New York Magazine Article Drew Attention To Chantix Problems In February 2008

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration mandated that Chantix, an anti-smoking drug, be required to carry its strongest safety warning due to side effects including depression and suicidal thoughts.

While this may be big news in the pharmaceutical world, the story was in fact broken nearly a year-and-a-half ago by New York Magazine. In a February 10, 2008 article, Derek De Koff detailed the disturbing psychological changes he underwent while taking Chantix, including self-destructive thoughts and the feeling of being "temporarily lobotomized".

Pfizer began making the drug, which blocks nicotine receptors in the brain, in 2006. According to AP, the FDA began looking into Chantix's side effects last fall, a number of months after De Koff's story was published.

Read De Koff's article here.

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Comments

[mredder4]

Meanwhile, a coworker and separately a friend of mine both brought it to my attention in 2007. Heckuva job, NY Magazine!

[pwman]

I was warned about the sucidal thoughts and vivid dreams by my MD when she prescribed Chantix. I had some weird vivid dreams the first couple of weeks, but no weird thoughts. It was hell quitting because I had cravings but smoking would not stop them. Cigarettes taste like manure after the first week on Chantix. You will not want to smoke no matter how much you want nicotine. I stopped taking Chantix after 5 weeks a month ago. I'm still smoke free so I'm happy with the results.

[lvginclp]

I'm in my fourth month on Chantix - and it's been nothing short of miraculous! I smoked for 24 years and I just cannot believe how great it has worked. I, too, was afraid to start taking it - I had a very bad experience with Paxil and didn't want to go through that again (it changed me for life) - but I can honestly say that I've had just one nightmare since being on the Chantix. The dreams are very vivid, but not scary at all - I'm kinda enjoying them actually. The nausea sucks, but it only lasts about 10 minutes and is much better if you take the pill with food. I'm also quite gassy these days - but the benefits far outweigh the side effects.

I would highly recommend it!

[Hans Meiser]

My wife started Chantix just a couple of weeks ago. She's slow pulling off smokes completely, but it's gotten a lot better.

She too is complaining about the dreams, but heard from other people how common this is.

She doesn't seem suicidal. Maybe a bit depressed at times, more moody. But I'll gladly deal with it if this gets her to stop with the cancer sticks.

[ConfuciusSay-]

There's a smoker called De Koff?

You can't make stuff like that up.

[dukesman]

I actually was prescribed the drugs by my doctor and have not taken it yet. I am afraid to.

[sdskelton03]

Don't be afraid. It really works well.

Your doctor should have given you the smallest dose to start out with.

The benefits will far outweigh the risks.

[dandypuddin]

the risk is far too great with this drug. There are better ways to quit.

[Pema]

HEY! you are not in any position to tell anyone to go ahead take the drug. your running on to a very fine line, if he follows your advice and has negative effects. your repsonsible! are you a pill pusher for the company?
it didnt work for me it made me so depressed. thank the gods i stopped it. people have killed themselves over htis drug and your acting like hey no big deal, your not a doctor!

[Sarahmay57]

It absolutely works for many people to help them quit smoking...those side effects are common with other anti-depressants too, and they don't occur for everyone.

[ABCD]

It definately worked for me!

[000Jade000]

People knew about Chantix even before 2008. Soldiers were used as guinea pigs and were given Chantix. Many of them became suicidal.

[MED1025]

Actually, the VA has one of the best and largest adverse drug reaction databases in the country. They noticed a cluster of 20-30 reports of depression/suicidal thoughts etc associated with Chantix and ordered a review of all patients who had received it up to that point. The review turned up more cases that hadn't been reported as reporting to the system is voluntary as are all but the most serious post-market drug reports.

The drug was available on the market by prescription and used by people from all walks of life. A right wing paper did a totally inaccurate story on the drug's use in the VA. They based their account on one individual who was in a study of PTSD treatments who also received this drug to help him quit smoking. The reporter never interviewed anyone from the medical profession or found out the nature of the study.

[PCdoc]

I was on Chantix for 12 weeks. I'd smoked for about 35 years. As long as I took Chantix with food (breakfast) I didn't have problems with an upset stomach. I did have rather vivid dreams, mostly about work and nothing "bad".
I haven't had a cigarette since December 10, 2008.

[sdskelton03]

The dreams are intense.

I stopped taking it because I found myself too fearful to fall asleep.

Other than that, it was a wonder drug.

[ABCD]

I used Chantix also and I haven't had a cigarette since 10/07/07. I got nauseous the first time I took it but then I made sure to take it with a meal. But no way did I have suicidal thoughts, or bad/vivid dreams.

I smoked for 25 years and now I am FREE!!!

[thesis]

I tried Chantix for a few weeks a couple of years ago and it was a freaky experience. I honestly believed I was almost psychotic. The lobotomy analogy is a good one. I finally quit taking it when I lost the plot with my husband for leaving a dirty cup in the sink. I seriously wanted to physically harm him there and then. It was like an out-of-body experience. Since then I've advised any friends considering taking it to avoid it.

[ABCD]

Did you find another way to quit smoking?

[pwman]

The vivid dreams were actually pretty good. Chantix helped me stop smoking , off the nicotine for 10 weeks now. I stayed on Chantix for 5 of them