Despite 98 Suicides and 188 Suicide Attempts, FDA Favors Chantix Over Electronic Cigarettes

EmailWire ^ | September 08, 2009 | Staff

[Bokababe]

Tobacco Control Expert Dr. Michael Siegel Calls for a Scientific, Not Ideological or Political Response to the Electronic Cigarette Issue

(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 08, 2009 ) BOSTON – An article in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now acknowledged receiving 98 reports of suicides and 188 reports of suicide attempts that appear to be linked to use of Chantix, a prescription medication for smoking cessation. In addition, the FDA has received reports of patients taking the drug being involved in motor vehicle crashes.

At the same time, the FDA which has approved Chantix, seems focused on keeping electronic cigarettes, which have yet to be proven harmful, from the public.

A growing number of tobacco control experts and medical professionals are questioning the motives of the FDA. Dr. Michael Siegel, associate chairman and a professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, wonders why the FDA is threatening to take electronic cigarettes off the market.

[Bokababe]

The FDA has become so politicized that it no longer makes sense or feels the need to explain itself to anyone.

[Rodebrecht]

Thanks, TR.

[Kleon]

Those E-things are bad news. Most of the liquid comes from God-knows-where in China, and could be laced with a number of harmful chemicals.

[oldvike]

Chantix is an amazing drug. I know because I've taken it. It could be used for smoking, dipping, and alcohol cessation. They just choose to market it for smoking.

However, it did give me some damn weird dreams for the first few weeks. My dreams were so vivid that it seemed like I was living a whole nother life while asleep. It was crazy.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What is the incidence of Chantix suicides vs. aspirin suicides or M&M suicides or nicotine patch suicides?

[HiTech RedNeck]

They would be more trustworthy if a major domestic tobacco company put them out.

[Bokababe]

E Cig Ping!

[HiTech RedNeck]

I understand what smoking and alcohol are. But dipping? Skinny dipping? Dipping too much ice cream?

[potlatch]

There was a whole thread awhile back with many people using the E-Cigarette and loving it. I imagine they will show up here soon.

[2111USMC]

Good gravy. Think I’ll just keep smoking.

[guitarplayer1953]

Why so they can tax the hell out of them just like cigarettes?

[oldvike]

LOL, no. Snuff. Chewing tobacco.

[Bokababe]

"Most of the liquid comes from God-knows-where in China, and could be laced with a number of harmful chemicals."

Johnson's Creek Smoke Liquid Made in the USA with an FDA registered formula, uses nicotine from non-tobacco sources.

And no, I don't work for them. I am just a satisfied customer.

[devolve]

.

Glad I quit mucho years ago

[RandallFlagg]

Thanks for the ping.
I never knew this.

[LearsFool]

LOL Whenever I feel suicidal, I just have a smoke and then get on with my life. Much simpler and doesn’t involve the government. :-)

[LongElegantLegs]

It should be called ‘spittin’.

[Bushbacker1]

I have the electronic cig and it’ll work in a pinch. I asked about using it on airplanes and one crew said don’t do it in your seat, but come to the back of the cabin and take a drag. On another flight I asked if it would be OK and the attendant went to the captain and asked and the answer was no. So, because there is no smoke or smell, I went into the lav and had a drag. But, to try to quit smoking with it, which was my intention, it didn’t work.

[potlatch]

I’m glad you did too. Wish I had stayed quit!!

[RandallFlagg]

Those E-things are bad news. Most of the liquid comes from God-knows-where in China, and could be laced with a number of harmful chemicals.

Wrong. I make my own eliquid.
Please do some research on it:
DIY e-liquid

[Bokababe]

"There was a whole thread awhile back with many people using the E-Cigarette and loving it. I imagine they will show up here soon."

There have be several threads. FR is how I found out about ecigs.

Bought my first one & tried it on July 4th of this year and it was the best thing I ever did, short of marrying my husband.

I actually prefer the ecig to a regular cigarette, and I can breathe again.

It isn't actually "a quit smoking device", it's just an alternative, but so many people have actually quit regular cigarettes altogether using the e cig that it's hard not to notice the results.

[JoSixChip]

"There was a whole thread awhile back with many people using the E-Cigarette and loving it. I imagine they will show up here soon."

I puff on my e-cig, that I have been using for six months, quite a bit. It's the only thing that has worked for me. I have been cutting down on the nic level and should be done with it by the end of the year. After more then 30 years of smoking this has been pretty painless. However my new tail makes it a little hard to sit down.

[netmilsmom]

>>What is the incidence of Chantix suicides vs. aspirin suicides or M&M suicides or nicotine patch suicides?<<

(okay, this one I know)
The drug works to “agonize” nicotine in the brain. In other words it “tricks” the brain into thinking it’s getting more nicotine than what it is.

Nicotine works in the brain the same way that acetylcholine does and they are closely related. Acetylcholine is a neutotransmitter. It helps the brain work properly by sending electrical charges across the two sides of the brain. Basically, this med is overloading that neurotransmitter.

The reason the poster above had very vivid dreams is because of the uptake of acetylcholine (which the brain also thinks it’s getting more of). It basically makes the brain go into high mode. If one has underlying or undiagnosed aggression or depression, it can be exacerbated by this med.

I do believe that the caution with this med is warranted.

(I did better than the flu thread, didn’t I?)

[netmilsmom]

They make you register for that forum.

How do you do it? I’m curious

[Spunky]

My daughter and son-in-law took Chantix to quit smoking. It worked for both of them and they did have vivid dreams. In fact my son-in-law said he didn’t want to quit using it because he had vivid sexual dreams. LOL!

[Bokababe]

"But, to try to quit smoking with it, which was my intention, it didn’t work."

Not all e cigs are created equal. Which one do you have?

[digger48]

3 packs Winston 100s to zip

8 years and counting.

[Just A Nobody]

98 reports of suicides and 188 reports of suicide attempts ... has received reports of patients taking the drug being involved in motor vehicle crashes.

They finally figured out a way to get rid of those smokers that will allegedly run up the health care costs.

[potlatch]

[it was the best thing I ever did]

Thanks for the input. I need to do it badly!

[RandallFlagg]

All you need is in this thread:

Now we all just KNOW that the world's going to end! (Flagg quit smoking)

[Spunky]

"There was a whole thread awhile back with many people using the E-Cigarette and loving it. I imagine they will show up here soon."

I don't know how they work, but I heard something about blowing water smoke rings. I would think if you inhaled moisture into your lungs that couldn't be very good for you.

[dragnet2]

I puff on my e-cig, that I have been using for six months, quite a bit. It's the only thing that has worked for me. I have been cutting down on the nic level and should be done with it by the end of the year. After more then 30 years of smoking this has been pretty painless. However my new tail makes it a little hard to sit down.

A tail?

I grew horns, and every time I spit I see flames.

[oldvike]

In fact my son-in-law said he didn’t want to quit using it because he had vivid sexual dreams. LOL!

LOL, that can definitely happen! I dreamt about everything. I got to the point that I was looking forward to bed every night. Heck, I don't need the stuff any more but still wish I had one more box of it for old times sake. LOL! That would be stupid, though. All joking aside, Chantix is a very powerful drug. If it can mess with your brain that much while sleeping, I can see how maybe it could mess with your brain in other ways as well.

[JoSixChip]

"I would think if you inhaled moisture into your lungs that couldn't be very good for you.

Why? Compare it to hot smoke with over 2000 chemicals in it.

[Salamander]

When I asked my doc about using Chantix, he flat out said “NO!”.

The dude takes good care of us....:)

[Bokababe]

Are you in the medical field? Because that was a "Wow!" of a medical explanation!

The Chantix website says:

"CHANTIX is different from most other quit-smoking products. It targets nicotine receptors in the brain, attaches to them, and blocks nicotine from reaching them. By activating these nicotine receptors, it is also believed that CHANTIX causes less dopamine – compared to nicotine – to be released.

The list of known potential side effects of Chantix is so long that it would scare me off.

By comparison, the electronic cigarettes has had no known illnesses or deaths, and it's been actively used in Europe and the US for at least 3 years.

[potlatch]

[However my new tail makes it a little hard to sit down.]

Ummm, you lost me there....did you sprout horns too?

[netmilsmom]

I was an Office Manager for Psychs in my previous life.

[JoSixChip]

dry humor

[RandallFlagg]

The only side effect I’ve had in the last 130 days of using my ecig is a bit more sneezing at times.

Oh, and I dream about zombies, but I have had those for years...

Really.

[potlatch]

[I would think if you inhaled moisture into your lungs that couldn't be very good for you.]

I haven't read up on them. Long ago people used vaporizers for babies with croup. Inhalers are used by people with asthma. So....don't know??

[The Mayor]

This is nuts.... as I enjoy my 901

[Bokababe]

"I was an Office Manager for Psychs in my previous life."

I am teasing, because the last time I used the word "acetylcholine" on FR, I could feel many eyes glazing over.

[potlatch]

Dry humor and a gullible person can get confusing, lol.

[JoSixChip]

I've got a good supply of 901s and 801s. Initially I liked the 901s now I only use the 801s but I can't tell you why. I also only drip and mix my own liquid. I started with flavoring but after a week or so I stoped using any flavorings. My mix is 75% propylene glycol to 25% vegetable glycerin.

[armymarinemom]

I used Chantix to quit and had no problems with the drug at all.

[gwilhelm56]

I did finally, after 36 years, finally quit using the Chantix. The Suicidal thoughts would have been NORMAL if I had tried to quit COLD TURKEY.. well the thoughts would have been either Suicide or MASS MURDER.

Did suffer from weight gain... and both brother and sister quit with CHantix .. and suffered the same weight gain within a few pounds.

All in all, My opinion of the FDA is similar to Movie Critics... critics don’t like a certain film, I’ll probably LIKE IT. I have the same opinion of the FDA.

[devolve]

.

I am lost on smoking threads

[Spunky]

"All joking aside, Chantix is a very powerful drug. If it can mess with your brain that much while sleeping, I can see how maybe it could mess with your brain in other ways as well."

It does sound like a very powerful mind altering drug. I think a person should be sure they don't have depression before they use it.

I quit 13 years ago with the help of Nicoderm CQ. Also when I had the urge to inhale I had an apparatus that is used to see how strong your lung capacity is. When you inhale it raises the little ball. The deeper you inhale the higher the ball raises in it. This helped with the urge. Also you need to have a strong motivation to quit.

[potlatch]

[I am lost on smoking threads]

That’s because you quit long ago, lol. At least you know what it’s all about.
No need to reply and stay on this thread.