Perhaps one of the most popular smoking cessation products to ever hit the U.S. market, Chantix utilizes varenicline as an active ingredient to assist people in their endeavor to quit smoking. However, the same active ingredient that alleviates smoking tendencies, may also be responsible for catastrophic complications. Patients who utilize Chantix may drastically increase their risk of suffering from a severe, life-threatening heart attack.
If you or a loved one has been injured by Chantix, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free confidential case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.
What’s the problem?
Chantix is a product of the world renowned pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 10, 2006. The success that Chantix experienced in its early years helped to propel the smoking cessation medication to an unparalleled level of popularity.
Varenicline, the active ingredient found within Chantix, resides in a class of medications known to the healthcare community as a nicotinic receptor partial agonist (smoking cessation aid). As a partial agonist, verenicline assists Chantix in reducing cravings and decreasing the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and numerous other tobacco products. Accordingly, this process may aid patients in their endeavor to stop smoking.
Unfortunately, the use of smoking cessation products like Chantix, that contain varenicline, may not have a favorable risk-benefit profile. Varenicline may be responsible for catastrophic side effects that do not justify the use of Chantix. Patients who use Chantix may increase their risk of developing severe, life-threatening cardiovascular adverse events including heart attack and stroke. As a result, the FDA has notified both healthcare professionals and patients, that the Prescribing Information for Chantix will be strengthened to inform everyone that varenicline may be responsible for an increased risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in patients who have cardiovascular disease. Due to the severity of these adverse events, patients may seek compensation for their pain and suffering by filing a Chantix heart attack lawsuit.
Chantix Side Effects
The potential for a Chantix lawsuit is determined by the following side effects:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Joint and muscle pain
- Violent behavior
- Suicidal tendencies or thoughts
- New on-set diabetes
- Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- Severe physical injury or death from an accident caused by seizures, black-outs, vision disturbances, or any other sudden problems.
Due to the severity of these adverse events, patients may seek compensation for their pain and suffering by filing a Chantix lawsuit.
Chantix Cardiovascular Disease
The FDA issued a report to the healthcare community acknowledging that the Prescribing Information on Chantix containers will be strengthened to warn consumers that use of varenicline may be responsible for an increased risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in patients.
The FDA reviewed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 700 smokers with cardiovascular disease who were treated with Chantix or a placebo. While cardiovascular adverse events were infrequent overall, certain events, including heart attack, were reported more frequently in patients treated with Chantix than in patients treated with a placebo. Due to the severity of these adverse events, patients may seek compensation for their pain and suffering by filing a Chantix heart attack lawsuit.
Chantix Violent Behavior
Along with severe cardiovascular adverse events, the FDA issued yet another label change regarding the following data pertaining to uncontrollable acts of agression:
The FDA has required the manufacturer of the smoking cessation aid varenicline (Chantix) to add new Boxed Warnings and develop patient Medication Guides highlighting the risk of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients using these products. These symptoms include changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted suicide.
The added warning is based on the continued review of postmarketing adverse event reports on varenicline received by the FDA. These reports included those with a temporal relationship between the use of varenicline and suicidal events and the occurrence of suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior in patients with no history of psychiatric disease. Due to the severity of these adverse events, patients may seek compensation for their pain and suffering by filing a Chantix lawsuit.
Do I Have A Chantix Heart Attack Lawsuit?
The trial lawyers at The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP have decades of experience navigating through complex legislative and regulatory issues and litigating high stakes cases all over the nation. Our law firm focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in Chantix heart attack lawsuits. We are currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Again, if you or a loved one has been injured by Chantix, you should contact our lawyers immediately by clicking the link below or calling toll free 1-(949) 557-5800. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.