Last month, the FDA did take some action on risks associated with Chantix cardiovascular problems by warning
that people with pre-existing heart problems could face a higher risk of
cardiovascular events if they take the drug. The information, which was added
to the “Warnings and Precautions” section of the Chantix label, was based on a
study that assessed Chantix for smoking cessation in 700 patients aged 35 to 75
years with stable, documented cardiovascular disease. Chantix was approved in the United States by the FDA in 2006 as a
prescription medication to help people quit smoking. The drug works by reducing
the positive feelings that come from cigarettes, blocking the receptors in the
brain commonly stimulated by nicotine. However, the impact of the drug on the
brain has resulted in a number of reports from users who experienced sudden,
unusually aggressive behavior, thoughts of self-harm and extreme cases, Chantix suicide.
