Chantix Litigation Movement Awaited by Plaintiffs

Nearly 300 plaintiffs who have filed suit against drug maker Pfizer because of their smoking cessation drug Chantix are waiting for the court to proceed with the multidistrict litigation case dealing with side effects of the popular drug. Multidistrict litigation cases are formed when a number of plaintiffs file similar complaints that can be dealt with in a consolidated manner. In most MDL cases, discovery and other pretrial processes are conducted at the same time and then the cases are remanded, or sent back to the courts in which they originated. The multidistrict litigation case dealing with federal Chantix side effects cases was established on October 1st, 2009 in the United States’ District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Chantix linked to serious side effects

A growing concern related to Chantix is the number of patients who have committed suicide after taking Chantix. Psychological side effects of the drug are worrisome, and can be serious. Symptoms such as depression, rage, and mood swings can suddenly manifest in patients who are otherwise psychologically healthy, and these side effects can have a serious impact on the health and well-being of a patient as well as his or her personal relationships.

More than two years ago, the Chantix multidistrict litigation case was consolidated in Alabama in an effort to help manage growing Chantix consolidated litigation. Judge Inge Johnson, who is presiding over the litigation, selected eight trial pool cases on the 16th of March, 2012. The first two bellwether trials have been set to take place on October 22, 2012, and Jan 22, 2013.

Chantix side effects lead to lawsuits

The Food and Drug Administration released a public health warning regarding Chantix on the 1st of February, 2009. The FDA warned patients that “it appears increasingly likely that there may be an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms.” Since then, hundreds of patients have elected to file Chantix lawsuits, hoping to gain compensation that could help cover the injuries they have had to deal with as a result of their use of the medication.

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