Physician Calls for Chantix Removal Due to Severe Psychological Side Effects

Chantix is a stop-smoking medication. Dr. Siegel believes Chantix (also known as varenicline) has severe and life-threatening side effects; moreover, he believes the current black box warning on Chantix’s packaging is insufficient to protect the public from Chantix’s predictable harm to the user. Indeed, the black box warnings tell physicians to watch for patients with adverse psychiatric side effects, like severe depression, violent behavior, and possible suicide. However, this Chantix psychological side effect warning has not been sufficient thus far in protecting thousands of users from the terrible and potentially life threatening Chantix side effects.

Study Shows Rate of Violence 18 Times Higher When Individual Uses Chantix

Two medical journals published stories about the risk of harm and lethality of the drug. PLoS One reported in January 2011 that Chantix is extremely dangerous because the drug is associated with suicidal behavior and violence.  Indeed, the rate of violence (some 400 incidents) was 18 times higher than would otherwise occur by chance. And, there were more than 11,000 adverse effects found due to the use of Chantix. Similarly, JAMA found a link between Chantix and suicidal thoughts — even among those patients without any psychiatric history. Finally, the FDA found 116 cases of suicidal thoughts and 37 cases of suicidal behavior in the first 18 months the drug was available to the public. Due to these serious side effects, a number of Chantix lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Chantix users and their families.

Chantix psychiatric problems occur rapidly and are often lethal. Indeed, Chantix suicide victims commit suicide within days of receiving their medication.  Given the lethality and quick reactions it is impossible to properly monitor a patient for these side effects. Moreover, a medical practice is no substitute for a day-to-day psychological screening follow-up, particularly when the medication is being used to treat a malady like smoking.

Ultimately, Dr. Siegel determined the costs upon society (suicide and violence) far outweigh the benefit of the drug, particularly since there were other stop-smoking medicines readily available on the market. It is still unclear how this particular stance from a medical professional will affect the current and future Chantix lawsuits.

Hundreds of Chantix Lawsuits Filed with Thousands More Expected

Currently there have been hundreds of Chantix lawsuits filed and thousands of potential lawsuits are being investigated. Many of these Chantix lawsuits have been filed on the behalf of families who have had a loved one commit suicide. Many of these individuals never had a history of depression, had never experienced any type of psychosis, or any other type of psychological conditions.