Chantix Adverse Effects
Chantix is the brand name of a prescription medicine from Pfizer designed to help people stop smoking. Chantix blocks the pleasant feelings derived from smoking by affecting the same receptors in the brain that nicotine does. Chantix has reportedly created some very serious side effects, although they were not discovered in clinical trials.
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Common Side Effects
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In clinical trials, the most common negative effect associated with Chantix was nausea, usually described as mild or moderate. Often it did not last long, but in some people, nausea persisted over the entire course of treatment.
Other Adverse Effects
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Other adverse side effects included sleep disturbance, constipation, gas and vomiting. Less common side effects included stomach pain and indigestion, and fatigue and drowsiness.
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Controversy
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Chantix received a great deal of attention after a Texas musician was shot in 2007 because of violent behavior toward a neighbor. His girlfriend blamed Chantix, saying her friend had been acting erratically after taking the drug and had never behaved that way before.
Complaints
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After the story broke in the media, the United States Food and Drug Administration received over 5,000 complaints about adverse effects from Chantix including suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, depression, hallucinations, aggression and amnesia.
FDA Recommendation
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Because the reports have been difficult to definitively connect with Chantix use, the FDA has asked doctors to closely monitor patients for any abnormal side effects.
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