A recent study discovered the popular anti-smoking drug Chantix is responsible for more than two dozen
traffic accidents due to common side effects of the drug, such as loss of consciousness and seizures.
The study was conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. After reviewing over 3,000 reports submitted to the FDA regarding the serious adverse side effects of the drug, the institute concluded that current FDA warnings for Chantix are insufficient.
The new study found common reports of dizziness, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness, all of which are not currently listed as potentially dangerous side effects of taking the drug. As a result of these findings, the institute has become increasingly concerned over the safety of using Chantix and operating a motor vehicle.
"We have immediate safety concerns about the use of [Chantix] among persons operating aircraft, trains, buses, and other vehicles, or in the setting where a lapse in alertness or motor control could lead to massive, serious injury," said a researcher who worked on the institution's study.
As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited pilots and air traffic controllers from using the drug. The military has also prohibited flight and missile crews from using the drug as well.
Chantix's manufacturer, Pfizer, claims it added a warning in May 2007 about the risks of operating heavy machinery while taking the drug.
FDA drug evaluation head Janet Woodcock acknowledged that even though Pfizer made changes to the literature regarding the adverse effects of the drug, there needs to be better drug safety communication between the FDA and the physicians that actually prescribe the drugs to the patients.
In addition to the neurological effects of the drug, Chantix is also known to cause anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. As a result of more than 400 reports of suicidal thoughts and 30 reports of successful suicides, the FDA required Pfizer to add warnings about the drug's psychiatric effects.
Click here to find a
dangerous drugs attorney near you!