Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Health Canada has received 818 reports of adverse side effects caused by the smoking cessation drug Chantix (marketed in Canada and elsewhere as Champix) since it first became available to Canadians nearly two years ago. The majority of complaints concerned psychiatric problems. Chantix is known to cause or exacerbate a spectrum of psychiatric and physical reactions, including moodiness, depression, violent behavior, lack of sleep, blackouts, and suicidal thought and actions.

Last month we reported that Health Canada was preparing to strengthen warnings on Chantix labels. However, Health Canada still has not taken action.

In a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Health Canada sent the CBC an email saying that “new advice for health professionals and Canadians will come in the near future.”

Meanwhile, Chantix continues to jeopardize the lives of many Canadian citizens, some of whom are not aware of the drug’s risky side effects.

According to the CBC report, Hamilton resident Erin Kerr had been taking Chantix for two months when she realized her personality had shifted and she had become intolerant, argumentative, and emotional, all of which were unlike her usual self.

Then one day the changes became even worse. Kerr found a sudden irrational appeal in taking her own life. She described her experience to the CBC.

“As I’m driving along the [Hamilton] mountain brow, I just thought that driving off … would have been the easy way out at that point and would solve all my problems,” she said.

Fourteen-year-old Ellaina Janewicz lost her father Thom Janewicz early last month when he committed suicide. His ex-wife, Gayle Nakamoto, said that Thom had struggled with depression in the past, but that it seemed to be “under control.” Thom was a 48-year-old engineer and was about to begin a new job when he started taking Chantix.

Ellaina keeps a journal to help her cope with her loss. She read an excerpt of it to the CBC.

“What will I do now? I have no father,” Ellaina said, reading from the journal. “I’m here with my mother alone and my brother. I’m very confused. I’m not sure what to do.”

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration strengthened its warnings a year ago. Despite the new warnings, however, the FDA still received more reports of adverse effects linked to Chantix use than any other drug.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 8:49 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.