Eye On Health

Feds Ban Truckers, Bus Drivers From Using Chantix

WASHINGTON (CBS 11 News) ― Truckers and bus drivers will be unable to sit behind the wheel if they are using the drug Chantix.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that the use of the anti-smoking pill may adversely affect a driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.

Last Wednesday the FAA banned the use of Chantix among pilots and air traffic controllers.

The U.S. Food and Drug administration recently issued a public health advisory on Chantix after a series of CBS 11 reports on the drug's serious side effects, including violent behavior and suicidal thoughts.

The FMCSA, a division of the Department of Transportation, issued this statement to CBS 11: "The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) regulations for the medical qualification of interstate truck and bus drivers prohibit the use of prescribed substances or drugs that adversely affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle."

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves medications for use, and has recently issued a public health advisory on Chantix (Varenicline). FMCSA's rules defer to the physicians and health care professionals to determine driver medical fitness for duty, which includes when a medication has actual and potential side effects that could impact safe driving."

"While we do not name any medications, such as Chantix, in FMCSA regulations, it appears that medical examiners should not certify a driver taking Chantix because the medication may adversely affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle."

"We are committed to ensuring safety on America's highways and we will continue our ongoing effort to review all FMCSA medical standards, including prescription drugs."

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---