Alabama Man Considered Chantix Suicide, Lawsuit Claims

An Alabama man has filed suit against drug maker Pfizer because of side effects he says he experienced as a result of his use of the smoking cessation drug Chantix. Plaintiff Pool filed his lawsuit in the United States’ District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on the 27th of July, 2012, joining a number of other patients who have also filed suit against the pharmaceuticals giant because of serious side effects linked to its popular stop-smoking medication.

Multiple damages sought by plaintiff

Pool claims that he began using the medication as prescribed by his doctor beginning on November 4, 2008, in an effort to reduce his dependence on nicotine. He is seeking damages on claims of negligence, design defect, failure to warn, gross negligence, breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and punitive damages, among others, because he claims that the medication caused him to become depressed and experience thoughts of suicide. Studies have already linked Chantix and depressive or suicidal behavior, and a “black box” warning was added to Chantix packaging by the FDA in 2009 in an effort to warn patients about the risk. The warning states that “some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using Chantix to help them quit smoking.”

Side effects after taking Chantix can be severe, and it is no wonder that patients are concerned about the risks. Many claim to have experienced aggression, rage, depression, and a number of other sudden psychological symptoms. Some patients have even committees suicide after taking Chantix, like plaintiff Pool claims he was almost driven to do after taking the medication.

Compensation sought by plaintiffs

A number of patients have filed suit against Pfizer, hoping to gain compensation for the side effects they have experienced. compensation from these lawsuits could work to help cover medical bills and other costs associated with the side effects patients claim to have suffered.

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