Chantix Raises Heart Attack Risk: Study

Chantix, the most popular smoking-cessation drug, could raise your risk of being hospitalized for a heart attack, according to a new review of studies.

In the review, published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Chantix increased the risk of hospitalization from heart attack or serious heart problems by 72 percent, compared with people who took a placebo.

The review consisted of 14 studies that included more than 8,200 healthy people (mostly men under 45) who took Chantix or a placebo.

The same number of people died in each group, but the risk of hospitalization because of heart attack or heart arrhythmia was higher among the people who took Chantix.

"People want to quit smoking to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease but in this case they're taking a drug that increases the risk for the very problems they're trying to avoid," study researcher Dr. Sonal Singh, M.D., assistant professor of general internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a statement.

Researchers saw an elevated risk of hospitalization for heart attack or heart problems in the studies for up to one year, including the time for which people were on Chantix (about 12 to 24 weeks) and the follow-up period afterward up to a year, Singh said.

Chantix, which is also known as varenicline, is manufactured by Pfizer and is known to improve the chances of a smoker quitting, though many smokers do quit without the assistance of pharmaceutical drugs. The drug is already known to raise the risk of suicidal thoughts -- and even includes an FDA warning on its box.

A previous 700-person study, published last month, had showed that Chantix raised heart attack risk among people who already have existing heart disease, but this new review shows that the risk of serious heart problems exists for even healthy people, researchers said.

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Comments

[modchen]

07:27 PM on 08/22/2011

i'd be extremely interested to know who financed 14 studies of 8200 people in Canada. specifically, i'd be interested to know if it were Philip Morris.

for perspective on this review, see here: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2011/07/04/cmaj.110218/reply#cmaj_el_674349 . a number of doctors seem to be in disagreement with the review's findings.

[MarieCeline]

05:51 PM on 07/29/2011

Aside from major cardiovascular problems, Chantix can cause depression, suicidal thoughts and several other mental disorders. It has been banned in some countries in Europe and has been pulled from certain military pharmacies. The Department of Transportation has forbidden all pilots and individuals using heavy equipment to use the drug. Personally, I've been on a quest to quit for years with mostly unsuccessful attempts.I recently started using an electronic cigarette from V2Cigs and it has helped tremendously. I strongly advise people to a least give it a try!

[JessiChamberlin]

03:07 PM on 07/06/2011

Another case of picking your poison. I guess as a smoker you have to decide what is worse - risking heart issues on a temporary Rx or continuing to puff on the heaters. Maybe just going cold turkey might be better? blog.mydiscoverhealth

[buttwhyhaha]

07:01 PM on 07/05/2011

FDA APPROVED DRUGS KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN SMOKING

[manoflamatzah]

11:23 PM on 07/05/2011

please cite the scientific study on which you make this statement. And don't yell.

[buttwhyhaha]

06:57 PM on 07/05/2011

MOD - POST MY REPLY TO LINDA LOPEZ- IT IS NOT VIOLATING ANYTHING - AND IS NOT YOUR CONCERN

[mangan70ret]

06:54 PM on 07/05/2011

I quit smoking with the aid of Chantix. After nearly 60 years of smoking, the damage to my lungs was already past reversal. I have a whole collection of stuff to at least maintain what I have left of my lungs. Now then during the time I was on Chantix, I never wanted to kill myself. I had a few strange dreams but nothing to get upset about. Check the medicine ads on TV. Most of them have warnings about possible heart problems. Why this sudden attack on Chantix???

[onionboy]

07:39 PM on 07/05/2011

I don't think its an attack, just an analysis. Doesn't mean that it's still not better than smoking.

[SithRose]

03:48 AM on 07/06/2011

Perhaps because the side effects it causes are absolutely horrific?

[buttwhyhaha]

06:54 PM on 07/05/2011

Also - panic vax - have an agenda - PLEASE wake up

[buttwhyhaha]

06:47 PM on 07/05/2011

WANT TO QUIT SMOKING- HYPNOSIS - ACUPUNCTURE - OR HEY - THROW THEM IN THE GARBAGE,GROW UP AND ACT LIKE AN ADULT AND STICK IT OUT

[buttwhyhaha]

06:46 PM on 07/05/2011

JUST CHECK THE SIDE EFFECTS ON ALL THE DRUGS FDA APPROVES - WORSE THAN THE DISEASE - AND YOU TRUST THEM - LAWSUITS - RECALLS - AND FOR THE RIGHT PRICE FROM PHARM. CO. BACK ON THE MARKET - AND BTW - DRS. GET A KICK-BACK FOR WRITING THE RX - HOMEOPATHIC IS THEY SAFE WAY. - TELL GOVT TO DEFUND FDA- THEY ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN YOUR DISEASE

[buttwhyhaha]

06:44 PM on 07/05/2011

THIS IS OLD NEWS - AND THIS IS YOUR WONDERFUL FDA THAT YOU TRUST - THEY APPROVE THESE DEADLY DRUGS BECAUSE THE PHARM PAYS THEM TO

[onionboy]

07:39 PM on 07/05/2011

FDA? Canadian study.

[manoflamatzah]

11:27 PM on 07/05/2011

Sounds like you have some kind of a chip on your shoulder. And that chip seems to have damaged the caps key on your keyboard. There's a pill for that....

[NYC619]

06:43 PM on 07/05/2011

Much like anti-depressants having the "side effect" of suicidal thoughts-more people should be trying alternative methods as treatment, but of course insurance won't pay for what works that does not cause other complications.

[buttwhyhaha]

06:48 PM on 07/05/2011

SO, you would rather not spend the money on homeopathic and save it for a coffin?

[manoflamatzah]

11:33 PM on 07/05/2011

Sorry, pal - pretty ignorant. The suicide risk is really not that common in real life, at least in adults - not saying it doesn't happen, just rare. Mostly, it probably "picks the people up" just enough to give them the energy to do it. Furthermore, many people jump off bridges and commit suicide in other ways, simply because they are depressed - not due to medication. The benefits far outweigh the risks - and I have a lot of experience in this. There is certainly a role for cognitive therapy, but in the end, our bodies are complex chemical systems, and sometimes a little adjustment is necessary - be it for depression, low thyroid, hypertension, heart disease, etc. Side effects? Sure, they can happen - but they are usually not as bad as the condition for which they are being treated.

[SithRose]

03:49 AM on 07/06/2011

In the case of Chantix...no, gut-wrenching agonizing cramps and horrific nightmares are NOT worth it. However, the e-cigs worked nicely.

[CCSTCloud]

06:27 PM on 07/05/2011

I smoked for 15 years. I took Chantix for 1 month. I have been smoke free for 3 years. It is a miracle drug.

[Bertalein]

06:24 PM on 07/05/2011

So does smoking cigarettes for sure. I am glad I was able to quit with Chantix after 17 other attempts. Thanks to Dr. Oz for making me aware of it and a guy named " Ucanquit" from Seattle on Oprah's Stop Smoking Support board. Thanks!

[tripboi]

06:22 PM on 07/05/2011

Quit smoking because it is bad for your heart. take this prescription drug, never mind its bad for your heart.

[Linda Lopez]

06:15 PM on 07/05/2011

I think our pharmacutical system isnt testing many of the drugs on the market long enough. Then again some they take too long with. Another thing is pharmicutical companies and Drs dont take into concideration people that may have reactions to different drugs. I have a list of medications that supposedly only cause side effects 1% of the time. Yep I am amoung that 1%. I screen my own drugs. I read up on side effects then I tell my Dr if I will take them or not. I'm waiting for results right now on a new blood pressure med they want me to take. You may ask why they want me to change from my old med....well, because Kaiser doesnt want to pay for the tried and true med that I have taken for a couple years. They want me to take a cheaper medication..to cut costs and keep Kaiser inexpensive. I could go into a whole rant on the healthcare system, but not today I'm tired.

[buttwhyhaha]

06:56 PM on 07/05/2011

PLEASE - check into a good holistic practitioner - I use one - he is also licensed nutritionist and also dispenses homeopathic remedies - ALL WORK BETTER- JUST RESEARCH PLEASE- ALSO go to a LARGE -Vitamin Shoppe - they have experienced personnel there to help you - I PROMISE - they work!!!!!!!!!!!

[buttwhyhaha]

06:58 PM on 07/05/2011

Contact holistic practitioner - and hp won't allow more detail in my post