Chantix (generic: varenicline) is a drug used in combination with counseling to help you stop smoking. It has been on the market since U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval in 2006. In early 2008, the FDA asked Pfizer, the company that makes Chantix, to place safety warnings on the prescription-only medication because of possible serious side effects.
Common Side Effects
Like most drugs, Chantix may cause some serious and not-so-serious side effects during its use. Chantix, according to Pfizer, is intended to be used for 12 weeks, but can be used for 24 weeks if patients think they need more help quitting smoking. Others, however, have taken the medication for as much as a year. The risk of serious side effects may be increased with longer-term use of the drug. In the short term, Pfizer says that using Chantix has been reported to produce such side effects as difficulty breathing and wheezing, dry mouth, unusual dreams, headaches and nausea. According to RxList.com, nearly 30 percent of those using Chantix in clinical trials experienced nausea, many for the entire treatment period. These types of side effects tended to end when users stopped taking Chantix.
Depression
Chantix may cause depression in some people taking it, RxList.com reports. There also may be a combination effect from the drug itself and the withdrawal from smoking cessation. Depression may recede following stoppage of the use of Chantix, but it may not. The medication also may cause a reoccurrence of previous depression or other mental health issues. The Mayo Clinic recommends telling your doctor about previous illnesses of a psychiatric nature before starting on Chantix.
Suicide
Reports of suicide associated with Chantix as well as suicidal thoughts or attempts are what prompted the FDA to issue its public health advisory in 2008. The drug can cause changes in behavior that include agitation and hostility. These types of side effects along with other significant changes in behavior, should be reported to your physician as soon as possible. RxList.com recommends that anyone taking Chantix should be observed closely during treatment. Suicidal thoughts may continue following the cessation of the use of Chantix.
Mental Illness
Along with suicidal thoughts, a person taking Chantix also may develop such mental illnesses as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. While these may occur in people without a history of such maladies, they may be accelerated or they may return with use of the drug. This may extend well past the end of Chantix treatment. RxList.com recommends "ongoing monitoring and supportive care" for those who experience such problems after the use of the drug and until treatment or counseling can resolve the problems.
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