Chantix suicide warning strengthened by Pfizer

14 Responses to:

“Chantix suicide warning strengthened by Pfizer”

1. FDA Requires Review of Suicide Side Effects | Legal News & Updates Blog - Saiontz, Kirk & Miles Says:
   January 30th, 2008 at 8:04 am

   [...] >>PRIOR POST (1/25/08): Chantix Suicide Warning [...]

2. Lisa Says:
   February 8th, 2008 at 11:23 am

   I may have not caused physical harm to myself, but my experience has not ended. While taking the Chantix (which worked on helping me quit smoking going on 5months) I have had massive bouts of anger, to the point I went to the doctor for a prescription. I do not take any prescribed medications, I believe in healthy alternative healing unless it is something major, then I go to the doctors. I am far from being a violent person, but to this day I have what I call “Sybil” moments. The prescription medication didn’t work. I cannot stand myself and the constant annoyance I feel with everyone around me. My children are begging me to go back to smoking, it has been mentally stressful for them. I have quit in the past several times and have never experienced such anger before. I don’t want to go back to smoking, yet I need to know how long this is going to take before the anger subsides, or if it subsides. I only took the Chantix for 3weeks before I started feeling this way and it hasn’t stopped. I hope someone can help.

3. Dana Says:
   February 19th, 2008 at 11:20 pm

   Lisa, I feel your pain. I too also took chantix and am still cigarette free (almost 7 months) but I have never been a worse mother, woman or human being. I have hated myself since quitting, I hate everyone around me, I am mean, hateful, angry and volitile. This is very unnerving to my family and loved ones. I was always the uppity one. Now, I have no one. I have had several suicidal moments, several self-mutilating moments. Someone help me. I was never like this before. I am on a anti-depressant and a mood stabilizer, I was told I have harbored these feelings my whole life, you have to be kidding me!!! I have never felt like this, ever in my whole life. I would strongly advise against taking this medication, although I did quit smoking, I would never wish these side effects on my worst enemy. Someone please help me, I need justice.

4. Kris Says:
   February 20th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

   Lisa, you and I it seems are nearly identical. I started Chantix the end of October, took thru November. I “successfully” quit smoking as of November 16th, but my anger control is out out of control. My husband is a dear, and I rip his head off at any given momement. Most people annoy me to no end now. I have road rage that is of an unbelieveable scale - I am seconds away most days from actually ramming the IDIOT in front of me with my car. I am worried and don’t know where to turn. I tried Zyban on my doctor’s advice, it didn’t help.

5. J Says:
   February 25th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

   My Wife took Chantix for 3 months and quit smoking successfully. However 3 days after she stopped taking Chantix, she turned into a totally different person. She crys saying that she has no purpose in life. She screams at me and our son. She doesn’t sleep. The last few days, when I look at her and ask her what’s wrong her eyes fill up with tears and she says she’s scared and doesn’t know why she’s feeling this way. She stopped taking Chantix 1 month ago, do these side effects go away???? We have an appointment to see her Dr this week regarding her side effects. The thing is, when she received the perscription her doctor didn’t mention anything about what, it seems, alot of people are experiencing after taking Chantix. How can this be??

6. Jessica Brown Says:
   March 10th, 2008 at 3:01 am

   I took Chantix and successfully quit smoking. The only side effect I ever had was nasea. I don’t think that the problems have anything to do with the drug. These can simply be problems because they quit smoking. Many people develop the same symptoms from quitting without any drugs. I could be wrong but I had been smoking for over ten years and never even tried to quit. Chantix worked for me after though and I had no problems.

7. Michelle Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

   The problems DO have everything to do with the drug and NOT nicotine withdrawal. Dopamine is a chemical released in the brain. This drug acts on the release of dopamine, which is responsible for our moods. This is why there are so many warnings by Pfizer and the FDA. I am a normal individual working in the legal arena. I have been a closet smoker for nearly 20 years. I took Chantix for a week. Upon taking the drug, I immediately noticed I didn’t like the way it made me feel. About the third day of taking the drug as prescribed, the violent tendencies and outbursts started with fits of rage. I am a rather calm person. These rages took over me to where I was yelling and cussing and screaming at my family as well as being truly undoubtedly rude to strangers for no reason. My daughter was doing a research paper for school on the FDA website and crossed Chantix. She alerted me to the warning. I finally correlated the two. I just couldn’t understand what was wrong with me. After the fits of rage, I found myself lying in my office floor crying uncontrollably. After my daughter alerted me to the warning, I knew I had better stop the drug, stop smoking or continue smoking without the drug. I stopped smoking completely by Day 4 and discontinued the medication. It took a couple of days to return to a normal state of mind, but I have returned. Rather than see someone display what kind of rage I displayed to family, friends and strangers, I would rather tolerate the smoke and enjoy what years a person has left. I am by far not suggesting this will happen to everyone. I’m just warning you that “normal” everyday working individuals with no history of emotional breakdowns or depression, this medication can deliver one hell of a punch. Anyone who uses this medication needs to be monitored heavily by a physician, and the family needs to be fully aware of what symptoms to look for. I have known several people to quit smoking “cold turkey” to never exhibit these behaviors. I am very concerned that if an individual with an aggressive behavior or tendencies were to take this medication that it might lead to a heinous violent crime. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE CONTRAINDICATIONS OF CHANTIX.

8. FDA Warns of Risk of Committing Suicide on Chantix | Legal News & Updates Blog - Saiontz, Kirk & Miles Says:
   April 16th, 2008 at 12:04 am

   [...] >>PRIOR POST (1/25/08): Chantix Suicide Warning Strengthened by Pfizer [...]

9. Peggy Says:
   May 8th, 2008 at 10:42 pm

   It is a relieve to see that I’m not alone in this situation. I took Chantix and quit for 15 weeks. I was so proud of myself. I had finally quit and I felt great. I didn’t crave it anymore. It was a miracle so I thought. Then I stopped taking the drug and it almost cost me my 17 year marriage. I’m the mother of two wonderful children and even my eight year old noticed something was wrong. It hurt so much when my child would look at me with fear in his eyes. I had turned in to a psycho. I would scream and yell at the drop of a hat. I said the most hateful things to my husband and worst I hurt my child’s feelings. I wasn’t sleeping, I felt so angry, so hateful. The day I throw a fit in the kitchen with the pots and pans because I couldn’t make supper fast enough to my liking. Mind you my husband and children watched as this happened. I knew I had to go and buy a pack. I felt like the biggest failure when I lit up again, but I knew if I didn’t that my loving and suppotive family wouldn’t last much longer. Since I have started again we have had some stressful days in our house, but at least I don’t lose it like I did before. I’m back to my calm self. Do I wish to quit again? Yes but I think I’ll do it a different way, no drugs thank you!
   To those of you that have quit and not lit up again my hats off to you and I hope things get better for you!!!

10. Cindy Says:
    May 30th, 2008 at 11:53 am

    OMG…I thought I was all alone in feeling the way I do. I took Chantix for four weeks. I quit smoking in my 3rd week. It is now 83 days without a cigarette, and I HATE myself and my life. I wish I had never come across this dangerous drug. I thought that my side effects were a combination of the chantix over-riding my prozac (depression) and vicodine (back injury). But, as I have read, I am having the same side effects of everyone who has posted. I am just not myself any more. I can’t think straight, I go into rages especially while driving ( I even chased another driver down for cutting me off), I want to be left alone, I can’t stand being around people, I don’t want to be touched. I ended a relationship because all of a sudden I couldn’t stand being around my boyfriend or him touching me. I have no libido anymore. I hate the smell of coffee, and I used to drink at least 5 cups a day. Perfumes & shampoos are killing me. It’s like I have a bionic sense of smell now & it’s not for the better. I want to punch holes in walls and break things. I could keep going on & on with side effects…BUT, my question really is….WHEN DOES IT END?????? My doctor said this stuff could continue affecting me for up to a year. I won’t make it that long. Either I will be dead or God forbid…someone else will be. Can someone please help me….please

11. Todd Says:
    June 6th, 2008 at 7:28 am

    WOW, where do I begin?? I took chantix for 16 days total. My dad had just passed away from cancer “prostate,bone and finally brain” after a fourteen yr battle. I caught a bad case of upper respatory and went to my doc for a antibiotic. While I was there I told her that I wasn’t sleeping well due to my dads death and she prescribed some zanax to take before bed. I asked her what the greatest latest option for quiting smoking was and she said chantix. As I said I took it for 16 days , but what I haven’t said is that my rage grew so out of control that it landed me in jail on a domestic violence , resisting arrest, destruction of property,and malicisious use of a phone. My bond was $10,000.00 and my attorney is another $10,000.00. Thanks alot phfizer and i’ll see you in court. I went back to my doctor and she had no idea of what is out here happening to people and boy did I educate her. I wrote this because I here alot about rage and aggression but has anyone acted upon it ??? I’ve been with my wife for 11yrs and married for four and I love her with all my heart and would never lay a finger on her but I cant really say that I remember doing so either. My last 3 days on chantix were a blur at best . Please respond if you have or know someone who has been violent. Thank You

12. Trent Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 11:40 am

    I can understand what everyone here has said, I took chantix for about 45 days and I quit smoking after abour 15 days. After the first week I was constantly depressed and had angry violent outbursts that is entirely not like me. I have screamed at my wife who is the sweetest person in the world and i had not so much as even raised my voice in the 3 years before taking chantix. I have punched walls, thrown items randomly and felt out of control of my actions…I quit taking chantix simply because of how i felt out of control and angry all the time…I wouldnt wish these side effects on anyone.

13. brenda Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    My significant other of 17 years is taking Chantix, on it for 2 weeks now and driving us all nuts. He is angry, has no patience with anyone and we hate to be around him. If he is not complaining, making horrible comments or just plain being mean, he is asleep, which he is doing a lot more now, too. He was always very laid back, easy to get along with, never yelled or complained. He is a totally different person. I am a smoker and not quitting at this time, but have sympathy for him. I smoke outside and not anywhere near him. How are we suposed to deal with this? So far we are ignorning it and trying not be home. We have 2 kids, 7 and 6, they dont understand that “daddy is grumpy” ALL of the time and are still going to act like kids.

14. Betty Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    Well I agree with all of you except the jessica i guess you were the lucky one!!!!!!!!! I quit smoking in the 1990″s with Gods help for 5 years yeah it took a while to get through the nicotine thing BUT I NEVER GOT ANGRY. I loved people ia WAS a people person i have been my whole life i enjoyed everything life had to offer. then i started smoking again after a mother died. anyway in the summer of 2007 after months os hearing my doctor tell me i needed to quit, unknowing to her she perscribed me chantix i cut back on my smoking as recommended i thought this is wonderful i am going to quit smoking again. well it didnt happen that way i cut back alot was fairly happy for my success. but then one afternoon when my husband was taking a nap, before he took his nap i was in the back yard listening to Gods music and enjoing the i thought soon to be new freedom of nicotine well what happened next was a whirlwind i went from feeling happy about life to marching straight through the house past where my dear husband was napping and took every pill i could get my hands on. completely hated everything and everyone and obviously myself. the last thing i remember i woke up in a hospital after a thank God failed suicide attempt. im not the same person anymore i hate life i hate people im a loner i have no desire to do anything nothing makes me happy and by the way i smoke more now then ever i just dont care my poor husband a wonderful man is retired now and has to put up with my misserable self we thought when he retired we would just have the time of our lives not so i rarely get dressed anymore and i dont want to be around anyone so jessica you were the LUCKY one i hope it dosent hit you someday i never saw it coming the unlucky one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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