Anti-Smoking Drugs Get FDA 'Black-Box' Warning

1. If the adverse mental effects experienced by some users occurred while they were still smoking, then the statement that "some of the symptoms may be caused by nicotine withdrawal" is incorrect.

To wit - In February 2008 (nearly 18 months ago) the FDA issued an alert on Chantix containing the following statment: "While some patients may have experienced these [serious neuropsychiatric] types of symptoms and events as a result of nicotine withdrawal, some patients taking Chantix who experienced serious neuropsychiatric symptoms and events had not yet discontinued smoking. In most cases, neuropsychiatric symptoms developed during Chantix treatment, but in others, symptoms developed following withdrawal of Chantix therapy."

2. "The antidepressant Wellbutrin, which contains the same active ingredient as Zyban." This means, folks, that Zyban is an antidepressant.

3. "For many users, the problems started soon after they began taking the drugs and ended when they stopped taking them." I think that says it all - these are psychiatric medications being used as a quit-smoking aid. Buyer beware.

Veritas of CA 5:28PM July 01, 2009