Chantix Scrutinized for Suicidal Tendencies

Physicians across the country are beginning to hold Chantix, the smoking cessation drug, with a high level of scrutiny. Recent reports have alleged suicidal thoughts and tendencies in many patients using the drug to stop smoking. Generally, the findings have been that Chantix wields this affect upon patients that have a history of mental illness.

This is why more and more physicians are beginning to screen patients for a history of mental illness before issuing Chantix for smoking cessation. The evidence of the harmfulness of Chantix upon persons with mental disturbances has surfaced over the past two to three months.

The FDA has implemented an investigation into the correlation between Chantix and the attack of suicidal thoughts and tendencies in mental patients. Smokers around the nation are lauding it as a wonder drug that has really helped them stop smoking. Health professionals are less optimistic about the claim.

Suicidal Tendancies

Smoking is the number one lifestyle change patients make that physicians feel with have the biggest impact upon health. This is due to the fact that smoking has a negative impact on all organs in the body. It is estimated that nearly 438,000 people die on annual basis due to complications of smoking. Some of the complications that surface from the habit are: cancer, heart disease, and respiratory malfunction.

Chantix on the chemical level is a blocker of nicotine to neural receptors or the seat of "feel good" brain responses. Nicotine is unable to make the usual connection with the receptors when Chantix is in the system. Normally, dopamine would be released to the smoker when nicotine makes the connection.
Some typical after effects of taking Chantix are constipation, gas which may or may not be accompanied with vomiting, odd dream patterns, and sleep disturbances which cause some patients not to be able to sleep.

More than 5 million patients have ingested Chantix across the globe. So far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have acquired 491 reported cases of depression and suicidal thoughts. A total of 39 existing cases of suicide have been reported as well. Public concerns surfaced after the death of a musical artist, Carter Albrecht of Dallas, TX. His death shed light on the harmful effects of Chantix on people with mental conditions. The former band member of Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians assaulted his girlfriend then broke down his neighbor's door. This was after Albrecht had been drinking a lot of alcohol and allegedly ingesting Chantix. His behavior was said to be uncharacteristic of him.

Chantix has caught on so fast since studies have shown that people are three times more likely to quit smoking with Chantix. Nicotine gum and patches are known to double the ability of smokers to kick the habit. Studies have not been done to compare the effects of Chantix to Nicotine gum and patches. However, Chantix and Zyban have been compared and are found to have similar results on the amount of time it takes patients to stop smoking.

By Delsia Hartford

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