Dec 3, 2007 1:24 pm US/Central
Suicide Possibly Related To Anti-Smoking Pill
Click here to read CBS 11 viewers' stories about taking Chantix.
LONDON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
More than two
months after a CBS 11 Investigation found reports of suicidal thoughts
associated with the smoking cessation drug, Chantix, a newspaper in the United
Kingdom is reporting the suicide of a man who was taking the medication.
The Bolton News is
reporting 39-year-old Omer Jama, a popular television editor, slashed his
wrists just weeks after beginning a course of pills to help him quit smoking.
The pill is known overseas as Champix but in the U.S. the same drug is called Chantix.
Omer Jama's
brother, Ali, said that Omer had split from his wife earlier this year but the
pair remained on good terms and reconciliation was not out of the question.
"They just
weren't the actions of a man who was contemplating suicide," said Mr.
Jama, of London. "He's got no history of depression and was never the sort
of person you would see feeling sorry for himself. Jama's family says
users should be aware of this drugs risk of suicide.
In September, CBS 11 uncovered thousands of adverse reactions to the drug reported to the FDA. And in late November, CBS 11 reported the FDA
and its UK counterpart, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MRHA)
warned doctors to monitor patients on this anti-smoking medication for changes
in behavior.
The Food and Drug Administration
said it has received reports of mood disorders and erratic behavior among the
estimated three million patients in the U.S. taking Chantix. FDA said it
is still gathering information about the drug, but said the changes have often
been reported within days or weeks of people first taking the drug.
The MHRA has
received 839 reports of adverse reactions. Forty-six were linked to depression,
with 16 claiming to have suffered suicidal thoughts - although no suicides had
previously been reported.
In September,
pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which markets the drug, told CBS 11 its analysis
"does not suggest a causal relationship between Chantix and violent behavior."
And in late November, a spokesman told CBS 11, "Quitting smoking, with or
without treatment, is associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and has also
been associated with the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness." You can read the company's entire statement here.
There are also new
concerns about the drug in Australia. Australian Doctor, a weekly newspaper for
general practitioners is reporting Australia's
Therapeutic Goods Administration has asked Pfizer to provide the same
information submitted to the FDA so it can conduct its own review of Chantix.
Smoking
cessation expert Professor Nick Zwar told Australian Doctor, there was a lack
of clinical research on the effects varenicline (Chantix) might have in people with
underlying psychiatric illness, although the drug was not contraindicated in
such patients.
"Obviously
it's going to be important for GPs to monitor anyone prescribed the drug,"
Professor Zwar told the newspaper.
It was the death of Dallas musician Carter Albrecht, in September, that launched the CBS 11
investigation of Chantix. Albrecht took Chantix with alcohol and began
banging on the door of his girlfriend's neighbor. The neighbor shot and killed
Albrecht. His family and girlfriend, Ryann Rathbone, believe his erratic
behavior was related to Chantix.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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