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handle complex claims involving prescription medication like Chantix.
Chantix Lawsuit
If you believe Chantix has had an adverse effect on you or your loved one, call one of Simmons’ pharmaceutical lawyers at 1-877-318-0580. You may be eligible to seek compensation, including medical bills, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. We are experienced in defective drug lawsuits and are here for you. Call us to evaluate your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal rights, including the filing of a Chantix lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturers.
The smoking addiction/recovery drug Chantix has been linked to suicidal thoughts and actions, as well as mood and behavioral disorders. In early 2008, FDA officials acknowledged receiving troubling reports from Chantix patients throughout the United States. These reports included 34 cases of suicide and nearly 420 reports of suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and completed suicides.
As of July 2009, the most serious reports to the FDA involving Chantix were1:
- 98 suicides in Chantix users
- 188 attempted suicides in Chantix users
According to a new study from the U.K. drug regulatory agency and the University of Bristol, any risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts is likely to be very small. This conclusion is at odds with earlier studies, though. The epidemiologist behind the new study says that larger studies are needed to further quantify the risk. Web MD reported that the study "compared the incidence of suicide and self-harm among smokers taking Chantix to that of smokers using the drug Zyban or nicotine-replacement products."
Following the startling reports and conflicting information listed above, lawsuits began to emerge against the pharmaceutical manufacturer.
What is Chantix?
Chantix is used for withdrawals from smoking cessation, while going from nicotine dependency and continuing through nicotine recovery. Chantix, known by the generic name varenicline, works by blocking the effect of nicotine on the brain. When a person quits smoking, the lower levels of dopamine and other brain chemicals causes the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Chantix combats these withdrawal symptoms by stimulating the release of low levels of dopamine and other brain chemicals. Chantix also blocks the brain's nicotine receptors, so future cigarettes do not have the same effect, thus potentially stifling a relapse to regular smoking.2
Chantix Side Effects
The Mayo Clinic states that participants in clinical trials have reported:- Nausea
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Insomnia
- Vivid, abnormal dreams
- Changes in the way food tastes
FDA Warnings
FDA warnings about using Chantix as part of nicotine withdrawal and recovery therapy begin with a 2008 advisory to health care professionals to be alert to and monitor for changes in mood and behavior in people taking Chantix. On July 1, 2009, it required varenicline to carry the most severe safety warning, the black box label. Dangerous Chantix side effects include:
- anxiety
- nervousness
- tension
- depressed mood
- unusual behaviors
- thinking about suicide
- attempting suicide
The FDA also advises consumers3:
- tell your doctor about any history of psychiatric illness prior to starting Chantix
- changes in mood and behavior should be reported to a doctor immediately
- patients may experience vivid, unusual, or strange dreams
- it's evaluating varenicline for additional potential side effects, including angioedema, serious skin reactions, visual impairment, and accidental injury
- your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected
As a result of the machinery warning, the Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited Chantix for pilots and air-traffic controllers on the job.
* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results.
Contact the Simmons Firm
The Simmons firm handles a wide range of legal matters, including lawsuits regarding: mesothelioma, commercial, intellectual property, defective medical devices and dangerous pharmaceutical drugs. Contact the Simmons firm to learn more.