Truckers Banned Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix As Well

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Truckers_Banned_Anti_Smoking_Drug_Chantix_As_Well_17978.html

By Anna Boyd
16:22, May 23rd 2008

Following the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ban use of anti-smoking drug Chantix by pilots and air controllers on Wednesday, now it is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s turn to warn against the medicine.

On Thursday, the agency urged medical examiners “to not qualify anyone currently using this medication for commercial motor vehicle licenses,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

The dramatic decisions follow a report by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a non-profit watchdog group based in Horsham, Pa., which warns against “use of Chantix among persons operating aircrafts, trains, buses and other vehicles, or in other settings where a lapse in alertness or motor control could lead to massive, serious injury.”

The report linked Chantix to 988 serious events in the last quarter of 2007 alone.

The drug, made by Pfizer, was approved in 2006 for sale in the U.S. and the European Union. Sales of the drug were $883 million last year and an estimated 6.5 million people have used it worldwide.

Since approval, Chantix has been under fire due to its serious side effects such as depression, suicidal thoughts, aggression, or possible psychosis. Now, the new report also found the drug responsible for potentially lethal heart rhythm disturbances, heart attack, seizures and diabetes in its users. Of special concern for those operating airplanes and trucks, there were 173 serious injuries, some resulting from traffic accidents where drivers were dizzy, mentally confused or became unconscious.

FULL story at link.

[Rageneau]

1. I smoked 40 plus years and have been quit 10 months with Chantix

Much easier to quit than I ever imagined.

No side effects.

I praise its name.

[napi21]

2. Damn! Sounds like people would be better off continuing to smoke

instead of taking a drug that causes more serious problems!

[DesertFlower]

4. continuing to smoke is never an option. nt

[DesertFlower]

3. my hairdresser used chantix.

she said she had bizarre dreams and felt strange even during waking hours. she stopped smoking, but then decided to have one now and then with cocktails. guess what? she's addicted again.