More data links anti-smoking drug, suicide

Warning was ignored and too many died as a result. There is a hidden story in all of this. It's what it did to the families of the veterans that took this drug while trying to heal from PTSD. They hallucinated on top of having this drug make depression worse. I've heard reports of them acting as if they were in combat still and trying to seek cover dodging enemy bullets and IED's while driving. We may never know how much damage was done by using this drug on the wrong people. Again, I have to say that it worked for an aunt and uncle of mine very well, but they were not coping with PTSD or depression.

More data links anti-smoking drug, suicide
NavyTimes.com - Springfield,VA,USA



By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 11, 2009 16:25:30 EDT

A new study from the Food and Drug Administration appears to back up claims that a smoking-cessation drug used by service members and veterans may put them at risk for suicidal thoughts.

In fiscal 2007, some 67,580 service members had prescriptions for the medication, according to the Defense Department.

The study, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, linked varenicline with 19 deaths and 112 serious incidents involving injury, hospitalization or emergency intervention after people took the drug to help them stop smoking.

The FDA called a link between suicidal ideation and the drug “likely” — even for those with no prior history of mental health issues — and said it’s important for physicians to monitor patients who take the drug.

“Continued reports of crashes and other serious adverse events among patients taking this drug also have raised concerns about other possible risks,” the JAMA article stated.
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