I want to know how many lives were ruined because of this drug. One life is too big a price to pay, even when the end result is to stop smoking. There is no way to predict who will suffer from severe depression. I know more than one life has been taken, so tell me who.

Kenneth Dean Tanner, II
12/06/82 - 01/18/08

Wayne Marshall
UK
36 year-old father of two
took his own life after finishing the 13-week Chantix program


Rickitt Benckiser
Britain
39 year-old TV producer
killed his wife, his son, and then himself after taking Chantix

I am glad you posted this..... I have been asking my mom to stop smoking for a while now and I don't want her to be on this... We don't need to lose anymore to this drug.

Please keep an update to what you find out.

Thanks
Shawna

More Report Adverse Effects After Taking Chantix
FDA Report: Chantix May Be Tied To Suicidal Behavior
Click here to read viewer accounts of taking Chantix.
Reporting
Bennett Cunningham (CBS 11 News)
CBS 11 has learned the number of people in the United Kingdom reporting suicidal thoughts while using the drug Champix, which is known as Chantix in U.S., doubled in just 60 days.

The news comes more than a week after 39-year-old Omer Jama, a popular television editor, slashed his wrists after beginning a course of the anti-smoking pill.

The manufacturer, Pfizer, maintains the drug is safe and there is no correlation between suicide and its pill.

CBS 11 also learned of another suicide involving a person taking the pill. According to a 2006 report by the European Medical Agency (EMEA), a 61-year-old man committed suicide less than a month after he finished taking the anti-smoking drug.

EMEA -- responsible for the medical safety of 500, 000 people in 27 countries -- is asking Pfizer to submit all of its safety data world-wide related to suicidal thoughts and/or suicide.

According to that same report, in a clinical trial with Champix, the drug had six times the number of serious adverse reactions as a similar drug, Zyban. Pfizer used Zyban as a comparison in clinical trials to show the success rate of its drug.

Last month, after a series of CBS11 exclusive investigative reports, the FDA announced it would conduct a safety investigation into reports that Chantix may lead to erratic or violent behavior.

In Australia, the packs of the anti-smoking pill will now contain extra information warning that some patients have suffered from depression, agitation and suicidal thoughts while taking the drug.

Pfizer states there have been no suicides attributed to Chantix/Champix in its clinical trials.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

I want to Thank You with all my heart for posting this. My father has smoked for 30 years and was considering starting Chantix to help him stop. After reading this information I strongly recommended he doesn't. I am truly sorry for your loss, but I am glad you are doing something to help others know of the risk with this drug. Thank You again.

This drug has also affected my family. I received a call notifying me that my cousin is in jail for 3 counts of attempted 1st degree murder of an officer. My cousin is the most mild tempered person I've ever met... Good looking, excelled in school (both high school and college) and was working for a law firm... he had it all. Apparently, he made a call to 911 telling them that demons were trying to kill him, when the police arrived, he thought THEY were the demons and began shooting at them. Luckily noone was injured. I just found out today that he was on this medication... my uncle asked me to look it up. Imagine my surprise when I find all this out. There are tons of articles out there on this... one horrible story after another. I really hope this will help my cousin in this battle with the law. I certainly don't condone shooting at an officer but I truely believe he was out of his mind. Stay away from this drug!! Please feel free to message me with any information that you may find that could possibly help. Thanks for the awareness group

I should add... I'm terribly sorry about your loss. I'm sure this is totally overwhelming to you with it being so out of character.

All I can say is I've used this drug for a month now and the only adverse effect I've had were occasional nausea. Also haven't smoked for a month. Peace

I was talking to my mom tonight. I had been aware that this might have been the cause of Kenny's suicide and so I have been telling all smokers that I know who are trying to quit to stay away from Chantix. I mentioned it to my mom tonight and she said she took it a few months ago and she was so angry that she only took it for a week to two weeks and she stopped and threw the rest away. Thank God for that. She said the entire time that she was on it, her and my step-dad fought... she even kicked in a cabinet and busted the door open on it.

I hope that the truth comes to light on this drug and they completely remove it from anyone being able to use it and risk anymore lives.