Chantix, Anti-Addiction Pills Causing Depression

A fascinating article by the AP today looking at the phenomenon of the stop smoking drug Chantix and other anti-addiction pills that seem to be causing depression in some users, as well as other odd reactions (eg, mania among some Chantix users). Pharma companies offer the usual counter arguments:

"The makers of the new drugs insist they are safe, although perhaps not for everyone, such as people with a history of depression. Having to restrict the drugs' use would be a big setback because it would deprive the very people who need help the most, since addictions and depression often go hand-in-hand, doctors say.

A bigger fear is that the whole approach may be in trouble. Researchers say blocking pleasure, especially the way the obesity drugs do, might take the fun out of many things, not just the harmful substances and behaviors these drugs target."

The problems with Chantix are well known and I have written about them before, as have many readers who've chimed in--pro and con--about problems with the drug. Pfizer, the drug's maker, voluntarily issued warnings about problems with Chantix earlier this year.

A researcher at NIH's addiction institute offers this:

"'It certainly diminishes my enthusiasm' to see these side effects, said Mark Egli, co-leader of medicine development at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism."

Looks like doctors may become more enthusiastic and old fashioned solutions to addictions--you know, like diet, exercise, self-discipline and other such allegedly outmoded concepts.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at April 23, 2008 12:16 PM
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