Pfizer's anti-smoking drug linked to depression (Chantix)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: CNNMoney

The FDA has sent an alert to doctors to see if anti-smoking treatment Chantix produces unusual behavior, reports Fortune's John Simons.

(Fortune) -- Any smoker knows what a bummer it is to quit, but Pfizer's new smoking cessation drug may trigger depression or suicidal thoughts, the Food and Drug Administration said today.

The FDA this afternoon asked doctors to begin closely monitoring patients who are taking Pfizer's stop-smoking pill, Chantix. Agency officials say they have received a number of reports from patients and doctors that Chantix is responsible for depression, severe mood swings, abnormal dream states, and thoughts of suicide.

Since Chantix was released May 10, 2006, the FDA says it has received approximately 100 reports of adverse behavioral effects. Agency officials explain that they had been looking in reports regarding Chantix when they learned of Carter Albrecht, a Dallas man, who may have been taking Chantix at the time when he tried to kick down a neighbor's door last September. The neighbor shot and killed Albrecht. Family members claim Albrecht's raged may have been caused by Pfizer's drug. According to police reports, Albrecht had also been drinking.

Today's alert is not an order to stop prescribing Chantix - a twice-a-day tablet prescribed for 12 weeks - but rather a request to monitor patients. "We're beginning to look at this as an emerging safety issue," said FDA spokesperson Rita Chappelle. "We're requesting information from physicians, patients, nurses, and family members. This is an effort to let everyone know we're looking at the adverse events."

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/20/magazines/fortune/simons_smoke.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007112017

[xchrom]

1. i just got this a couple of weeks ago for smoking.

i'll start it anyway -- but it's good to know.

i'll talk to my doctor.

[Mojorabbit]

2. That is what happened

to me. I started getting more and more depressed then started having suicidal thoughts. Quit taking it and was back to normal in two days.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. If this drug is causing depression...

In addition to the effects of a quick cessation of nicotine being supplied to the limbic system, then that is a very nasty double-whammy.

Could someone who has experienced symptoms from this medication outline what the adverse effects were?

[Nite Owl]

8. I took it for a couple of months

I didn't experience any depression though my doctor did question me about that and offer me a Rx. I had wild dreams but they were sort of nice, like watching a movie all night long. The reason I stopped taking it was the nausea. I never did get to stay on the whole pill, just split it half and even then it was like mild morning sickness all day. When I tried the whole pill it was actual vomiting. I cut the smoking in half and it was very easy to do that, I just didn't feel like it as much and didn't even know it was happening. If one can get past the side effects it does work. My drug plan covered most of the cost, some don't.

[Mojorabbit]

10. I found this site after I went off it

http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/showthread.php?t=2301&page=4

[rAVES]

4. In my experience.. giving up Ciggys causes depression...

[Mend]

16. sometimes severe depression and even psychosis. The only way to be sure

is to run a study with people who cold turkey with those who use Chantix and compare the rates of depression.

[kysrsoze]

22. Two words, folks, "LASER TREATMENT"

My wife and I are at 7 months without a slip. Our friends are at 18 months. We're all former chain smokers. It was almost too easy. Similar to accupuncture. Do check it out. It was $325 in my area, with unlimited return visits in the first 90 days if you need them. We never needed a second visit.

[mmonk]

5. I've got the abnormal dream states.

Not depressed that I'm aware of.

[peaches2003]

24. Could we share dream experiences?

I posted below and then saw your post. The dreams are driving me to the point I'm afraid to go to sleep. Long, some very scary, and it is hard to get out of the dream after I am awake and sitting up. It just stays with me. You?

[Robbien]

6. Shouldn't this have been caught in drug trials?

Or are drug trials a thing of the past these days?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Well that sucks

It sounded like a great drug.

[Mojorabbit]

9. It really does work

and I was so close to quitting but the side effects were too much for me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Can they prescribe anti-depressants too?

Maybe that would counter the side effects?

[Imalittleteapot]

12. Second thoughts on the prescription I just got.

I take an anti-depressant - 5mg Lex. Wonder if the Chantix will interfere with that????

[fed-up]

13. personally I would not mix the two- nt

[Heywood J]

14. That begs the question of Ibogaine, then.

It's illegal, but so is marijuana - which seems to have all manner of medicinal uses. But I suspect that pharmaceutical companies might not make as much profit on Ibogaine, as it's extracted from a plant, is probably unpatentable, and usually requires only one treatment per individual.

[dflprincess]

15. The major side effects I've had from Chantix have been

nausea and insomnia. I've cut back to 1 pill a day and that's taken care of the insomnia. The nausea seemed to improve the longer I was on the drug - as long as I took it immediately after eating.

[thecrow]

17. I find it is better to take it just after eating and then eat something

again. Also FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO DRINK A FULL GLASS OF WATER WITH IT.
I have got the insomnia, had the nausea (got past that) and the wild dream states
(that was cool, as I usually don't remember dreams) and now am seeing that it really does work.
It takes me three days to finish a pack now, where I used to smoke (or leave in the ashtray) up to two packs a day. It replaces the nicotine in the nicotine receptors.

Oh, and I am already taking a daily low dose of elavil for pain, so I guess I'm just not depressed as a side effect. Question is, what happens when I stop taking it? What replaces the Chantix in my poor little nicotine receptors?
So confusing. I'm glad I got to take it though.



Edit: I can't spell this late at night....

[Mojorabbit]

21. Most people are weaning from it

slowly and that seems to get the best results long term.

[FormerOstrich]

18. I thought maybe....

A woman that I work with has been taking this for three or four weeks. She seems and looks depressed to me. I've been worried about her. I will mention this to her tomorrow.

Thanks for the post!

[Schema Thing]

19. Be VERY careful with this stuff folks.

Carter was a 34 y/o rock and roll musician (one of the best), he drank a lot. In his years of drinking prior to this, he'd never become mean, violent, or had any sort of psychotic episode.


It could be Chantix + drinking = danger

It could be Chantix + nicotine w/drawl = danger

It could be Chantix + nicotine w/drawl + drinking = danger


But then again, it could be Chantix: Danger

[davsand]

20. I think they are too blithe about handing all this stuff out.

After a horrible experience with Ambien where it was making me hallucinate and have panic attacks within 48 hours of starting the drug, I went back to the Doc. When I reported what was happening, the response was, "Huh. I've never heard of that before..."

While I do not blame the docs, exactly, I do think that maybe ALL the information is not being provided to them. I personally think that the drug companies have a vested interest in selling their product and they don't especially WANT to put out some of this information about negative effects of these drugs they are selling.

My beef with the docs is that I figure by this point they have GOT to know that the drug companies are not as forthcoming as they need to be. How many times does it take a patient coming back messed up by the new "wonder" drug they just prescribed before the docs get a bit wary?

Make no mistake, I think any drug that helps you quit smoking is a good thing. (BTDT, and it is NO fun!) What scares hell out of me is the realization that they are handing stuff out that messes with neuro receptors, and they are not totally sure how it is gonna impact on any given individual. Wouldn't you THINK maybe they'd want to have a better handle on this before they start giving it to people?



Laura

[peaches2003]

23. It's the Dreaming that is depressing me

I'm on week 3. No depression (though I take one Wellbutrin a day which I had been taking for smoking cessation anyway), but the dreams are awful and almost enough to make me stop taking Chantix. They get more and more like nightmares and just go on and on. Also hard to get 'out of' the dream when I wake up. My son is a doc and I just emailed him about it.

[peaches2003]

25. Doc son says-

Just discussed all of these symptons with my son who is an internist. He says it is a fabulous drug and he is not considering taking any of his patients off it. Only a small % of people have any really distubing side effects, the nausea usually goes away with time and take it with food, a tin tiny % of people may have some symptoms of depression in which case they certainly should immediately talk with their physician. The dream state problems are only encountered in 2% of all Chantix patients, usually relieved with a reduced dosage.

In any case the danger of smoking so far outweighs any danger of taking Chantix that the risk in taking it is minimal and side effects can be managed quite easily. Don't stop taking it; talk to your doctor! Just passing this on from an excellent doctor who is on the front lines of primary care prescribing Chantix.

[Mojorabbit]

26. My hubby who is family practice

says he is not prescribing it anymore. My neurologist says she has been hearing horror stories and would not be surprised to see it pulled off the market. I think it will all wash out in time after post marketing info is collected.

[moroni]

27. Diabetes.......

A long time friend died in August. His wife attributed his death to Chantix use as he was trying to stop smoking and was a diabetic. There is even a warning on the packaging that his doctor ignored.... If you are a diabetic, PLEASE be careful. Check with your doctor.