Can Chantix Cause Suicide

02 Feb Can Chantix Cause Suicide

Unfortunately, the marketplace is full of unsafe drugs. Even though some of these drugs aren't used for life-and-death conditions, such as would be true of insulin or chemotherapy drugs, they sometimes remain on the market with a particular type of warning. This type of warning is called a black box warning. It is issued when the FDA determines that the drug carries with it the threat of devastating side effects of which the user should be aware. Among the drugs that carry this morning is Chantix.

The Uses

Chantix is prescribed for smoking cessation. Since 2007, there has been controversy surrounding the drug because of its implications in suicidal behavior, aggression, and other serious neuropsychological problems. This is what led the FDA, in 2009, to issue a black box warning. As far as the FDA is concerned, there is a genuine risk that people who are using this drug to quit smoking will end up experiencing some of the side effects. If somebody does commit suicide or commits homicide against a family member or even somebody they don't know, there may be opportunity to file a wrongful death lawsuit because of the defective product.

Defective Products and Death

Even though Americans like to think they live in a free market, we live in a free market where there are certain regulations upon manufacturers. Manufacturers are not free to unleash dangerous products onto the market without being responsible for the havoc that they wreak. Chantix is an example – and only one example – of a drug that is on the market even though it is already known to the FDA to have very dangerous side effects. If you are not informed of these side effects beforehand and experience them in a manifestation that ended up costing you the life of a loved one, it's time to speak with a defective product attorney.

A defective products attorney can sit down with you and determine whether or not, as a consumer, you were given adequate information to make an informed decision about the drug that you used. If it was a drug like Chantix, which is known to have serious side effects, you should have been informed of the side effects in advance of being prescribed the drug. Provided you are prescribed the drug after July 1, 2009, you should have been warned. If you were injured by this drug prior to that, you should definitely contact an attorney about the matter.