05/09/2008 -
The federal government suggests doctors should recommend Chantix to patients who are to quit smoking. Chantix is a drug released by Pfizer Inc. in 2006 and is considered to have the highest efficiency in combating this vice. The issue is that, despite the praise about its proficiency, its side effects are worrisome.
It affects the nervous system, causing depression and suicidal behavior. Consequently, one has to think twice before taking up this treatment.
"People are quitting smoking to save their lives. If Chantix's risks outweigh its benefits, then it's insane for people to risk their lives" by using it, said John Polito, a smoking cessation educator who runs the WhyQuit.com site, as cited by the Associated Press.
83 studies were analyzed and the result shows that 33% of the subjects don’t take their unhealthy habit back when treated with Chantix, in comparison to just 14% among those who use other pills. However, there were groups like pregnant women and light smokers that recorded no improvement.
It is recommended that an individual who is about to quit smoking should resort to both medication and counseling. The doctors who will treat them must be careful before prescribing Chantix. They must have knowledge of patients’ past psychiatric condition or eventual hereditary mental disorders. The patients are also to be kept under control during treatment.
Another controversy linked to this subject is the fact that Dr Michael Fiore, an expert on smoking and health issues and the Chantix guidelines’ author, was a consultant to the producer of Chantix. Therefore, he is suspected to have been elusive as concerns the indications.
He asserts those bonds attained their end in 2005. He also emphasizes his impartiality with the fact that the guidelines were reviewed by 90 independent experts and were seconded by 60 healthcare organizations.
"Independent reviewers of it came to the conclusion that this is a document that reflects the science, and that's what we were charged to do," Fiore said.
