Weapon Carrying Workers and Chantix Prescriptions

In a recent edition of Annals of Pharmacotherapy there was a Chantix report published. One of the co-authors of the report was Thomas J. Moore. In the report Thomas J. Moore indicated that potentially dangerous side effects of the popular stop smoking drug, Chantix, give just cause for restrictions that would exclude various weapon carrying workers (police, military, etc.) from taking the drug.

As a senior scientist for drug safety and policy at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Horsham, PA, Thomas J. Moore worked alongside several colleagues to conduct the Chantix study due to safety concerns related to the popular drug used to “quit smoking.” Conclusive recommendations were offered with the intention of preventing violence as Chantix aggressive behavior that erupts amongst weapon carrying workers could have much more harmful consequences than in other cases. The report indicated that the scientists feared the Chantix side effects may cause the usually protective instincts of the weapon carrying workers to be overwhelmed by aggressive behavior (for which Chantix is quickly becoming known) and cause them to harm those they would normally devote their time to protecting.

The first reports of Chantix aggressive behavior and other related side effects were reported in 2008.
Chantix side effects and related adverse events include:

• Mood changes
• Abrupt change in personality or behavior
• Aggressive and/or dangerous behavior
• Hostility
• Suicidal behavior
• Serious, sometimes fatal, skin reactions
• Depression
• Suicide ideation
• Attempted suicide
• Suicide

Chantix aggressive behavior has been known to lead to:

• General Assault
• Homicidal thoughts and/or actions
• General aggressions
• Violence
• Uncharacteristic and inappropriate behavior; often presenting abruptly with little to no warning

The Chantix aggressive behavior and other side effects will generally begin to make themselves known within 2 days of the start of Chantix treatment. In some cases the symptoms of aggressive behavior and other, related side effects will stop along with Chantix use. But in other cases, the symptoms of Chantix side effects persist after treatment had been completed and/or stopped. It has been suggested that the adverse effects that are afflicting Chantix patients are due to the nicotine withdrawal rather than the drug itself. This is not an accurate assessment as in many cases the symptoms begin to present in the first few days of treatment during which time the patient is still smoking without restriction.

Why file a Chantix Lawsuit?

There are several reasons to file a Chantix lawsuit. First, the Chantix lawsuit is an appropriate response to the company’s failure to conduct appropriate studies of the drug prior to releasing it to the public for use. Appropriate studies would likely have offered at least indications of the potential side effects and the harm they could cause to Chantix patients. Second, a Chantix lawsuit is an appropriate response to the company’s failure to provide patients and potential patients with appropriate warnings regarding potential side effects once they were identified or even suspected.
Individuals who wish to determine their Chantix lawsuit eligibility should contact an experienced Chantix lawyer to discuss the specifics of their situation. The end result of a Chantix lawsuit will depend upon several factors including: the extreme nature of the side effects, financial consequences felt as a result of the side effects, permanence or temporary nature of the side effects, injury caused by side effects, etc.

Chantix Statue of Limitations: Time is Running Out

Potential plaintiffs in the Chantix lawsuits should consult their lawyers as soon as possible in order to avoid exclusion from litigation due to the statue of limitations in their state. Many plaintiffs will not be able to file a lawsuit after June of 2011, the two-year anniversary of the popular smoking cessation drug’s mandated black box warning by the Food and Drug Administration. This warning advises patients of the risk of psychological side effects, such as rage, increased aggression, depression, and suicide ideation. Many attorneys say that this warning is still insufficient, as the drug is still on the market and is still putting people at risk.
Statues of limitations are usually between two and four years, and the statue of limitations in Alabama – the state in which the Chantix multidistrict litigation lawsuit is being consolidated – is two years. However, in some cases, the statue of limitations can be extended by a judge, such as if a patient was led to believe by a medical professional that his or her side effects stemmed from something other than the medication. For this reason, it is especially important that potential plaintiffs consult a Chantix lawyer about whether or not they have a case, even if their side effects manifested when the drug was first released.
In almost all cases, the sooner it is filed the more likely it is to be valid, so those who think they may have a Chantix lawsuit should not delay in consulting their attorney. Pretrial proceedings are already taking place in Alabama, and while the first Chantix trial is not scheduled to begin until 2012, the window of opportunity for filing a lawsuit is closing. It is estimated that more than 2,000 Chantix lawsuits will be included in the multidistrict litigation case by the time the first trials get underway.

Zyban vs. Chantix Do They Really Compare?

Chantix is one of dozens of smoking cessation aids currently available in the United States. However, it is one of only two non-nicotine prescription drugs approved to help people quit smoking. The other is Zyban. Zyban is the brand name of the drug bupropion, which is also the active ingredient in the popular antidepressant Wellbutrin. The drug was approved as an antidepressant in 1985 and as a smoking cessation aid in 1997. Varenicline is the drug marketed as Chantix and was approved by the FDA in 2006 for marketing in the US. It is a name brand drug manufactured by Pfizer, Inc.
Both Chantix and Zyban help people quit smoking by interfering with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain. While the mechanism through which Zyban works is quite different than that of Chantix, both drugs dampen cigarette cravings and shift the balance of dopamine in the brain.

Chantix Lawsuits: Should You File?

Eligibility for filing a Chantix lawsuit is not as complicated as some may believe. Basic eligibility is determined simply by being one of the many individuals who took Chantix (a smoking cessation drug made by Pfizer) and as a result experienced any of a number of different Chantix side effects.
The side effects that are commonly associated with Chantix vary greatly but include: depression and suicide ideation and sudden aggressive behavior. In addition to the many psychiatric side effects associated with Chantix the following physical side effects have been known to occur: blackouts, diabetes, etc.
Chantix side effects occurring as a result of an individual’s smoking cessation treatment are a simple enough reason to seek counsel from an experienced Chantix lawyer. In this way potential plaintiffs are able to not only determine their eligibility, but to get a thorough case evaluation and discuss the potential for eventual injury/damage compensation.

Chantix Multidistrict Litigation

Throughout the United States over 1,000 Chantix lawsuits have been filed. Federal lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) and assigned to an Alabama court.
Many find themselves confused about the difference between multidistrict litigation and a class action. The main differences are that in multidistrict litigation the cases are consolidated for pretrial processes, but are returned to the courts where the suits were originally filed if a settlement cannot be reached. At any point during the course of pretrial workings, the defendant is welcome to settle with the plaintiffs.
Chantix multidistrict litigation cases should begin going to trial in 2012.

Chantix Lawsuits: Common Allegations

In certain cases there may be increased risks for experiencing Chantix side effects. These cases include individuals that have certain pre-existing conditions: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, etc. Those that have these and similar pre-existing conditions and were still prescribed Chantix treatment may have a stronger case against the drug manufacturer due to Pfizer’s admission that they failed to conduct testing on individuals with pre-existing mental conditions prior to releasing the drug on the market.
It is important to note that the drug was never tested with patients with any type of previous mental health issue, but that it was immediately prescribed to many that fall into this category.
Individuals who have lost loved ones due to the effects of Chantix may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of their deceased loved one. Take for instance the death of Carter Albrecht. Carter was 34 years old. He was a keyboardist for Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. He was shot dead by a neighbor in 2007 while he was in the midst of what his family alleges was a Chantix exacerbated mental breakdown resulting in sudden, wild and aggressive behavior.
It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of filing a Chantix lawsuit on your own behalf or behalf of a loved one. Either way, consulting a professional Chantix lawyer is the most efficient step towards getting a thorough case evaluation. This type of legal advice will get potential plaintiffs on the road towards reaching a resolution in the most expedient way possible.

Chantix Lawsuits Rise as Diabetes Cases are Diagnosed

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.

Chantix Side Effects Weaken Domestic Sales

Sales of stop smoking drug Chantix are falling fast in the U.S., due to reports of severe negative side effects linked to the medicine. Overseas, however, Chantix sales are booming.
In 2010, medical journal PloS ONE published a study that showed Chantix has been linked to more acts of violence than any other prescription medicine available today. It has been shown to result in violent side effects, including aggressive behavior completely out of proportion, assault without provocation, and even suicide. These violent acts were found to be twice as common among Chantix users as among users of the number two drug with violent side effects, the antidepressant Paxil.

Chantix in Japan

There have been dozens of deaths linked to Chantix side effects, and there are at least 1,200 Chantix lawsuits currently undergoing processing in the U.S. court system. But despite the widely reported and sometimes fatal violent Chantix side effects, the FDA has yet to recall the drug. Meanwhile, Chantix is flying off the shelves in Japan.
The New York Times recently reported that Japanese Chantix sales were sparked by an October 2010 tax hike on cigarettes in Japan. Japan has a reputation as one of the “smokiest” countries on the planet, and recent events seem to strengthen this perception. Such great numbers of Japanese smokers sought prescriptions for Chantix that the medicine at one point was completely sold out throughout the nation.
Now Pfizer, the drugmaker, is busy producing more “Champix” (as it is named in Japan) to meet this overseas demand. This surge in sales may to some extent make up for the dismal domestic Chantix sales.

Black Box Warning Sees Chantix Sales Slip

Sales of Chantix plummeted 36 percent between the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, in large part because of a new “black box” warning label that alerted consumers to the risk of violent Chantix side effects such as unprovoked aggressive acts and thoughts of suicide. As stated in the Times article, Chantix sales in the U.S. fell another 16.8 percent during the first three quarters of 2010.
In late 2008 an announcement was made that sparked this precipitous fall in sales. The news was that Chantix had become the most dangerous brand name pharmaceutical in the United States. ISMP, a non-profit consumer healthcare watchdog organization, conducted a report in 2008 that showed the FDA had received more reports of Chantix injuries than reports from all of the top ten best-selling brand name pharmaceuticals combined.
It is clear that Chantix is dangerous, as the great numbers of Chantix deaths and Chantix lawsuits attest. It is also clear that Japan has quite a smoking problem. The Times article stated that 36.6 percent of Japanese men are currently smokers, which is much higher than the 24 percent of U.S. men who smoke cigarettes. Each year in Japan there are 130,000 deaths from tobacco-related illnesses.
Whether these tobacco-related deaths in Japan will rise or fall after this massive Chantix consumption remains to be seen. People are also wondering whether Japan will experience a sudden rise in violent Chantix side effects, and whether Japanese Chantix deaths will be included in the latest statistics for the drug. Japan already has one of the highest suicide rates on the globe, and it is not yet known whether Chantix side effects will push this rate yet higher.

Chantix Side Effects Endanger Drivers

Chantix, a drug that was supposed to help many people by reducing their cigarette cravings and helping them quit the dangerous habit, has been called by experts the most dangerous brand-name drug on the market today – and for good reason. Chantix side effects, publicized in recent months, include serious psychological problems such as depression and suicidal thoughts, psychosis, and increased aggression. Chantix is so dangerous, in fact, that the Food and Drug Administration has required Chantix to carry a black box warning on their packaging, warning potential consumers of the close link to psychological side effects that can be serious.
However, the black box warning says nothing about the fact that Chantix can cause blackouts and other disturbances in nervous function, such as experiences similar to temporary blindness as well as other vision disturbances. This has led to a ban on the drug in sensitive environments, such as in airplane cockpits and air traffic control towers. The Department of Transportation has limited the use of the drug by truckers, and the Department of Defense has banned its use among many of its members who work with aircraft and missiles. Sudden blackouts in these situations can, obviously, be extremely dangerous – but they are dangerous for the public, too. In a year-and-a-half period, Chantix was linked to 28 road traffic accidents and 77 falls, along with 148 reports of “vision disturbances”.
Chantix, also known by the scientific name varenicline, works by temporarily increasing the dopamine released into the brain, dampening cravings for cigarettes and allowing the user to feel satisfied without having smoked. But the rollercoaster-like levels of dopamine in a patient’s brain can skew normal vital nervous functions, causing these blackouts and vision interruptions. These can be dangerous and scary for anyone doing everyday activities, such as walking down stairs or driving a car.