Editorial Note: On October 16, there is an FDA hearing about Chantix and violence which is widely expected to feature an effort by Pfizer to roll back the warnings on the drug. One of the fascinating things about the Chantix story has been to see perfectly normal friends who use it to stop smoking become very agitated, and distressed. I don’t personally know anyone who has committed suicide or violence, but I know a lot who say yes they can see how this could happen. And in this case it’s very difficult to see any mental illness that might be causing the problem.
Below are a group of cases from the FDA database sent by Tom Moore of the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) who along with Public Citizen and others have lodged a Citizen’s Petition arguing for a strengthening of the warnings – not a weakening. This is an important issue. These warnings have saved lives. We are facing a new onslaught on the ability of either doctors or patients to be able to believe the evidence of their own eyes when it comes to adverse events.
Case 1: Assault
By the third day of taking Chantix I was completely out of control. I woke my boyfriend up in the middle of the night and started physically beating him. I contemplated suicide about 5 times a day and contemplated homicide about 3 times a day.
This case shows early onset prior to smoking cessation, sleep disturbance, homicidal ideation, suicidal ideation, and later but not shown here, attempted suicide. Female, age 24.
Case 2: Terrifying nightmares
She had a nightmare on 23 Dec 2007 that she was lying in prison laying on a cold wet floor shackled to a corpse. On 26 Dec 2007 she wanted to get the key to the gun cabinet and shoot her husband.” She stopped taking Chantix and “everything setting her off resolved on 28 Dec 2007.”
This case shows a sleep disturbance so vivid it approaches a hallucination, and is followed by an apparently unrelated episode of homicidal ideation and dechallenge. Female, age 43.
Case 3: Anger/aggression
She swung at her mother (who was in her late 90’s) due to the extreme rage as she almost struck her and missed. She went out in the back yard and broke a weed wacker, a couple of glasses, the frame work on a couple of lamps, she threw concrete in the backyard and she began stabbing chunks of wood with the garden tools to get her rage out.
In this case report reviewed by FDA OSE the index event was suicidal ideation, but the narrative excerpt portrays uncontrolled aggression/anger and senseless violence.[4]
Case 4: Screaming and crying
On Saturday while at home she got into a verbal argument with her mom over a minor issue and reports now that she was ‘totally out of hand’ and she was unable to control her impulses and was yelling and screaming and crying. She acutely became suicidal and also became homicidal threatening her mother with a shotgun. Her mother fled the house and called police. She locked herself in the bathroom and eventually calmed down.
Suicidal behavior and senseless aggressive acts occur together. Female, age 21
Case 5: Suicide attempt
After 2 weeks of taking Chantix, I flew into a fit of uncontrollable rage after consuming alcohol one evening – resulting in me beating my boyfriend, followed by an attempt to take my own life. An overnight stay in the ER followed.
Senseless aggression and suicide attempt. Symptoms resolved on discontinuation. Female, age 28
Case 6: Homicide
Appellant was nineteen years old and had been in the service for approximately a year. Prior to enlisting, Appellant was an active member of his community and led various volunteering and mentoring projects as an Eagle Scout. Upon turning eighteen, both Appellant and his twin brother enlisted in the United States Army. After successfully completing Infantry Training and the Airborne Course, they were both selected for an appointment to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS), class of 2009. [Was temporarily assigned to a supply room at Fort Benning and prescribed Chantix].
Appellant had been experiencing “new and strange thoughts” including a “person [was] telling me . . . dangerous things that arent [sic] me.” These included violent thoughts of killing someone. On May 18, 2008, one month after the Army doctor prescribed Chantix, Appellant fatally attacked Private (PVT) Bulmer while he was sleeping, stabbing him to death. Prior to this attack, Appellant did not know nor had he ever interacted with PVT Bulmer.
This case includes nightmares, psychosis, homicidal ideation, senseless act, and homicide. Male, age 19. Extracted from appeals court judgment reversing his murder conviction because the judge did not allow a CHANTIX defense of involuntary intoxication.[28]
Brian says
UK cases linked to Champix / Chantix:
2009: Andrew Freeman, waiter, 26 (Blackpool). Hanged
2009: Lilian Owens, classroom assistant, 44 (Manchester). Jumped from bridge
2010: Howard Venables, 55 (Blackpool). Set car on fire and sat in it
2011: Andrew Case, 33, fatally stabbed his wife, smothered their 2 daughters, then hanged himself (Hampshire).
http://antidepaware.co.uk/other-prescription-drugs-linked-to-suicide/
Johanna says
A couple of RxISK’s friends on Twitter have asked if there’s a general petition that citizens can sign onto.
I’ve got a related question: If people have an experience with Chantix they would like to have reported at the October 16 hearing, they should get in touch RIGHT AWAY. Who should they contact?
Leonie (For Shane) says
Omer Jama, 39, a television editor, had no history of mental illness or depression when he was prescribed Chantix. 2 months later he stabbed himself to death. His family called for an investigation into the safety of the drug after the coroner recorded an open verdict. Naturally, Pfizer insisted a direct link between Champix and psychiatric problems had not been officially established and stated instead that “nicotine withdrawal can lead to mood swings and behavioural changes”. Shame on them.
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-560250/Sky-Sports-executive-stabbed-death-taking-controversial-stop-smoking-drug.html
Noel Hershfield says
Impressive.These are anecdotal instances.How good is this?Any studies using placebo that show this whole class of drugs can cause these episodes?
Connie says
I started Chantix about 6 weeks ago, I have been getting absolutely furious over small stuff, screaming, yelling, wanting to break things. I know it’s the Chantix, does this pass or get worse?
Robert says
Let me tell you…. not an hour ago I could not for the life of me find my watch… legitimately missing from my box. I threw a fit!!!! Tossed my entire room and caused my wife to bug out. This is not like me at all. Usually I will look, find it or not and move forward. I am a bit worried that this may be causing more stress and anger/rage issues. Time to visit the doctor
Kyle says
I had been using chantix for about 3 months. My brother passed away in July. Which set me in a depressed way. 2 weeks ago. I threatened to hurt someone I love. I immediately went for help. They advised me to stop chantix. I have been doing a lot better since.
Leigh Thomas says
I took champix to pack in smoking and start a family with the love of my life. I blacked out in the middle of night and shouted loads of horrible abuse at my girlfriend. I had no memory of this taking place and still don’t. A week later my girlfriend and I went out for drinks I was obnoxious rude completely out of character, I started giving people abuse, strangers, again I have no memory of this happening later that night I assaulted my girlfriend went to prison lost everything. I suffer with anxiety and depression and should never have took them, my girlfriend got them me. She didn’t deserve what happened and I didn’t deserve what happened to me. My life is over don’t take these tablets what ever you do I have lost everything and just want to die. I’m going to do everything I can to get my girlfriend back and have a nice life but it looks like that is unlikely. I just need to be out of misery and end this pain
Geffro says
My advise ,DONT TAKE IT if you have had problems with life before hand exp” had anger,believing in demons,spiritual,negative stuff,pain ,anxiety,any condition, it just seems to tackle your inner mind fears.
Im a good guy after just one day taking the blue pill “should of choosen the red pill “joke .
I became very delusional ,aggressive,heart pumping out of my chest “like the cartoons ,very bad dreams or thoughts as i didn’t know what was real or fake ,fearful ,started to get into conspiracies theories alot “after a week i got off the champix, after 4 months off champix im starting to feel better mentally”still smoking thou ,i would prefer to stop smoking ( I’ll find another way instead. I did get bronchitis after,gain wait ,feels like a frog in the back of throat “i just can’t shake.
My advise “NO for me -the choice is yours
Aimee says
My business partner/brother-in-law recently started taking Chantix. He has always been a little intense, but now he is an absolute lunatic. He does not see a problem with his anger. His wife has no control, is afraid of him and is about to have a nervous breakdown. She reached out to his doctor’s office and they only will say he needs to come in for an appointment, but are not able to call him to say he needs a “follow-up appt” or whatever it would take to get him there.
It’s ruining our business and their marriage.
Researched “how to get someone to stop taking Chantix” and there is NOTHING available.
Any suggestions as to how to get someone, who cannot realize for themselves through their incessant anger, as to how to move forward?
Bob says
I took this drug a long time ago when it first came out. took it for about two weeks. Within a week started having waking blackouts. Just stared, barely blinking at an office wall. Feared that I was going to blackout while driving home. Every sound was intensified. Shoes on a tile floor, the sound of a door knob turning. Neon lights seemed to flicker oddly. Started having bizarre vivid dreams. Never felt like I really slept. Shadows cast in my house from passing cars caused me to pace the house trying to find ghostly intruders. The last day I took this medicine I had contemplated axe murdering my co-worker in the office next door and then offing myself in some wild half awake dream state. Take that medicine and throw it in the garbage for him and then take sister in law on an unplanned two day trip to anywhere he can’t find you that has a nice pool and spa!
Kelly says
I have been taking Chantix for 6 days. I am a passive, loving person who has never physically hurt anyone before. I had an intense arguement with my boyfriend over something I blew way out of proportion. I threw things, and attacked him, hitting him. After he left I contemplated taking out our gun and ending my life. Somehow, he has found it in his heart to forgive my psychotic episode. I am going to stop taking this shit immediately. I cant believe how unstable it has made me. I’ll find another way to quit smoking!
Sandra Pittman says
I have experienced UNCONTROLLABLE rage and anger with violence while taking Chantix. I have punched a hole in the wall, broken a piece of furniture, and hit my husband. I am 50 years old and have never acted in such a manner prior to this. This is very concerning.
Dee says
Dear anger patients .. my husband has had no problems on the Chantix for several months and has easily quit smoking .. not until he was off it for 3 days .. then rageful .. so he continued the medications for one a day for a few more weeks .. and has now been off off it for 7 days .. he is absolutely terrifying his eyes blank and rageful over nothing .. just suddenly ..
WHAT REMEDIES DO YOU SUGGEST?! I see NO HELP FROM CHANTIX site?!?!
Should he continue it for every other day and then every 3rd day every 5th day etc WOULD THAT HELP?!?
Is it better to just STAY OFF IT .. (but honestly he was scary crazy like .. ABSOLUTELY UNLIKE HIMSELF!!! )
Dave says
My wife and I have been on it for about 7 weeks. Since I started my wife and I have had multiple knock-down, drag-out fights. She slept at her moms once I slept in a hotel another night. I think we might have to go to couples therapy just to repair the damage.