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Anti-smoking Drug Chantix Linked to Suicidal, Violent Behaviour

by Medindia Content Team on Dec 3 2007 5:59 PM

Taking the drug Chantix may be an effective way to stop you from reaching for that pack of cigarettes, but it may end up making you violent.

The drug, which has been on the market in America for 18 months, is now being investigated by the US Food and Drug Administration after being linked to suicidal and violent behaviour.

This side of the drug came into focus after the case of Carter Albrecht of Dallas, Texas.

Mr Albrecht was shot dead while trying to break into a house. His family insists that he was in a fit of rage at the time, and are blaming it on his use of Chantix.

The anti-smoking drug is taken by smokers who have quit. In defence of the drug, it has been claimed that a reason why it turns people violent is because it may exacerbate any underlying psychiatric illness ensuing nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

However, the FDA has also made note of the fact that the side effects have been reported by Chantix users who have not stopped smoking and by users with no record of psychiatric illness.

Chantix is manufactured by Pfizer, a major research-based pharmaceutical company that also makes the well-known erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

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Source-ANI
KAR/P


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