Today [June 5, 2009] the AP issued a news piece that should be a
real concern for everyone. According to the release, Federal
regulators are actively investigating the safety of Pfizer's
quit-smoking drug that was heavily promoted by radio and TV media
commercials, Chantix. Last year, thousands of people that were
prescribed and took this drug to stop smoking reported blackouts
and other physical problems related to taking Chantix. According to
the AP source, Chantix is among twenty other FDA approved
medications under investigation for serious safety issues and
risks. The FDA has issued their own statement that "they
are investigating reports of injury, visual impairment and other
problems connected with the medication [Chantix], which is designed
to ease smokers' withdrawal symptoms". The FDA claims they
"began looking into the problems last fall [2008].
The Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] banned the use of Chantix
by pilots after receiving complaints/reports from pilots that took
Chantix and suffered blackouts, whereas some blackout episodes
resulted in traffic accidents.
Below is a list from the FDA, the alleged "watch
dog" who is the gatekeeper of all food, drugs and
cosmetics that are marketed in the U.S.:
1. Apomorphine (Apokyn)
Adverse effect: Psychiatric events
2. Choriogonadotropin alfa (Ovidrel)
Adverse effect: Anaphylactic reactions
3. Clomiphene citrate (Clomid)
Adverse effect: Visual disorders
4. Clozapine orally ( FazaClo)
Adverse effect: Deaths
5. Darifenacin (Enablex) & Solifenacin (Vesicare)
Adverse effect: Angioedema [precursor to kidney failure] and other
allergic reactions. These drugs are widely
prescribed to for "overactive bladder"
problems.
6. Drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin, a birth
control pill/contraceptive)
Adverse effect: Pancreatitis [You really do not want to blow
out your pancreas]
7. Efavirenz (Sustiva)
Adverse effect: Birth defects involving the eyes and face. Oh,
swell!
8. Fibrin sealant, human (Evicel)
Adverse effect: Air embolism. You'll die from
this.
9. Hydrochlorothiazide in combination products
Adverse effect: Skin reactions.
10. Imiquimod cream (Aldara)
Adverse effect: Dysura due to severe local reactions during use in
the gential area.
11. Modafinil (Provigil) & Armodafinil (Nuvigil)
Adverse effect: Serious skin reactions.
12. Orlistat (Xenical and the over-the-counter pill, Alli)
Adverse effect: Hepatotoxicity. This means liver impairment my
friends. Alli was being promoted by singer Wynonna Judd for
weight loss. Noticed she hasn't been on any of
the new TV commercials lately. Also, this drug causes uncontrolled
bowel movements so if you take this, get yourself a box
of Depends adult diapers.
13. Polyethylene glycol oral laxative (various
trade names)
Adverse effect: Neuropsychiatric events. Oh, wonderful, you take
something to make you go to the bathroom and you end up
with psych problems to boot.
14. Raltegravir (Isentress)
Adverse effect: Psychiatric events. Need I say more?
15. Testotreone gel (Androgel, Testim)
Adverse effect: Serious events from accidential
exposure.
16. Tolterodine tartrate (Detrol)
Adverse effect: Stevens-Johnson sydrome. Now, are you really
ready to have that Detrol discussion with your doctor?
I'll pass, thank you.
17. Varenicline (Chantix)
Adverse effect: Angioedema [heart and kidney impairment], serious
skin reactions, visual impairment, accidental injury.
Note to the FDA: You got all rowdy and your undies all twisted up
over a box of Cheerios cereal [unadulterated and misbranded food]
whereas Mr. Becoat fired off a letter to the CEO of General Mills
in Minneapolis, MN about the cereal's claims of lowering
cholesterol. Where are you on the subject of the
aforementioned drugs that your agency approved for market? I
surmise you were asleep at the switch [again]. I'm waiting for
the fall out from the "make your eyelashes grow" wonder
drug, Latiesse. I'm pretty sure we will be hearing horror
stories on permanent eye tissue damage and perhaps loss of vision.
Hey.... it was approved by the FDA, it must be good. Not!
