Chantix®

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Chantix®

Chantix®, the smoking cessation drug marketed by the pharmaceutical leader Pfizer, has been used by more than five million patients since its 2006 launch. Many people who smoke cigarettes, cigars or a pipe would like to stop, and it can be very difficult to do so. Chantix®® (generic name, varenicline) is one of the only two prescription nicotine-dependence products on the U.S. market (the other is Zyban [bupropion]).

The Serious Potential Side Effects of Chantix®
Unfortunately, Chantix® is suspected of having very serious — sometimes life-threatening — side effects, including:

• severe mood swings
• depression
• agitation, aggression
• nervousness
• impaired driving skills
• suicidal ideation (when a person thinks about committing suicide)
• suicidal behavior

The FDA Requires a Strict Warning
In January 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required a more severe warning on the Chantix® label noting these side effects, which had all been reported among Chantix® users. In 2007, for instance, Chantix® was in the news when a Texas musician was shot after he kicked down his neighbor’s door while on Chantix®. The FDA launched an investigation into claims that Chantix® use was causing aggression and mood disorders.

Since the FDA’s requirement for a strict warning about Chantix® risks, sales of Chantix® dropped by 35%. The sales of Chantix® were initially a huge success for Pfizer, amounting to more than $880 million in worldwide sales in 2007.

Does Chantix® Work?
Chantix® is taken once a day at first, then twice a day, for a total of 12 weeks. The patient is instructed to start taking Chantix® for one week before actually quitting smoking, and to continue the 12-week course whether or not he/she is successful at quitting completely.

Although Pfizer states that “studies show that 44% [of Chantix® users] reached their quitting goal at the end of 12 weeks,” the percentage who were smoke-free a year later ranged from 14% to 23% in clinical trials.

If You’ve Been Harmed by Chantix®
If Chantix® treatment has harmed you or a member of your family, you may be eligible for a legal remedy, including financial compensation. Find out more when you contact a Chantix® plaintiffs’ law firm today.