smoking cure gets health warning

[faustus]

i gave varenicline a go earlier this year, developed an endless amount of aggression and violent impulses.

but dreams were nice and vivid and weren't frightening at all.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/health...7979933060.html

Smoking cure gets health warning

Nick Miller

December 2, 2008

AUSTRALIA's drug regulator has issued a new warning about the popular quit-smoking pill Champix, which it linked to depression, aggression and suicidal thoughts and behaviour in some users.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration did not ban the drug, but said there was an increasingly clear association between varenicline (the generic name) and serious neuropsychiatric events. It warned doctors to take care in prescribing Champix, and family and carers to be vigilant for any changes in behaviour.

In a bulletin to doctors yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration said 210,000 prescriptions had been filled since January when the drug first came onto the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. By October there were 339 reports of adverse reactions - 255 of which "describe psychiatric symptoms including depression, aggression, agitation, abnormal dreams, insomnia, hallucination and anger".

The reports reflect international concerns over varenicline dating from before the drug arrived in Australia. It has been linked to depression and suicides in the United States and Britain.

In February the US Food and Drug Administration issued an alert along similar lines to yesterday's alert from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

In October, a report from the US Institute for Safe Medication Practices said that for a second straight quarter, varenicline accounted for more reported serious injuries than any other prescription drug, with a total of 1001 new cases including 50 deaths. Many of the cases included car or other accidents.

Pfizer yesterday issued a statement saying a causal link between the drug and the reported symptoms "has neither been established nor excluded".

"Based on the totality of data, we stand by the efficacy and safety profile of Champix when used as directed, as an important treatment option to help patients stop smoking," it said.

The company said more people died from smoking-related illness than any other preventable cause, and tobacco could kill millions of people a year worldwide in a decade.

It also pointed out that quitting smoking is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness.

[t st tantra]

that last line again..........

It also pointed out that quitting smoking is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness.

people self medicating psychiatric illness with nicotine, funny i've been saying this for a week or 2 now.......

t s t .

[MindExpansion]

This news isn't new, Champix is not to be prescribed to those with existing psychological conditions as these appear to be the people most effected, rather than those who were mentally healthy.

It also pointed out that quitting smoking is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness.

That needs to be kept in mind too, quitting smoking may trigger psychological events.

But yeh, my point is that docs already know of these issues and must take them into account when prescribing, IMO varenicline is still currently the best anti-smoking agent available.

Peace

[FancyPants]

that last line again..........

It also pointed out that quitting smoking is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness.

people self medicating psychiatric illness with nicotine, funny i've been saying this for a week or 2 now.......

t s t .

I'm damned if I can remember where, but I've read that people with mental illness are 50% more likely to start smoking cigarettes than people without. So does that mean they're going to link cigarettes with schizophrenia like they tried with cannabis. Cause of problem? Self medication? No correlation at all?

[faustus]

the issue with varenicline is that even once you control for cigarette withdrawal, people on the drug are more likely to become aggressive and suicidal, etc.

So does that mean they're going to link cigarettes with schizophrenia like they tried with cannabis.

yes, about 70-80% of schizophrenics smoke which is something that's always fascinated me. some claim that it's to compensate for reductions in dopamine from taking antipsychotics. the other claim is that it normalises deficits in sensorimotor gating that schizophrenics display.

Edited December 2, 2008 by twix elbert

[FancyPants]

^^^ And then you'd just wonder whether they feel better after having a cigarette because they're simply satisfying an addiction.

[gerbil]

that last line again..........

It also pointed out that quitting smoking is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness.

people self medicating psychiatric illness with nicotine, funny i've been saying this for a week or 2 now.......

t s t .

Many variables, but can compliment that with witnessing huge amounts of cigarettes consumed in a psychiatric ward.

[incognito]

i think the squlillions to be made from a quick and easy 'pill' which of course would be patented ,to help smokers quit far outways the costs of litigation and a really good legal team.

smokers are a great market.

[t st tantra]

Many variables, but can compliment that with witnessing huge amounts of cigarettes consumed in a psychiatric ward.

a friend who was inpatient commented on this but his perspective was that the staff smoked more than the patients!

t s t .

[nabraxas]

the staff smoked more than the patients

My experience would be the opposite. The staff don't have the time to sit & endlessly chain smoke.

There are many variables.

I know one person who had her antipsychotic medication reduced after she stopped smoking & was told it was because the nicotine "interfered" w/the medication.