In
2008 The FDA announced a public health advisory about
abnormal behavior, agitation, Chantix depression, suicidal ideation, and actual
suicidal behavior with Pfizer’s anti-smoking drug. The FDA provided updated
numbers - 491 cases of suicidal thinking or behavior, including 420 in the US
and of those, there were 39 suicides, including 34 in the US. Many of the cases were reported for patients
without any prior history of psychiatric illness. Government scientists
are conducting further investigating into the drug and, specifically, the
reports of Chantix suicide and suicidal ideation. Chantix, approved in 2006, works
by blocking nicotine receptors to the brain. Chantix is the first such nicotine
receptor partial agonist approved by the FDA. It was heralded as an alternative
to other smoking cessation drugs and nicotine replacement therapy.
