Pfizer s smoking cessation drug Chantix continues to be problematic since its 2006 appearance in U.S. pharmacies. The prescription drug, which works by blocking nicotine receptors, has already been associated with psychiatric side effects and it now appears to lead to some cardiovascular problems in patients who have a history of heart disease. A new drug trial of 700 smokers with cardiovascular disease has found that Chantix slightly increased their risk of heart attacks and other adverse cardiovascular events; as a result, the FDA will update the product s label and medication guide.
Cigarettes are, of course, a huge risk factor for heart disease, notes ACHS's Dr. Gilbert Ross, so a marginal smoking cessation aid like Chantix introduces a real conundrum. Observing its otherwise unremarkable success in helping smokers to quit, however, Dr. Ross doubts the drug is worth its risks. He believes that, in general, tobacco harm reduction products, such as snus, or the increasingly popular electronic cigarette, are better options.
