<H1 ="storyline">Pfizer's anti-smoking drug linked to depression</H1>
<H2 ="storysub">The FDA has sent an alert to doctors to see if anti-smoking treatment Chantix produces unusual behavior, reports Fortune's John Simons. </H2>
(Fortune) -- Any smoker knows what a bummer it is to quit, but Pfizer's new smoking cessation drug may trigger depression or suicidal thoughts, the Food and Drug Administration said today.
<DIV ="storytext">
The FDA this afternoon asked doctors to begin closely monitoring patients who are taking Pfizer's stop-smoking pill, Chantix. Agency officials say they have received a number of reports from patients and doctors that Chantix is responsible for depression, severe mood swings, abnormal dream states, and thoughts of suicide.
Since Chantix was released May 10, 2006, the FDA says it has received approximately 100 reports of adverse behavioral effects. Agency officials explain that they had been looking in reports regarding Chantix when they learned of Carter Albrecht, a Dallas man, who may have been taking Chantix at the time when he tried to kick down a neighbor's door last September. The neighbor shot and killed Albrecht. Family members claim Albrecht's raged may have been caused by Pfizer's drug. According to police reports, Albrecht had also been drinking.
Today's alert is not an order to stop prescribing Chantix - a twice-a-day tablet prescribed for 12 weeks - but rather a request to monitor patients. "We're beginning to look at this as an emerging safety issue," said FDA spokesperson Rita Chappelle. "We're requesting information from physicians, patients, nurses, and family members. This is an effort to let everyone know we're looking at the adverse events." Edited by: masta
<H2 ="storysub">The FDA has sent an alert to doctors to see if anti-smoking treatment Chantix produces unusual behavior, reports Fortune's John Simons. </H2>
(Fortune) -- Any smoker knows what a bummer it is to quit, but Pfizer's new smoking cessation drug may trigger depression or suicidal thoughts, the Food and Drug Administration said today.
<DIV ="storytext">
The FDA this afternoon asked doctors to begin closely monitoring patients who are taking Pfizer's stop-smoking pill, Chantix. Agency officials say they have received a number of reports from patients and doctors that Chantix is responsible for depression, severe mood swings, abnormal dream states, and thoughts of suicide.
Since Chantix was released May 10, 2006, the FDA says it has received approximately 100 reports of adverse behavioral effects. Agency officials explain that they had been looking in reports regarding Chantix when they learned of Carter Albrecht, a Dallas man, who may have been taking Chantix at the time when he tried to kick down a neighbor's door last September. The neighbor shot and killed Albrecht. Family members claim Albrecht's raged may have been caused by Pfizer's drug. According to police reports, Albrecht had also been drinking.
Today's alert is not an order to stop prescribing Chantix - a twice-a-day tablet prescribed for 12 weeks - but rather a request to monitor patients. "We're beginning to look at this as an emerging safety issue," said FDA spokesperson Rita Chappelle. "We're requesting information from physicians, patients, nurses, and family members. This is an effort to let everyone know we're looking at the adverse events." Edited by: masta
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