Chantix at the top of drugs linked with serious injuries
The smoking-cessation drug varenicline (Chantix) has been associated with 1,001 serious adverse events, including 50 deaths, during the first quarter of 2008. A drug-safety watchdog group, The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, said recently that this now puts varenicline at the top of its list of drugs associated with serious injuries. Heparin was second.
Since varenicline was approved in 2006, there have been 3,325 reported serious injuries in the U.S., including 112 deaths. The FDA has warned of suicide ideation among patients taking varenicline, and the Federal Aviation Administration has banned the drug from use by pilots and air traffic controllers.
Pfizer, which markets varenicline, questioned the institute’s conclusions, but the Institute contends the FDA is more likely to have undercounted the number of adverse events.
In fact the FDA has issued an Alert regarding serious neuropsychiatric symptoms that have occurred in patients taking Chantix. These symptoms include changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and attempted and completed suicide. For those taking Chantix, the FDA advises the following “If either you, your family or caregiver notice agitation, depressed mood, or changes in behavior that are not typical for you, or if you have suicidal thoughts or actions, stop taking Chantix and call your doctor right away.”
Ask your doctor or health care provider about other medications that have been helpful for people trying to quit smoking.
via MedPage Today, Oct. 22, 2008
via Curt D. Furberg, M.D., Ph.D., of Wake Forest, The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Oct. 22, 2008
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