Chantix: The cure worse than the habit?

The US Public Health Service recently updated its quit-smoking guidelines. These include a renewed endorsement of the drug Chantix. According to the article in USA Today, despite the recent links between Chantix's use and the side-effects of depression and suicide, the recent quit-smoking guidelines continued to encourage its use.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article in June 2006 from the WSJ on the results of one of the studies of Chantix.

Despite the positive findings, there were several limitations to the research. One is the fact that people with pre-existing conditions such as depression, alcohol or drug abuse, and diabetes requiring insulin were excluded from some of the studies. Another stems from the fact that the majority of authors of the three studies, which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, either have done consulting work or received honoraria or research grants from Pfizer and other drug companies, or are Pfizer employees or shareholders.

The lead author of the report Dr. Michael Fiore said his past relationship with Pfizer, the maker of Chantix, had no impact on the results of the study or its final recommendations. 3 of the 24 members, according to the article, of the panel who wrote the guidlines reported “significant financial interests” in the pharmaceutical industry, including speaking fees and stock ownership.