Medication to help smokers quit may have dangerous side effects
November 14, 2011
Researchers have found that the stop-smoking medication Chantix can lead to blackouts, unprovoked aggression, heart problems and suicidal thoughts. That this contradicts to two other studies provides an indication as to how difficult it sometimes can be for New Jersey consumers to make decisions concerning medications that they take. It is also indicative that drug manufacturers will release their potentially dangerous drugs on the market before such products can be deemed to be safe.
The current study indicated that prior studies of the drug Chantix were too small in scale to identify all the various side effects that can result from taking this medication. For example, suicidal thoughts or depression may not immediately be assessed or result in hospitalization. The new study was much larger in scope that prior studies and looked at over 3,000 reports of psychiatric symptoms linked to Chantix.
Manufacturers of drugs such as Chantix do need to be held accountable for the long term side effects of a medication, and not just its short term effects. Often the promises made by manufacturers of such medications mask the shortcomings of use of such products. Drug manufacturers are generally in a much better position than the public as a whole in assessing the dangers of such drugs. Therefore, consumers that have experienced various psychiatric symptoms after being prescribed certain medications may want to consult with an experienced attorney to decide what their options may be.
Only around 10 percent of individuals that try to quit smoking with Chantix succeed in actually quitting smoking. There are other treatments that may ultimately be as successful without the adverse side effects.
Source: Reuters, “New study says Chantix raises suicide risks,” by Julie Steenhuysen, Nov. 3, 2011
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