VA reports more Chantix effects (participants had 26 'serious' events)

[sabra]

Source: WashTimes


Study participants had 26 'serious' events


War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder suffered a total of 26 serious adverse events while participating in a Veterans Affairs study of the anti-smoking drug Chantix, a VA official said Wednesday night.

"Based on current data 26 Serious Adverse Events (SAE) occurred in patients while on Chantix," VA spokesman Matt Smith said in a statement e-mailed to The Washington Times, adding that 10 of the adverse events "were of a psychiatric nature."

His e-mail also said, under a listing of "Adverse Events," that there were two cases of suicidal thoughts.

The agency previously said that 21 adverse events, only one of them serious (a case of suicidal thoughts), were recorded in the study that uses a drug now linked to psychotic and suicidal behavior, the details of which were reported in an exclusive Washington Times/ABC News investigation this week.

...

The White House on Tuesday said that the VA is doing everything it can to be mindful of the safety of these veterans in all its programs and try to help them.

"These are people who care for our veterans. They care for the troops that have been out there every day, fighting for this country. And they're interested in their safety," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Read more: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/19/house-panel-stop-drug-tests-on-veterans-now/

[Indenturedebtor]

1. Meh antidepressants do that as well

Chantix and antidepressants save lives even if they're not perfect.

[Mojorabbit]

4. No

I became suicidal on it and I have no history of psych problems. I was one of the almost 500 people written up that made them put out a black box warning on it recently.
It is a new drug and my neurologist says she has heard horror stories from other neuros about it and won't be surprised if it eventually gets pulled off the market. Vets with psych problems from being in a war zone should be monitored even more closely. Not much good to quit smoking if you kill yourself is it.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Republicons treat our US veterans like dirt

How low can the chickenhawk republicons go?

[Rageneau]

3. Two incidents of "suicidal thoughts" among hundreds of vets with PTSD is noteworthy?

How?

I bet there would be at least that many incidents of suicidal thoughts among ANY group of troubled people, Chantix or no Chantix.

[NashVegas]

5. We Sent Them Over There To Kill Iraqi Resistors

And we're so worried about making sure they don't smoke that we do this to them?

[RedLetterRev]

6. I've seen what that stuff does up close

My partner was prescribed Chantix for smoking cessation. He is one tough dude, but after a week, he couldn't take it any more. "Vivid dreams" is an understatement -- he described them as almost hallucinatory. The dysphoria, nerves, palpitations, and emotional roller-coasters while he was awake wore us both out. I can't imagine that any responsible physician would recommend that nasty stuff to someone who is already traumatized and having trouble turning their head off to sleep. The list of other possible (and noted) side effects is as long as your arm. Effdat.

AFAIC, if the reasons not to take a particular drug make a far longer list than the reasons indicating its use, then it's probably not something I'd want in my body.

After reading the teenyweenietiny print in the nome, I decided that I'd sooner try cold turkey than mess with Chantix. It is a perfectly vile and dangerous drug. The only thing keeping it on the market is lots of pharma-payola.