FDA probes Chantix, anti-smoking drug, for causing erratic bahavior

PS Having gone through the quitting smoking routine, I don't know how they are gauging "erratic behavior" during withdrawal, but here it is:

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Government scientists are investigating whether a Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Inc. drug used to help smokers quit cigarettes also increases suicidal thoughts and violent behavior.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said it has received reports of mood disorders and erratic behavior among patients taking Chantix. The drug won regulatory approval last year to aid adults trying to quit smoking and sales totaled $101 million.

FDA said it is still gathering information about the drug, but advised doctors to closely monitor patients taking Chantix for behavior changes. The agency said the changes have often been reported within days or weeks of people first taking the drug...

Pfizer said Tuesday it added information about the reports to the product's label, but stressed 'there is no scientific evidence establishing a causal relationship between Chantix and these events.' Pfizer said in a statement there were no suicides in a 5,000-patient study of the drug...

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-21131834.htm

he couldn't sleep and was moody as hell

he quit taking it after about 4 days

Stopped, no pills.

I got more and more depressed then started having suicidal thoughts. I quit taking it and was fine in two days. I don't have a history of depression. My neurologist told me on the last visit that she had been hearing horror stories from people on this med and wouldn't be surprised to see it pulled from the market.

and need to quit smoking. This drug had been recommended to me...thanks for the alert.