Caution Concerning Chantix®, the Newest Smoking Cessation Aid
  Contributed by: Brandon French, Pharm.D. Candidate
                        UMKC School of Pharmacy

You may have heard reports on the news talking about side effect concerns associated with Chantix^®, a new and popular medication for those who are trying to kick the smoking habit.  A new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report warns of behavioral changes that have been seen in some patients being treated with Chantix since its release.

So what exactly do 'behavioral changes' mean? 
Behavioral changes seen in patients include serious psychiatric symptoms of agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, and attempted and completed suicide. 

Why would a stop-smoking drug cause these side effects?
It is not known exactly why people have been experiencing these side effects with Chantix, but it is thought to be related to how the medication works in the body.  Chantix acts on nicotine receptors in the brain and blocks them, essentially lowering the 'good' feeling that a smoker gets from taking a puff from a cigarette.  Without the positive feeling from the cigarette, the smoker has less motiva

tion to want to continue to smoke.  Unfortunately, since nicotine is an addictive substance, going without nicotine can cause nicotine withdrawal in some people, which can be characterized by anxiety, mood swings, irritability, depression, as well as other similar symptoms.  There have been reports of these side effects in both patients who had stopped smoking and patients who had continued to smoke during Chantix therapy so it cannot be said with certainty whether or not Chantix is the specific cause of these behavioral changes.

So how do I know if Chantix is right for me?
Before starting Chantix, you should tell your doctor if you have any serious psychiatric illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia because Chantix has the potential to worsen these illnesses.  After starting the medication, you and your family should be sure to stay alert and inform your doctor if you experience any changes in thoughts or behavior, such as depressed mood, any thoughts of suicide, or occurrence of vivid or unusual dreams.  Lastly, Chantix

is not the only available option for smoking cessation.  Other available prescription and over-the-counter products include bupropion (Zyban/Wellbutrin) and nicotine replacement preparations such as gums, lozenges, patches, and inhalers, which should used under medical supervision.

While Chantix has proven that it is definitely a useful smoking cessation aid, these new precautions should be taken into account before starting and while taking this Chantix.  For information about Chantix visit www.chantix.com.  Talk to your pharmacist or doctor for further information regarding aids to quit smoking.