What are you willing to endure to quit tobacco?

The FDA recently reviewed whether or not to remove a warning on a popular, doctor-prescribed anti-smoking drug called Chantix.

From the Associated Press: “Eleven advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted to retain the so-called black box warning about reports of suicide, hostility and depression among Chantix patients. Six advisers said the label should be slightly changed and one panel member voted to remove the warning completely.”

These aren’t the only side effects of using this particular anti-smoking drug though. In fact, the suicidal and violent thoughts that occur in individuals who experience those particular side effects are not listed as side effects on Chantix’s website.

The listed side effects are nausea, sleep problems, constipation, gas, and vomiting. Interestingly enough, beneath the above side effects that are listed on Chantix’s website, Chantix also states “These are not all the side effects of Chantix.”

Those are the facts. This is our rant:

A reason people quit smoking is improved quality of life. Regaining senses, including smell and taste, by eliminating tobacco consumption increases one’s quality of life. Quitting tobacco also keeps a person from smelling like tobacco smoke and bettering their social encounters with other individuals. This is without mention of the considerable improvements to one’s quality of life when they no longer require constant smoke breaks and vast amounts of money spent on tobacco products.

If a person uses Chantix to quit smoking, there’s the possibility that they’re trading one negative aspect of consumption for the negative side effects Chantix. Instead of reduced senses of smell and taste, someone may enjoy the taste of their own vomit more frequently. As opposed to smelling like tobacco, individuals may produce less-than-favorable smells on a more regular basis. The “sleep problems” associated with Chantix may also be something that impacts an individual’s ability to function normally, which could lead to far worse issues than having to take a five minute break once an hour just to fulfill an addiction.

The other reason people quit smoking is to prolong their life. This, to us, is a most simple idea. We’ve read that upwards of 30 percent of individuals who use Chantix experience suicidal or violent thoughts when using the anti-smoking drug. If people are killing themselves because of this drug, then it’s a wash. Chantix may be helping to add a few more years to some folks lives, but is it worth possibly drastically reducing the years of life other folks trying to quit smoking?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, our product isn’t perfect. Vaping, for a lot of folks, still involves consumption of the addictive chemical nicotine…

…But you know what it doesn’t do? It doesn’t make someone want to kill themselves.