Wikipedia said:Controversy
On Thursday, May 22, 2008, The New York Times reported that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) had announced the day before a ban on the use of Chantix (varenicline tartrate) for both pilots and air traffic controllers, due to concerns with possible adverse neuropsychiatric effects which could be detrimental to public safety.[10]
On Sunday, May 25, 2008, The Los Angeles Times reported that over 2 dozen traffic accidents had been linked to Chantix and reported to the FDA. Warnings had previously been issued by Pfizer regarding the risks of Chantix while driving. However, these warnings have largely been ignored by doctors and patients.[11]
On Tuesday, June 17, 2008, The Washington Times reported on its Front Page that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs was testing Chantix on war veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder without properly warning them of the side effects, and that in one case a veteran was almost killed when he had a psychotic episode and threatened police officers.[12]
On October 23, 2008, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices issued an analysis of prescription drug-related injuries reported to the FDA during the first quarter of 2008. According to the report, varenicline had more reported incidents than any other drug, with 1001 new cases of adverse effects and 50 more deaths reported (Heparin, the drug with the second highest number of injury reports, had 779 new cases, most of which were connected to a contaminate inadvertently introduced into the drug in early 2008). In comparison, the ISMP reported that in the first quarter of 2008 there were 17 serious injury reports for nicotine-replacement products, and 44 reports for bupropion (sold as Zyban as a smoking cessation medication). Varenicline did not rank in the ten drugs with the most related deaths, but did rank first in reports of suicide or self-injury, with 228 reports citing these effects. The ISMP noted that the high number of varenicline-related injury reports may be related to the publicity surrounding the medication's potential side effects. [13]
On February 4, 2009, Health Canada announced that it had received more than 800 complaints from Canadian users, many of them reporting mood swings, depression or suicidal thoughts.[14]
. If you recreationally or habitually use any dopaminergic drugs I would suggest staying away from Varenicline.
I did a course of Champix a few months ago. I'll say this; the shit is effective. It's fascinating on an academic level when you start on the course and for the first week while you're still meant to be smoking; every time you have a cigarette you "feel" something is missing but you can't quite put your finger on it. You get all the physical effects of smoking but mentally your nicotine receptors just aren't being hit, and you're not getting the dopamine release that every cigarette delivers.
You also might have heard the drug being mentioned as the cause of a number of suicides in the US and you don't have to Google far to read about some of the side effects; especially depression or increased aggression. If you recreationally or habitually use any dopaminergic drugs I would suggest staying away from Varenicline.
I found it completely removed the cravings to smoke, but we all know that cigarette smoking is much more than a physical addiction. Also there are many reports that once you finish the course, your nicotine urges can still come back, months later. For Australians, you can get the course subsidised on the PBS, which makes the entire course (2 x 12 weeks if I remember) about the cost of two weeks worth of nicotine patches.
Good luck
Sorry to be so uninformed but would E fall under dopaminergic drugs? Meth?
How did you find the side effects? Ie. depression etc? And are you still not smoking? did you notice your cravings return after finishing your course 9and did you complete the second twelve week course, or just the first)?
I really need to quit, but am susceptible to depression type symptoms (never diagnosed and never been on meds - except for the time I stupidly ate a packet of Arapax when I was sixteen)
Yes
I would still give it a go, with the government subsidy, you won't be paying much for a course of Champix, if you find it doesn't agree with your emotional state though you should probably stop... perhaps see if things like 5HTP or L-Tyrosine work as supplements to balance things out. I found the latter to help a bit.
Recently had another friend who used to take meth and pills quite often start a course of Varenicline and report significant mood problems on it, but she still finished the course. It depends on what you're willing to put up with but as the information sheet states; the moment you have any thoughts approaching "suicide ideation" you should stop immediately.