FAA Bans Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix Following Report

Washington (dbTechno) - Following a report from the non-profit group the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned Pfizer’s anti-smoking drug Chantix for use by pilots and air traffic controllers.

The report released by the non-profit group spoke of the serious physical side effects caused by the popular anti-smoking drug from Pfizer, Chantix.

These physical side effects include dizziness, seizures, spasms, and loss of consciousness.

Researchers from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices stated their concern “about the use of Chantix among persons operating aircraft, trains, buses and other vehicles, or in other settings where a lapse in alertness or motor control could lead to massive, serious injury.”

The report cited over 170 events which resulted in accidental injuries.

The FAA, following this report being released, has banned the use of the drug by pilots and air traffic controllers.

The FAA has stated that the ban is effective immediately. There has yet to be any accidents caused by Chantix that have been reported.

Pfizer put out a statement defending the safety of the drug, stating the label clearly talks of the side effects and warnings. Pfizer stated “It is important to understand the limitations of spontaneous adverse event reporting. Often these reports lack sufficient medical information and/or have confounding factors that prevent a meaningful assessment of causality.”

The FAA stands by their decision to ban the use of Chantix.