Surely there should be some serious risk assessment done by anyone prescribing this, as in which is more dangerous smoking or taking Chantix. I suppose in some rare cases Chantix might win out but for most people it looks like it's more dangersous than smoking imho.

It's amazing how the side effects of this drug are pretty smiliar to the psychotropics and the attention it gets, but we never hear about the side effects of the psychotropics. Psychiatrist must not be prescribing this one?

Smoking IS incredibly dangerous -- without doubt one of the leading causes of premature death and disability worldwide. The drug companies will beat this drum nonstop in support of Chantix.

What they'll try to sidestep is that there are LOTS of other ways to quit smoking: tapering off with nicotine gum or patches; hypnosis; behavioral techniques; even Wellbutrin. None of which are guaranteed but none of which have been proven to be inferior to Chantix.

I've got a friend who is doing quite well with Chantix; he especially likes their "support system" which consists of logging on to report your progress and getting e-mails of support. I'm glad my buddy's quitting cancer sticks, and apparently without ill effects. But I suspect the "e-support" is aimed mainly to retain patients who either don't need the stuff anymore or are bothered by the side effects. Clever, huh?

PS: the company is already pointing out that nicotine withdrawal is tough, and jonesing smokers have been known to go a bit crazy. I've known a lot of people to be irritable while quitting... but none who have beaten people up, or tried to kill themselves. Come on guys.

There doesn't seem a lot of point taking the drug anyway, when Pfizer state:

“Quitting smoking, with or without treatment, is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and has also been associated with the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness.”

Isn't that supposed to be the point of the drug, to "scientifically" (using the term very loosely) reduce the cravings?

If suicides takes place on the drug in perfectly normal individuals that have never had any sign of mental disturbance, then

a) the drug doesn't actually work as they claim with regard to reducing cravings, ergo its a waste of money at the very least, or

b) it causes suicidal ideation (just like it says on the label of its can of rxlist side effects).

A bit of a dilemna for Pfizer - they could pick one and get away with it: A, their drug doesn't do what it says, or B, it does, but suicidal ideation is ONE of the life threatening adverse effects?

They can't hope to get away for long with saying withdrawal brings out underlying mental illness when there's never been any sign of one, that would clearly be trying to blaming those 'invisible faries at the bottom of the garden' and even the most naive people totally unaware of the rampant scienfic fraud that goes on aren't THAT stupid.

The above Pfizer statement can be found in this article (dated 30th November 07)
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article527476.ece
regarding a "happy go lucky" man, excited about giving up and with absolutely no history of mental disorders, depression or moodiness, committed suicide after 1 month on Champix (as its called in the UK) and only a few days after he'd booked a holiday to Cuba.

The ADR reports allegedly received by the MHRA - the UK's version of the FDA and just about as...reliable and trustworthy (!) - are stated in an article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7115696.stm

With regard to smoking, because I doubted something I'd read about Japan and smoking on a recent article about the UK suicide, I checked it out. Its rather interesting! Worth a read.

Here first:

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?msg=732.1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-seniorhealth

and then to verify the situation, here:http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/45/51/38979974.pdf

I have been reading these reports on suicide and chantix and thought I'd add my two cents for what it's worth. My husband was a two to two and a half pack a day smoker for over 35 years. He smoked heavilly and sometimes chain smoked. He had tried to quit at least ten times before. Patches, gum, lozenges, and cold turkey. Nothing worked. He was irritable, cranky, nasty and his temper raging every time he tried to quit, to the point, I almost want to say I welcomed his smoking again. On Sept 14th, 2007 he started Chantix. He absolutely loved the medication. The only minor side effect that he and I noticed was some loss of libido. He did have vivid dreams, nothing violent though as some have reported. He basically had dreams about old friends and places where he'd worked in the past. He had planned on taking it for the full three months, and our doctor actually wanted him to take it for 6 months since he was such a heavy smoker. He forgot to take it a few times after dinner and didn't have any cravings that he couldn't handle, so decided to stop taking the drug after using it after 72 days. He is still not smoking, and I am confident he never will again. He only has great things to say about the drug and said, he'd still be smoking if he hadnt taken it. He especially loved the support on the web site, especially where it told him everyday how much money he had saved to that point. He has nothing but good things to say about the drug. I am thankful he didn't suffer any side effects, and am absolutely thankful I can now call him a non smoker.
Barb

well I would like to comment on chantix I took it for 80 days and I got so depressed and very suicidal. Basically I went crazy. I totally lost it in front of my parents and im 43 years old i have a daughter and i didnt want to live anymore.It scared me so much and I couldnt figure out why i was acting so depressed and had all these horrible taughts in my head. I never had any of those vivid dreams just got really depressed. So I quit taking chantix and it took while for me to feel back like myself. I work with the public and i have so many people ask me about the pill and tell them not to take it because it turned me crazy and very suicidal I just thought i would let you all know how it affected me