According to a new British study the smoking cessation drug varenciline (Chantix) does not increase the risk of suicidal tendencies or depression.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently mandated that a "black box warning" be carried by the drug's packaging, which would indicate to users that by using the drug they were at risk of experiencing "serious neuropsychiatric symptoms." This includes changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior as well as attempted suicide.
In this study, 660 men and women aged 18 to 95, who had been prescribed a product to aid smoking cessation between September 2006 and May 2008. Prescriptions included vareniciline, the antidepressant bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine replacement products, like patch, inhaler, gum, tablet or lozenge. Patients were followed over the period they were on the prescription and three months after they were off the last prescription.
The study reported that there was no clear evidence to show that varenicline or bupropion increased self-harm, suicidal thoughts or depression. But the researchers did add that "the limited power of the study means we cannot rule out either a halving or a two-fold increased risk."
Leaving the hopeful quitter without any real answer, it would be wonderful if there truly was a drug that could help smokers quit, or at least make the battle easier. Smokers should be given more information about smoking cessation than on the dangers of smoking, because this is what is truly productive.
[Via: ajc.com]
