Smoking Cessation - Chantix (Champix) vs. Cold Turkey..


It has been about 30-days since Dr. Chapman released his paper on the need to consider "cold turkey" as a reliable method to quit smoking. Pharmaceutical companies that market smoking cessation products were probably hoping that the information would disappear never to be heard from again.

PAPER: The Global Research Neglect of Unassisted Smoking Cessation: Causes and Consequences, Simon Chapman and Ross MacKenzie, PLOS Medicine 2/9/2010, FULL TEXT.
Chantix, a Pfizer product, heavily promoted for use in smoking cessation has several negative side effects that can lead to serious medical problems and even death. In fact, Chantix (Champix) problems are surfacing at an alarming rate, making it one of the drugs most associated with severe adverse reaction reports according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Chantix is suspected of causing a “wide spectrum of injuries,” including serious accidents and falls, potentially lethal cardiac rhythm disturbances, severe skin reactions, acute myocardial infarction, seizures, diabetes, psychosis, aggression and suicide. The findings prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to ban pilots and air traffic controllers from using the drug. The FDA has said that after an analysis of cases of depression, suicidal thoughts and other unusual behavior in patients on the medication, the evidence appears stronger of an association of these cases with Chantix. As of July 2009, the most serious reports to the FDA involving Chantix were: 98 suicides in Chantix users and 188 attempted suicides.

Why would a person wanting to quit smoking introduce a foreign substance like Chantix into their body that could result in severe life threatening adverse reactions and even death. (Champix (Chantix) - the risks are greater then the benefits..)

On the other hand, study results from the American Cancer Society, the National Institutes of Health and even the manufacturers of these assisted cessation products consistently show these products are not as effective as simple abstinence (cold turkey). In fact, cold turkey is statistically the most effective method for quitting smoking. (Abstinence is More Effective Than Nicotine Replacement Therapy by Vincent Triola, Associated Content (Health & Wellness), 10/222/2009) Chapman points out that research shows that two-thirds to three-quarters of ex-smokers stop unaided.

A 2007 paper in the American Journal of Public Health [97(8):1503-9] showed that of smokers who had quit successfully for 7-24 months, 75.7% had gone cold turkey; 8.6% had cut down then quit and 12.4% had used nicotine replacement therapy.

Related news briefs:
Chantix - Pfizer faces three lawsuits surely many more to come..;
Champix (Chantix) - the risks are greater then the benefits..;
Chantix - another wrongful death lawsuit filed..;
Anti-smoking drugs (non-nicotine) - Chantix and Zyban to carry mental health warnings..;
Another Chantix Warning in Canada..;
Operators of any form of transportation warned on the use of Pfizer's smoking-cessation drug Chantix..;
Pfizer Changes Chantix Label..;
Chantix Reports of Suicidal Thoughts and Aggressive and Erratic Behavior..;

Prevention is the most important component of public health.. - Dr. Sam Garten - M.S. Epidemiology.

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