The link between Chantix and suicides and abnormal behavior led the FDA to mandate that a blackbox warning be placed on Chantix beginning in July 2009, advising of the neuropsychiatric effects of the drug. (See the FDA announcement here: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm170356.htm).
The FDA blackbox warning for Chantix states the following:
WARNINGS: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
Serious neuropsychiatric symptoms have occurred in patients being treated with Chantix. Some cases may have been complicated by the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal in patients who stopped smoking; however, some of these symptoms have occurred in patients who continued to smoke. All patients being treated with Chantix should be observed for neuropsychiatric symptoms including changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior. These symptoms, as well as worsening of pre-existing psychiatric illness, have been reported in patients attempting to quit smoking while taking Chantix in the postmarketing experience. Patients with serious psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder did not participate in the pre-marketing studies of Chantix and the safety and efficacy of Chantix in such patients has not been established. Patients attempting to quit smoking with Chantix and their families and caregivers should be alerted about the need to monitor for these symptoms and to report such symptoms immediately to the patient’s healthcare provider.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm as a result of the use of Chantix, seek legal help immediately to protect your rights. There is no fee and no other obligation, however, if you delay, you may lose your right to seek compensation for injuries caused by Chantix due to state-imposed time limits for filing a lawsuit.
Check out the following articles for more information about Chantix, filing a Chantix lawsuit, and finding a Chantix attorney.