Pfizer Defends Chantix, But Warns Of Mood And Behavior Changes
June 19, 2008 by Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Inc. has gotten some seriously negative press regarding Chantix, the drug that’s supposed to help people stop smoking.
For example, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the Food and Drug Administration both made similar reports dealing with a link between Chantix and suicide, seizures, and traffic accidents, airline pilots and air-traffic controllers have been federally banned from using Chantix, and across the Internet, everyday folks are reporting the negative mental side effects of Chantix (try Can Chantix Cause Depression?, Are Chantix Side Effects Worth the Risk?, and one woman’s story about her daughter’s “hellish experience”).
Neither the public nor Pfizer have let this negativity go unnoticed. According to Pfizer Counterattacks on Chantix Safety Concerns,
Sales of Chantix have fallen by about one-third since January, when the FDA report came out, and Pfizer’s shares have fallen 30 percent in value in the last year.
So, Pfizer has launched a crusade to repair the reputation of Chantix as well as cover their own asses as far as safety and Chantix side effects go. The company has published advertisements in five major newspapers in America to let readers know about the benefits of Chantix as well as the possible risks and how to react to them (i.e., call your doctor). Pfizer has also sent letters to health care providers across the country and is planning to hold “special briefings” for reporters.
As someone who is addicted to nicotine, I don’t want to take a drug to stop smoking. Mind you, I do want to stop smoking, I just don’t want to take a pill to do it.
If you want to stop smoking, but would rather steer clear of medications to help you stop smoking, consider checking out Nicotine Anonymous. I had no idea this group existed until this morning. Unfortunately, there are only three groups in my state – the closest of which is over three hours away. Still, I’m interested.
I’m also interested in knowing if any of you have experienced any negative side effects after taking Chantix, or know someone who has. Would you recommend the drug to someone who wants to help kicking the smoking habit?
If you have a mental illness and are still living the life you love, head on over to This Is Why I ROCK! and enter!
i am living life to the maximum i agree with you lets rock,no stress ,no depression and no mental illness
……………………………………….
gin davis
http://www.dual-diagnosis.net
@ gin davis – Good for you! You should enter the series!
Started Chantix on 6-9-08. I am bi-polar with mostly depressive moods. I have only reached a few hypo-manic stages in the past before I regulated my two other meds. Now, on Chantix, my family and I have noticed some very positive effects, yet recently we have also seen some other unpleasant side effects. The good of it all is that I have more energy, concentration and focus and I am accomplishing more household projects than I have in 4 years (my depression used to keep me overwhelmed when faced with tasks). However, I have become more self aware of my mood and behavior in the last 5 days. For some reason, I have become intolerable to be around. Irritable, easily agitated, angry, aggressive, frustrated, and less than 5 hours of sleep a night. (I used to average about 8-9 hours a night, except on weekends. Bipolars need 3 things consistenly: meds, sleep, and no drugs or alcohol). This is greatly affecting my personality and behavior. I have been mean to my family and scream often instead of my regular communicative voice. I also got a speeding ticket last week and haven’t had one in 12 years. I am fighting impulsive shopping urges (bi-polar shit). It hit me at 2 am (in a moment of clarity) this morning that I possibly have become more manic than I have ever experienced in the past and I only now realize it. I have never felt like this before and that is the only conclusion I can come to. I apologized to those I hurt and called my doctor this morning. I have been instructed by the nurse to skip my dose today until the doctor makes a decision. I HATE THIS AND DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW I FELT SO GOOD AND NOW THIS SUDDEN CHANGE. The info on Chantix clearly states that the drug may cause mental illness to worsen. But I haven’t wanted to smoke and if I try, it is not fullfilling. Your thoughts?
Is this worth it? Thanks for reading this!
Totally freaked,
Skye
@ Skye – Should you keep taking a drug that’s helping you to quit smoking (which is a good thing) even if it’s giving you dangerous mental health-related side effects (which is a bad thing)? Wow, that is a tough question!
It’s like trying to decide whether to put your physical health or your mental health first.
Is there an alternative for you? For example, have you tried other methods to help stop smoking? Gums, patches, that kind of stuff? Things that would maybe keep up the momentum and will power you may have built while on Chantix?
Keep me updated on what your doctor suggests! And I really do wish you the best of luck – I admire anyone who’s trying to quit smoking.
hi.this will be my 2nd try on chantix to quit smoking (stop),But i must say i have had mood swings and still do.my kids and wife do see a change in my mood.they say i get am short with them,and say it all started when i started chantix. I also remember crying on the way to work one morning after taking chantix just 4 weeks.I dont know where im going with this blog, i guess i am just giving my 2 cents good luck to all who take chantix….P.S. I HAVE STARTED TO RELIZE WHEN I FEEL A BAD MOOD COMING ON. I DO LOVE ALL MY FAMILEY VERY MUCH AND I THANK THEM FOR HANGING IN THERE……..
@ dhoffman – Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with Chantix. Have you talked to your doctor about the mood swings it seems to cause you? And if so, what does s/he have to say about it?
my boyfriend (of 2yrs) has been on chantix and it seems that shortly after taking it, (about 2 days or so) his mood changed. He is very annoyed at the slightest thing. He doesnt see his family a whole lot, so that are not a good source of saying if his mood has changed or not….I see that he has become very distance towards me. Sometimes he will be happy and we can talk and other times he pulls away from my or pushes me away and says “stop”. This has been going on for three 1/2 weeks and I dont know what to do.Do I contact the doctor who put him on it? I work in the medical field so I am aware of HIPPA or should I call his employer, whom I do know. I dont know what to do anymore, if this keeps up I am going to ask him to leave my house. could someone please reply asap..
I honestly dont know if i would recommend this for anyone. He is still smoking and his sleep is being disturbed.Also, since he started Chantix, he has been sleeping on the couch and refuses to sleep in our bed anymore.
thanks for any opinions….
R
@ rgb – Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us; I know it must be difficult, and I’m sorry you and your boyfriend are going through this. I honestly don’t know if talking with his doctor would accomplish anything, simply because I don’t know if his doctor would discuss it; however, if you bring it to his doctor’s attention, it may at least prompt him/her to discuss the Chantix side effects with your boyfriend. Do you know his doctor, and is his doctor someone you could go to and say, “Hey, I know you can’t discuss his health care with me, but I thought you should know about these side effects I’m seeing…”? Overall, I think it’s a fine line and one you should choose to walk or not walk only after you’ve evaluated the pros and cons of it all.
As far as his employer goes, that may just cause problems for everyone in the long run.
Even if he doesn’t see them a whole lot, is your boyfriend close with his family, relationship wise? If he is, maybe they could offer you some advice on how to handle the situation. I often find that family members are the best “first line of defense” kind of folks to go to when things like this happen. Even if they haven’t directly seen the effects Chantix seems to be having on his moods, they may still be able to offer some words of wisdom on how to handle the situation.
And, finally, I have to ask – have you talked to your boyfriend about this? His mood swings, behavior changes, etc.? Do you think catching him during one of his good moods and bringing this all to his attention is feasible?
Regardless of what you decide to do, I hope it works out for everyone involved. I wish you the best of luck, and please feel free to stop by and update.
Hi
thanks for your quick response…i did end up talking my boyfriend and, yes, he knew his mood was changed after he starting taking Chantix,so he stopped taking it…he is going to try some other form of smoking control/quiting. Thank God for that…!!
Again, Thank you!!
Rgb
@ rgb – Well, that is just awesome news! I’m really happy for both of you. I wish your boyfriend the best of luck in his goal to quit smoking, and kudos to you for being such a supportive girlfriend
Intersting everyone is emailing at2,3,4am
I started Chantix 3 weeks ago and it was amazing. I simply quit smoking. After all of the failed attempts this was almost easy. Well almost. At week 3, I became that crazy, psycotic person that you’ve seen on Law and Order. Really, I am a very tolerant and responsible person. My husband and I really do love each other even after 5 years of marriage. Well atleast until I startd chantix. I hate everyone! I am absolutely furious with everyone I know. I don’t care what anyone thinks period. I used to worry a bit about how thingd might look from the outside. Now F@#$ IT. I am typing at 4 am Because my husband, My BFF. Is doubting me, disliking me or in my word hating me. Never thought I was suicidal cuz I would never actually do anything but I sure am thinling about how much better off my friends and family woul be with out me!
I too am experiencing the mental side effects. I have been married for 10 years and suddenly I am ready to leave because of the chantix. I have seperated twice before, both times while taking chantix. This is my 3rd try on this drug since I am so desperate to quit. I have 2 premature grandbabies that just don’t need to be around it and this is like my last chance. My newest grandson will be leaving the hospital within the month. I have been 24 days now with out a cigarette. It was real easy this time to quit but the mood swings are worse than ever before. Does anyone know if there is a pill we can take for that while taking the chantix? I will be talking to my doctor this week so if I learn anything I will let everyone know.
I too am taking Chantix and experiencing very heavy mood swings. I have been taking it for about 3 weeks. Quitting smoking has been rather easy, but the associated mood swings are almost not worth it. My husband is ready to leave me because of how I have been treating him. And this all started right when I began the Chantix. I had taken Chantix in the past (a couple of years ago) and did not have this mental reaction. But I have it now. I just called my doctor and I am waiting to hear back. Quitting smoking is very important to me, but my marriage is not worth losing in the meantime.