FDA adds black box warnings to two popular drugs - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

7/1/09

FDA adds black box warnings to two popular drugs

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By Cassie Hataway | email

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Two popular anti-smoking drugs, Chantix and Zyban, will now carry boxed warnings. 

FDA officials say the warning stems from an increased risk for changes in behavior, hostility, and even suicidal thoughts in some patients.  Since these drugs have been on the market, the FDA has received reports of 98 suicides linked to Chantix and 14 linked to Zyban. 

The experts say that although it's hard to differentiate between the symptoms of normal nicotine withdrawal and those caused by the drugs, they say a majority of patients noticed these symptoms once they started treatment and that they went away when they stopped using it.

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