Chantix Faced With Varying Side Effect Lawsuits

There are a number of Chantix lawsuits filed individually in state courts due to Chantix suicide and other side effects. These plaintiffs are seeking compensation for their injuries from drugmaking giant Pfizer and Pfizer is doing its best to defend itself, allowing the Food and Drug Administration to place a black box warning on their product in 2009, which is the strongest warning the Food and Drug Administration is allowed to give short of recalling the drug. Many Chantix plaintiffs are bereaved family members of those who have committed suicide, but some are the ones affected by the drug themselves—many people who have attempted suicide or seriously harmed themselves or others as a result of Chantix are filing suit against Pfizer.

The first lawsuit relating to Chantix suicide was filed in July 2008 in federal court in Indiana. A man with no history or symptoms of mental illness committed suicide after taking Chantix for a few months. Multiple Chantix suicide lawsuits have been filed since then around the country. In October 2009, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated the Chantix related federal lawsuits before a single court in Alabama. Chantix may also impair the brain’s ability to derive enjoyment from other safe activities. The lack of enjoyment causes depression and suicidal thoughts. Scientists and researchers are still studying Chantix’s effect on other brain receptors.

Most Chantix lawsuits deal with suicide attempts and other psychological side effects of the drug, although heart attack and diabetes have also been reported. The irony of Chantix heart attack is that many smokers wish to quit smoking to preserve their cardiovascular health; a drug that has the potential to help them quit smoking can contribute to heart problems. Although Chantix is an exceptionally effective drug—often touted as the most effective smoking cessation drug on the market, with very high rates of success based on clinical trials—the popularity of it puts more and more people at risk for side effects. The FDa has directed Pfizer to conduct further clinical trials on Chantix, but these results are not expected until 2017.