Chantix & Zyban - FDA Public Warning

On July 1, 2009 the Food and Drug Administration issued a public notice involving two smoking cessation prescription medications. The manufacturers of Chantix and Zyban have been asked to add warnings on the box of their products to make users aware of their behavioral side effects. Bupropion, the generic version of Zyban, has also been called to add this warning.

Depression, agitation, and hostility, along with suicidal thoughts and actions have been reported in users of Chantix and Zyban. If you have suffered from any of these side effects while using either of these medications, the FDA recommends contacting your physician right away. Any person who uses or has used these medications and have felt like hurting others or themselves should cease taking the medication and see their doctor immediately.

Both Chantix, known as varenicline, and Zyban, known as bupropion hydrochloride, are known to have helped people successfully quit smoking although some have reported changes behaviorally that do not coincide with nicotine withdrawal. Depression is one of the most serious side effects and has, in some people, escalated to thoughts or actions linked to suicide.

Nicotine withdrawal causes some irritability, anxiety, slight depression, and insomnia which usually decrease after time. If the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal listed above get worse and do not lessen over time, they need to be addressed immediately.

Smoking is known to lead to lung cancer, emphysema, stroke, heart attacks and other serious respiratory illnesses. If you are currently a smoker who wants to quit, you need to speak with your doctor to discuss the best course of action for you personally. Although not everyone who uses these medications have experienced serious side effects, the risk needs to be taken into consideration when deciding on a program to become smoke free.