The psychological side effects of smoking cessation drug Chantix – depression, suicidal thoughts, increased aggression, mood swings, and homicidal thoughts – have been publicized widely after hundreds of patients have reported these side effects after being prescribed the drug, and many lawsuits seeking settlements for harm caused by these psychological issues are currently pending. There is another potential side effect, however, caused by Chantix that many people don’t seem to know about – Chantix diabetes.
Chantix, known generically as varenicline, was approved by the FDA in 2006, after it had been reviewed for six months. Normally, drugs must undergo a 10-month review by the Food and Drug Administration before they are approved or disapproved for distribution on the pharmaceuticals market. Chantix’s initial clinical trials seemed promising – the drug helped 23 users quit smoking for a year, which was more than twice as effective as the placebo others were given – and initially seemed safe, with no apparent indication of potential to aggravate or cause psychological or physical problems. However, this idea was very quickly overturned, with the Food and Drug Administration announcing in 2007 – only a year after the release of the drug – that there had been numerous reports of Chantix users experiencing severe psychological side effects as a result of the drug. In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration required that Pfizer place a “black box” warning on Chantix. A “black box” warning is the strongest warning an agency can impose on a drug, and emphasized the risk of causing psychological symptoms. And now, new evidence is showing that Chantix may be linked to physical side effects as well.
Chantix has been associated with loss of glycemic control and increased glucose levels. This link is still being monitored by legal and medical professionals, but Chantix could face liability if it is determined that they have under-reported the drug’s potential to cause diabetes.
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