Washington, DCA recently released expenditure report reveals that international pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer spent roughly $4.3 million lobbying congress and federal agencies in the first quarter of 2010 to include items like smoking cessation medications in the health care overhaul bill, despite the inherent risks of Chantix suicide.
While some of the funding was spent serving special interest partnerships like veterans' health organizations, the bulk of the money was spent on aspects of the legislation that could lead to greater use of the company's products, including insurance coverage for smoking cessation products like Chantix.
This action has sent up a red flag to many health advocates, who expressed concern that increased prescription and availability of Chantix could lead to a rush of suicides.
These concerns stem from a 2007 black box warning about potentially dangerous Chantix side effects, including aggression and suicidal thoughts. The drug works by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain - a factor which can greatly exacerbate pre-existing psychiatric conditions like suicidal thoughts and aggression. The FDA has reported roughly 491 cases of suicidal tendencies or behavior directly linked to usage of Chantix.
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