginally less effective then Chantix without as many side effects (1 year study). Those 44% just traded one substance for another; both Chantix and nicotine are dopamine agonists. So while Pfizer claims its product does not contain nicotine it is still performing essentially the same function, however with the added risk of altering critical brain chemistry in the nicotinic receptors and with the release and absorption of dopamine in general.
I recently began reading Alicia Mundy’s book on the Fen-Phen tragedy, “Dispensing with the Truth” and was drawn immediately to one of the similarities between Fen-Phen and Chantix and that was the rush to label obesity as a Chronic Condition; there is a similar push to label smoking as a chronic condition which will open the floodgates to more ill-prepared and poorly studied pharmaceutical products. In a recent paper released by the NIH, they endorsed the use of pharmaceuticals as a means to quit smoking. The NIH’s endpoint was 6 months. This is ridiculous on its face, since Chantix is designed for up to 6 months of use, this is essentially the same as asking a heroin addict if he or she has used heroin in the past 6 months and they reply no I am still taking my methadone. A more realistic endpoint should be one year and any respondents should be asked if they are still using a form of nicotine replacement therapy.

]]> By: Anon. http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/the-chantix-suicide-watch-spreads-to-the-uk/#comment-380984 Anon. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:43:35 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=17437#comment-380984 This past August Tom Laughren the head of the division of psychiatric drug products at FDA claimed in the press that there was no hypothesis for why Chantix would cause suicide. If it can be conclusively shown that at the time he had seen documents indicating there was such a hypothesis, then I wonder what sort of consequences there might be. This past August Tom Laughren the head of the division of psychiatric drug products at FDA claimed in the press that there was no hypothesis for why Chantix would cause suicide.

If it can be conclusively shown that at the time he had seen documents indicating there was such a hypothesis, then I wonder what sort of consequences there might be.

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