Chantix
Chantix is a prescription medicine to help adults stop smoking. Chantix has not been studied in children under 18 years of age. Chantix is not recommended for children under 18 years of age. Do not take Chantix if you are allergic to anything in it.
The following are common side effects of Chantix therapy.
The FDA has received reports of suicidal thoughts and aggressive and erratic behavior in patients who have taken Chantix, a smoking cessation product.
Chantix Suicidal Thoughts
The manufacturer of Chantix, Pfizer, Inc., recently submitted to FDA postmarketing cases describing suicidal ideation and occasional suicidal behavior. FDA currently is reviewing these cases, along with a number of recent reports in the popular press and internet sites. A preliminary assessment reveals that many of the cases reflect new-onset of depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and changes in emotion and behavior within days to weeks of initiating Chantix treatment. The role of Chantix in these cases is not clear because smoking cessation, with or without treatment, is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and has also been associated with the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness. However, not all patients described in these cases had pre-existing psychiatric illness and not all had discontinued smoking.
Chantix Aggressive and Erratic Behavior
The FDA is aware of a highly-publicized case of erratic behavior leading to the death of a patient using Chantix to attempt to quit smoking. Although other factors, including alcohol consumption, appear to have played a part in this specific case, the FDA asked Pfizer for additional cases that might be similar.
Chantix Drowsiness
FDA is evaluating reports from Pfizer of drowsiness in patients taking Chantix. Reports described patients who experienced drowsiness that affected their ability to drive or operate machinery.
The FDA recommends the following:
