The highly flaunted smoking-cessation drug, Chantix faces numerous lawsuits on cancer risks. The snit-smoking pills contain high levels of nitrosamines, which is proved to be carcinogenic in nature. Consumers who used Chantix and encountered adverse side effects are suing the manufacturer, Pfizer.
Chantix came to the market as the most effective anti-smoking drug as it is nicotine-free. Though many other anti-smoking therapies and aids are available, Chantix soon became of the favorite of many. However, soon after it was introduced into the market, it started facing adverse events like causing suicidal thoughts in the users.
Many are reported to have committed suicide after using Chantix. Most of the cases included self-inflicted injuries as the cause of death. Many faced side effects like depression, sleep issues, unusual dreams, memory loss, seizure, suicidal tendency, and symptoms of heart attack or stroke and vision changes.
Initial claims were based on causing the suicidal tendency in the users. From 2008 to 2013, Pfizer faced more than 2700 Chantix lawsuits and settled them for $288 million in 2013. Soon after that it started facing cancer claims as it was proved that it contained high levels of nitrosamine, a known carcinogen. Many studies proved that it could cause tumors in rodents.
If the nitrosamine in Chantix, N-nitroso-varenicline is low, it would not cause much harm to the human beings as it was only an anti-smoking drug used temporarily to stop smoking. However, ingestion of higher levels of N-nitroso-varenicline (FDA limit 37 ng per day but Chantix contained 155-474 ppm of nitrosamine) can land the users in danger.
After it was proved that Chantix contained high levels of nitrosamine, Pfizer recalled a few lots of Chantix in June 2021. The following month, Pfizer stopped the production of Chantix. Only in September 2021, Pfizer extended its recall of Chantix from the market. The FDA approved other generic versions of Chantix (varenicline) with accepted levels of nitrosamine.
All the Chantix cancer lawsuits are consolidated into MDL 3050 on December 22, 2022. The MDL is still in its infancy. The lawsuits alleged that Pfizer made and marketed a defective drug putting the lives of consumers at stake. It advertised Chantix as the most effective smoking cessation aide but produced it with high levels of dangerous nitrosamines. Despite knowing of the dangerous levels of nitrosamine presence in the drug, Pfizer failed to warn the medical community and the consumers of its risks.
To prove every personal injury claim like Chantix lawsuits, medical records of the victims play a vital role. Any minute detail documented in the medical records can turn out to be vital in proving the claims. Digging through hefty medical records to identify the evidence is not an easy task for the attorneys. Medical record review companies like LezDo TechMed can assist them in reviewing medical records and unearth crucial evidence to substantiate the Chantix-related injuries.
