Court Case to Move Forward in Chantix Wrongful Death Suit

Plaintiffs who have filed federal Chantix lawsuits claiming they were injured or killed while trying to kick their smoking habit by using the cessation drug Chantix will have their day in court in Alabama, a federal consolidation panel has ruled. Pfizer, the maker of Chantix, has been sued by and on behalf of users who say they have experienced suicidal behavior and thoughts and other serious side effects while taking the stop-smoking drug. Among the cases is one brought by relatives of Texas musician Carter Albrecht, who died on September 3, 2007.Albrecht, a well-known Dallas musician and member of Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, was fatally shot by a neighbor after he started banging on the windows of the neighbor’s house in the middle of the night. Albrecht’s relatives blamed his unusual, aggressive behavior that night on Chantix.

Researchers mined a number of databases for double-blind, randomized controlled trials involving people who took Chantix and were later found to have suffered a cardiovascular event, including heart attacks. They found that side effects of Chantix may substantially increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems by 72% over smokers who did not take the drug. Despite the limitations of the study, the senior author of the study was quoted by the New York Times suggesting that the findings are disturbing enough that the FDA should consider issuing a Chantix recall. When added to prior research that has linked Chantix use to violent behavior, suicidal tendencies and other psychological side effects, the study’s authors suggested that the drug’s benefits may be outweighed by its side effects.

Chantix was approved by the FDA in May 2006 as part of a priority review which drastically shortened the time required for the drug maker to begin selling the medication. Chantix helps people quit smoking by easing the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and by blocking some of the effects of nicotine from cigarettes, which helps promote long term smoking cessation. In November 2007, the FDA issued an early communication about reports of Chantix suicide thoughts and erratic behavior side effects. Victims suffering from the side effects of Chantix should call an experienced Chantix lawyer as soon as possible.