Oct 1, 2007 8:39 pm US/Eastern
I-Team: Potential Danger Of Anti-Smoking Pill
Reporting
Jim Osman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Ryann and Carter were soul mates and deeply in love.
Carter Albrecht didn't have a violent bone in his body until he snapped.
His girlfriend, Ryann Rathbone, said it happened after he had a few drinks and took his first 1 milligram tablet of the anti smoking pill ... Chantix.
"He never yelled at me, he physically assaulted me at that point," Ryann said.
"I had crawled up in a fetal position on the floor and he looked at me and said baby who did this to you why are you crying?" Ryann continued.
Chantix is manufactured by Pfizer and some people on the drug are coming forward with bizarre stories of negative side effects, including feelings of suicide and depression.
The Food and Drug Administration's database of adverse side effects contains thousands of very serious reactions to Chantix.
Pfizer's patient information for Chantix lists only five common side effects.
But in a separate insert for doctors, some frightening adverse reactions appear: suicidal thoughts, aggression and neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Physciatrist Bryon Adinoff, who specializes in treating addiction, said that can be much worse when a patient mixes in alcohol.
Ryann said she believes Chantix led to the death of her boyfriend, who was killed after going into a delusional rage.
Carter broke into a neighbor's house and was shot as an intruder.
"I'm convinced Chantix played a big role, nothing else makes sense," Ryann said.
Pfizer says the drug Chantix is safe and effective.
44 percent of patients - it says - were more likely to quit smoking at the end of 12 weeks.
In England, the drug is under what is called intense surveillance by its version of the FDA.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
