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by newsdoctor from St. Louis

Last Post 8 days, 5 hours Ago


Kickin' Butts!
Feb 6, 2008 | 8:18 PM
Category: News
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Pfizer released a new anti-smoking drug last May and it's proving to be very effective. A doctor I talked with says it's helping about half the smokers quit on the first try. It's a prescription drug and 3-month course is recommended. It doesn't have nicotine like the gum or patch.. but it lessens the craving and blocks nicotine. I interviewed one woman who had been smoking for 45 years. She took Chantix and hasn't had a cigarette in 3 months and insists she doesn't miss them. The only side effect she noticed was some insomnia.. a side effect nicotine withdrawal can also cause..

Common side effects include nausea, sleep disturbances and mood changes. The FDA sent a letter to doctors last November urging doctors to monitor their Chantix patients closely for any changes in feelings or mood. The FDA recently issued a health advisory and Pfizer changed its label to warn of the potential of psychiatric symptoms such as suicidal thoughts and behavior. As part of ongoing safety evaluations, the FDA and Pfizer are reviewing about 450 reports of serious side effects. The company adds that there is no evidence Chantix caused the problems, but it can't be ruled out in some cases. Patients are urged to tell their doctors about any history of mental illness before trying the drug. There have been more than 4-million prescriptions of Chantix.

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Feb 6, 2008 | 8:52 PM

Tom,

A few of our program participants use Chantix now and the two I have followed have done so successfully. Another hasn't filled the prescription yet. All these individuals have a mental illness diagnosis and all are taking the medication under the guidance of their psychiatrist, which is what their medical doctors suggested.

Perhaps if you do a story on Chantix this could be a message that you "get out" so that those that do quit (and many want to) know to work with their psychiatrist if they are currently being treated for mental illness.

And can you tell me why none of that money the State of Missouri got from the tabacco lawsuit went to help people quit smoking? Chantix is very expensive, just as other quit smoking methods are, and it seems that someone would take the time to use their pea-sized brains and realize that to get people to quit you need to help them financially. Even those on disability cannot get coverage for Chantix, just like an individual who is overweight cannot get the cost of a nutritionist covered, but the government will pay for hip and knee replacements. Sheesh.
biker40 read my blog view my photos
Feb 6, 2008 | 9:13 PM

My Sister InLaw took it and was hearing voices of people that wasn't there,,,,,,she quit taking it but was able to stay smoke free.
jana read my blog view my photos
Feb 6, 2008 | 11:53 PM

I have a girl friend of mine that smokes and she is always saying she is going to quit! Her and her husband have tried everything you could think of! I will definately tell her about this and have her try it. If she agrees I will let you know the results!

Have a great day!!

Peace, Jana<3
mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 3:39 AM

Iv'e seen a few people try this stuff.... I don't like what Ive seen.... One girl had a bad reaction and broke out in a horrible rassh... another person was Psychotic and violent.... I read many bad things about it.... But the drug company is getting about 150 dollars to poison these people.......

The only way to quit is to just quit........
crutledge55
Feb 7, 2008 | 5:32 AM

My husband and step dad have taken it and are smoke free !!
My step dad has quit numerous times with the patch, cold turkey, zyban, the gum...all the other methods failed....this time he says it was a piece of cake.....
I quit too ten yrs ago w/ the patch and lots of hard candy...so I know how hard it is.
Good comment from Lady Card Fan about the Tobbacco Money .....what was that for ?!?!?
rosie read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 5:57 AM

lol, i'm waiting for the brown and croupin commercials to air looking for the people that are having harsh side effects of the drug... i think a few bloggers took it and were having strange night mares and trouble sleeping...i think its a mind altering drug that works on the the brain.... there was a story on one of the morning shows about the harsh realities of taking it and it wasent pleasent, cant remember which show it was..
da_opposition read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 6:32 AM

The success rate at my job had been amazing, this is my second time trying it. I have to eat with every pill or I'll be sick.
Cuteypops read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 7:45 AM

I tried it and it did absolutely nothing for me. I guess i'm that one percent that it doesn't help.
farmersdauter read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 10:35 AM

having a sever case of pneumonia and bronchitis at the same time and ending up in the er because you can't breath and you're continuously coughing so hard that you're peeing in your pants will make you quit smoking. then by the time you recover from all of that your over wanting a cigarette!
go ahead, ask me how i know!
Speedy62269 read my blog
Feb 7, 2008 | 10:52 AM

You have two blogs that appear to be the same issue.
newsdoctor read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 3:26 PM

Hey Speedy62269..

Thanks for the heads-up. It got posted twice for some reason, but I guess it will have to stay that way so we don't erase any blog responses.
connie3212 read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 5:29 PM

All the pts that I have typed on that take Chantix have only had to quit it because they couldn't afford it or they just didn't get it filled.

The only bad things I have heard about are the nightmares and insomnia. I quit cold turkey 9 years ago, Chantix was never around.
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newsdoctor

I anchor the 5pm and 9pm news at Fox 2. This is the career I chose when my dreams of playing professional baseball faded into reality. Should I coach or go into the news business? I made the right choice. But I have played sports all my life and remain an avid sports fan. When I'm not working, I enjoy working out, riding my motorcycle, playing golf and doing a little fishing.

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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