Letter Writer Fears for Elderly Parent over Chantix Side Effects

Chicago, ILIt's one thing to read about Chantix side effects, such as Chantix suicide and other adverse reactions. It's quite another thing to live it. The words of an adult child expressing concern for an elderly parent attempting to quit smoking with the aid of Chantix gives pause to consider the reality for some.

A newspaper reader penned a letter to Joe and Teresa Graedon, who write The People's Pharmacy column for King Features Syndicate. The letter appeared in the November 14th issue of the Chicago Tribune.

"My mom (age 70) took Chantix for two weeks to help her quit smoking," the letter begins. "She stopped the drug a week ago, but she is now confused, dazed, paranoid, has hallucinations and cannot concentrate or function. This seems to be worse each day.

"I took her to the doctor this morning. He ordered a blood test and told her to come back in three weeks. I'm afraid she could be dead before then. Does this go away in time?"

The fear and concern reflected in the tone of the letter is palpable. While the elderly patient referred to does not appear to suffer from more grievous adverse reactions like Chantix aggression, there are grave concerns nonetheless.

The Graedons answered by noting that the Chantix side effects mentioned in the writer's letter "are among those listed in official prescribing information for Chantix.

"'Serious neuropsychiatric symptoms have been reported in patients being treated with Chantix...These post marketing reports have included changes in mood (including depression and mania), psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, hostility, agitation, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and completed suicide...When symptoms were reported, most were during Chantix treatment, but some were following discontinuation of Chantix therapy.'"

The Graedons go on to say that it is never clear as to how long such symptoms might persist or when they might be expected to abate. "Please get back in touch with your mother's doctor right away," Drs. Joe and Teresa Graedon write.

Chantix is a smoking cessation drug designed to target those receptors in the brain responsible for the release of dopamine, the chemical at the root of the warmth and high that comes from smoking. Many patients have reacted aggressively when taking a puff does not produce the desired pleasurable sensation they are used to. The change is such a dramatic departure for some patients that Chantix and suicide can become a possibility.