Colorado Murders Argued To Be Caused By Chantix

Since its approval in May 2006, many people have turned to Chantix to stop smoking. While the medication was initially presented as one with very few side effects, Chantix has since been associated with numerous reports of suicides and other potentially serious injuries caused by unusual Chantix mood swings and behavior while taking the drug. Pfizer, the drug’s maker, failed to warn consumers about these psychological side effects of Chantix, and lawsuits are being reviewed nationwide on behalf of users who suffered a serious physical injury or death as a result of suicide. Experts say that people suffering from depression and mental problems are more likely to smoke and

more likely to have difficulties quitting on their own. However, Pfizer allegedly ignored FDA recommendations for Chantix testing on people with psychological problems.

A Colorado jury has rejected a woman’s claim that side effects of Chantix, a popular stop-smoking drug, were to blamed for her going on a Christmas season shooting spree, leaving her stepmother dead and stepsister with multiple gunshot wounds. Christina Wanda Sears, 46, was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and a number of other charges on August 18, in connection of the shooting death of Eleanor J. Sears and the shooting of Joy L. Pigon in 2009, days before Christmas. This latest claim is just one of more than 100 Chantix lawsuits that have been filed nationwide on behalf of people who were injured or died as a result of the drug’s side effects. The complaints allege that Pfizer, who excluded individuals with depression or a history of mental illness from many clinical trials, failed to adequately research the adverse effects of their drug before marketing it heavily as an easy solution to help people stop smoking.

The pre-market trials for Chantix did not include participants with prior psychiatric conditions, and the drug makers failed to adequately evaluate the risk of suicidality, or suicidal behavior, among users of their drug. Their failure to properly research their Medication and warn about all possible Chantix side effects, deprived users of the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they wished to expose themselves to the possible risks associated with the drug.