More data links anti-smoking drug, suicide

[unhappycamper]

More data links anti-smoking drug, suicide
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 11, 2009 16:25:30 EDT

A new study from the Food and Drug Administration appears to back up claims that a smoking-cessation drug used by service members and veterans may put them at risk for suicidal thoughts.

In fiscal 2007, some 67,580 service members had prescriptions for the medication, according to the Defense Department.

The study, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, linked varenicline with 19 deaths and 112 serious incidents involving injury, hospitalization or emergency intervention after people took the drug to help them stop smoking.

The FDA called a link between suicidal ideation and the drug “likely” — even for those with no prior history of mental health issues — and said it’s important for physicians to monitor patients who take the drug.

“Continued reports of crashes and other serious adverse events among patients taking this drug also have raised concerns about other possible risks,” the JAMA article stated.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/military_smoking_suicide_031109w/%2e

[murielm99]

1. Chantix.

It may work well for some people, but it made me crazy. I can't begin to describe what happened to me.

It was worse when I discontinued the drug. That was another six weeks or so of hell.

[unhappycamper]

2. I had the same experience with Chantix. n/t