Sunday, November 25, 2007
Chantix and suicide---what’s going on?
The news about a possible link between Chantix (varenicline) and suicide has started making its way around the blogosphere. Chantix binds to a4b2 nicotinic receptors in the brain providing weak agonism while at the same time blocking nicotine. Although this prevents complete nicotine (and consequently dopamine) withdrawal by providing a low level of receptor stimulation it blocks those dopamine rushes people get from cigarettes. That may not only take the fun out of smoking but it may also take away your patient’s antidepressant. In some hard core smokers those dopamine surges have powerful antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
I tried to kill myself 4 days after starting this drug. I have never attempted suicide in my life, I have too much to live for. I just got a call from a friend who's mom tried to commit suicide today and guess what she started taking a week ago....chantix of course. This drug is evil.
Terri Cosgriff Ohio
My 25 year old son died Nov 10. He had been taking Chantix for about 3 weeks, and the last few days was unable to sleep,saying he was having terrible dreams about killing himlself, finding himself hanging, etc.He was an alcoholic and drug addict who was trying to clean up his life and stop the smoking before the birth of a son due in January. I now wonder if the Chantix had anything to do with his sudden death.
I have taken Chantix for over 10 weeks and have had zero side effects. I smoked for 39 of the past 44 years. To me, it is a miracle drug.
I have been on Chantix for 7 weeks and it has saved me. I have tried quitting with patches, gum, and cold turkey. Nothing has worked. I have been smoke-free for 61 days...the longest I have ever gone. I did have withdraws and depression for the first week...but I had that everytime I tried to quit. It passed after a few days. I think this drug is a life-saver and highly recommend it to all. People with a history of depression/mental illness maybe need to be montored if they take this drug.
i too tried and failed miserably to quit smoking many times before. the second week on chantix i completly lost all cravings to smoke. This to me is a miracle drug BUT i seriously recommend not drinking while on it. Only then did I get really negative and down
my brother in law just tried to kill him self...totally out of character...and suprise suprise...on chantix.
I've been on Chantix for 17 days, and have had some vivid dreams at first, but have not in over 7 days. I have absolutly no thoughts of suicide. Homicide maybe, but not suicide...
I've been smoking for over 30 years, and have tried to quit many times with no success. I have been smoke free for over a week now, and I feel that I may actually succeed this time.
Seems to me that Chantix is working for me. I can see were it might affect each individual differantly. For the seemingly few that it affects negatively, that is unfortunate, and maybe closer observation and more frequent visits are required by the attending physician...
As for me, I'm greatful for it.
After taking Chantix, not only did my moods change, but my personality did as well. I became an irratable monster, easily provoked into a blinding rage. I constantly had a feeling of "I can't take this anymore." I have stopped smoking and stopped taking Chantix. I am still suffering from the side effects. I am not myself.
AQuatro WV
my girlfriend attacked me with knife while she was on CHANTIX. I had to defend myself and as a result of taking the knife from her I WAS ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY!!!!
My fiance and I started taking Chantix together in early 2007. I quit taking it after about 3 weeks because of the nausea side affect. My fiance continued taking it. Neither one of us were big drinkers, yet I found him having a VERY difficult time sleeping and, consequently, he became very depressed. His thinking became eratic and very irrational - NOBODY could convince him that the thoughts he was thinking were ludicrous. He became a very different person. He committed suicide on April 25th, 2007.
I started Chantix at the end of November 07 and was healthy and stable, I came off the drug in Feb of 08. 4 moanths after coming off the drug I tried to kill myself twice within a 1 week span and had another suicide thought within 2 weeks after getting out of the hospital. I now suffer from severe anxiety and depression since then I have been diagnosed with Mood Disorder NOS. I was not aware of any of this prior to taking the drug and totally out of character for me. Everyone, family, friends, etc. were supprised that "I" would ever attempt suicide. I did quit smoking and yes thought it was a life saver until I realized that I was going to die either smoking or by taking this drug....
The result that chronic smoking may actually have a role in the etiology of depression may be surprising, as nicotine as such – in short term – is assumed to have some positive effects on mood. It has been proved that if you want to stop smoking than you can also have lower depression risk. http://www.chantixhome.com/
My son hung himself 10/9/08 after taking Chantix for a short time. He had bad dreams and his personality went from happy and entertaining to fits and fears. He was 33 and my only child. His friends and clients called him Robert Joseph.
i have been taking Chantix for 2 weeks. After the 3rd day, I was fine until something bad happened at work and I became very depressed and almost suicidal. thankfully, I remembered this as a side effect and shook myself out of it. I have been having some totally whacked out dreams lately and considering taking myself off this stuff. My cravings have dropped remarkably, only smoking when around smokers, and people are saying i have been more laid back since starting it, but I think today will be my last day on this stuff and ill use willpower to quit.
July 18th 2008 my husband left our marriage of 35 years 2 grandchildren, our business, our friends and a wonderlife. 500 people attended his funeral in shock. Chantix killed my husband.
Istarted taking chantix 3 weeks ago I am now at the end of my third week I do not have thoughts of suicide but I have become a bitch to everyone I know!My freinds and family would like for me to quit the drug. go back to smoking. I am going to seek a therapist immediately and go from there.my first three weeks I thought were a miracle.
Anyone who thinks coming off of nicotine may cause suicide has got to be fooling themselves. How many people do you know who have quit `Without` that pill that killed themselves. Get real people, just a little common sense works wonders.
Within seconds of taking the day 2
pill i was extremely suicidal. Call a doctor!? When you plan on doing something you are not going to call a doctor.
A doctor studied up on this for me after our conversation about it. He came back with this is one of the most dangerous meds he has ever seen.
It affects the `Emotional Part of the Brain`. That took my ability to make the choice to call a doctor.He said this was one of the most dangerous places to go and if Def. should be taken off the market. But...its making, you guessed it...MONEY.
This was Not my personality at all. I started getting heart palpatations 24/7 and day and night sweats, can Not get cool enough anytime of the year. My world totally changed with that second pill. I no longer remember the person i was before that on 10/07.Without certian medications i cannot leave my house.
We have to remember, this at the time was what my doctor told me a `New Drug`.
The attitude i'm seeing is pure Hate for smokers, even though it does not affect them personally. What ever happened to the Drug war and Alcoholics that kill countless people on the roads, with guns, beatings etc. (My own experiences).
I would suggest if you have Any complications from this med, to have an MRI. I have Pituitary tumors. at the point i have no idea if the med itself could have caused them but i wouldn't leave it to chance, 1 in 5 people have them,(proven in Autopsys) www.pituitary.org. most not knowing and being misdiagnosed for years.
Enough is enough.
Friends and family that tried this drug, eventually just return to smoking after the program is done. Works great as long as you are taking this brain chemcial and it is amazing you really no longer "want" a cigarette. However, long term is not promising as I KNOW someone who has gone thru this 3 times and stops smoking until that series over and then starts smoking again after a period of less or no drug is used.
I say it is a failed drug for anything but short term success.
Post a Comment