Although the psychological side effects of smoking cessation drug Chantix, such as increased aggression and depression with suicidal thoughts, have been widely publicized, another lesser-known side effect has been cause for concern – Chantix-related diabetes has been reported in hundreds of users, and these cases may soon become part of the thousands of lawsuits pouring in around the United States.
A 2008 study from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices determined that the Food and Drug Administration had received 544 complaints related to Chantix-fueled diabetes cases between May of 2006 and December of 2007. This alone would be a staggering number – especially for a side effect not listed on the drug’s label – if it weren’t for the fact that only a small number of side effects experienced by patients end up being reported to the Food and Drug Administration. This means that the actual number of Chantix-related diabetes cases could be even higher, a scary thought – diabetes is a chronic illness, and one that causes many complications in a patient’s day-to-day life.
Medical experts do not yet know whether Chantix diabetes is caused by Chantix itself or by the actual act of quitting smoking – however, more and more evidence is pointing towards the drug, and more and more lawsuits are being filed in order to gain some form of compensation for the problems caused by health issues related to Chantix. Chantix works by mimicking the effects of nicotine on the brain, causing a release of dopamine in the nervous system – and the fluctuation on the amount of dopamine in the system, doctors believe, could lead to a loss of glycemic control, or diabetes.
Diabetes symptoms include weight loss or weight gain, elevated blood glucose, frequent urination, hunger, and thirst. Chantix-related diabetes can be permanent, and will often, unfortunately, lead to complications that can result in death.
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