Chantix Lawsuit Launched Over Carter Albrecht Death

Dallas, TXChantix suicide, the most grievous and profound of Chantix side effects associated with the smoking cessation drug, has galvanized public opinion with regard to the one-time opus to smoking cessation. Various Chantix warnings not only include the possibility of Chantix and suicide, but also Chantix aggression.

The latter is what happened the night musician Carter Albrecht died. It was September 3, 2007, when Albrecht was shot and killed while banging on a neighbor's door. WFAA TV in Dallas reported that the musician had been drinking.

He had also been taking Chantix in an attempt to quit smoking. About two years to the day after they lost their son to a tragic event, Albrecht's parents have filed a federal lawsuit against Pfizer, the maker of Chantix. Ken and Judy Albrecht allege through their lawsuit that Pfizer marketed Chantix as safe, all the while harboring knowledge that it wasn't.

The September 1 edition of the Dallas Observer reveals that Albrecht's parents had long since considered suing the manufacturer. However it was the July, 2009, action by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which mandated a 'mental health issues' warning for Chantix, that finally prompted the Albrechts to act.

According to the Observer, the FDA's sensational July warning prompted a flood of additional Chantix lawsuits.

Chantix Aggression One of Many Chantix Side Effects

For Ken and Judy Albrecht, the road ahead promises to be tough—and various unsavory aspects of that fateful night in September, 2007, will be rehashed.

Carter Albrecht, a respected musician and well-liked amongst his peers and the community, allegedly assaulted his girlfriend before storming over to a neighbor's home to bang on the front door.

Fearing an intruder, the occupants shot Albrecht dead. The young musician had been drinking, with three times the legal (driving) limit in his system. The Albrechts suspect, should their case actually go to trial, Pfizer will seize on the alcohol consumption.

"Absolutely," Ken Albrecht told the Observer. "Absolutely. Yes, it's going to be difficult, I am sure. We didn't go into this blindly. They have the best attorneys in the world, the pharmaceutical companies, because people die when they take their drugs. So we'll see. It'll be a long, drawn-out affair... "

That said, Albrecht had recently started on Chantix—and the aggression exhibited by Albrecht on the night he died was not in character. Aggression is one of the Chantix side effects, together with suicidal ideation and mental health events.

Ken and Judy Albrecht tell the Dallas Observer that they understand Pfizer will be on the defensive. "Because when people die from your product, you have to dig in your heels. The only alternative is to admit that you screwed up."