Cigarettes List

DOCTORS were warned about the potential dangers of anti-smoking drug Champix in December last year.

A Sunday Tasmanian investigation reveals the December 2008 edition of the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletin said to October 2008 there had been 339 adverse reports for Champix, including reports of people contemplating suicide.

Since then 8030 Tasmanians have been prescribed Champix and it is understood at least one committed suicide while on the drug.

Last week Australia’s drug watchdog, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, said since Champix went on the market in January last year there had been 808 adverse reaction reports including eight suicides and 149 reports of suicidial behaviour.

Around Australia 730,000 prescriptions for Champix have now been dispensed.

Last weekend Devonport’s Matthew Prescott told the Sunday Tasmanian Champix changed his personality and led to him disappearing for more than a week.

He said while using the drug he experienced depression, dry retching, paranoia and aggressiveness.

Mr Prescott was not warned of possible side-effects even though health professionals had known since December it was increasingly likely there was an association between Champix and serious neuropsychiatric events.

Smoking cessation expert Sharon Lawn from Adelaide’s Flinders University said Champix was a very good drug but people using it had to be supported.

“After the first week on the drug people should be seeing a health professional every second day for monitoring and management of any symptoms, particularly if they have a mental illness,” she said.

“It is vitally important to pick up early changes in behaviour so doctors should not fall into the trap of prescribing without monitoring.”

Dr Lawn said there needed to be clearer processes to support people on Champix.

“At the moment there are no structural mechanisms in place for following up patients and there should be.”

Dr Lawn said smoking could be a very difficult thing to stop and Australia’s remaining smokers were those experiencing the greatest difficulty doing so.

American Food and Drug Administration advice on Champix:

* Patients should tell their doctor about any history of psychiatric illness before starting Champix.

* Health care professionals, patients, patients’ families and care givers should monitor for changes in behaviour and mood.

* Patients should immediately report changes in mood and behaviour to their doctor.

Source URL : http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/12/06/114021_lifestyle.html