Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer - Smoking

On The Road For Memorial Day Weekend - Watch Your Medications

Jean Martin — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:11:54 GMT

Many Americans will be on the road traveling this Memorial Day weekend. Unfotrunately, as we all know, holiday weekends with holiday travel present more risk for traffic accidents. We have all heard the warnings to slow down, be patient, leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you, check your tire pressure, etc. But perhaps we should also warn people to check their medications.

First, as you head out for the holiday weekend, you want to make sure that you remember your medicines. If you are diabetic or have high blood pressure or another chronic disease, you do not want to miss your medications. So in those circumstances, your medicines should be the first thing you pack.

But if you have been taking Chantix in order to quit smoking, I would encourage you to leave that one at home, particularly if you are doing the driving this weekend. Over 170 serious events described as accidental injury, including more than 30 traffic accidents and 77 falls, have been reported with use of Chantix. The resulting injuries from the falls have included fractures of ribs, hands, arms, facial bones, spine and lower limbs. According to the manufacturer's own study, there is a doubling of the risk of accidental injury at at .5 mg does. In the 4th quarter of 2007, Chantix accounted for 988 serious injuries in the United States - more than any other individual drug.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not allow pilots flying commerical planes or air traffic controllers to use Chantix. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has warned medical examiners not to prescribe Chantix for commerical drivers. The reason? Chantix is being blammed for blackouts and seizures. I don't have to tell you that the consequences of experiencing a blackout or seizure while driving can be deadly.

You have valuable cargo in your car this weekend, keep them and yourself safe - leave the Chantix at home!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jean Martin

What Would Cause Someone to Blackout While Driving? Maybe It's the Chantix.

Jean Martin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:14:00 GMT

My InjuryBoad Colleague Randy Appleton recently reported about an accident that occurred when a woman blacked out while driving. Too often accidents happen and the driver doesn't remember a thing. The police officer investigating the accident determines that the driver suffered a blackout and that led to the accident.

Not only is is tragic circumstances when the accident results in someone being injured, now the driver is left with the scary questions as to what caused the blackout. Doctors will look for a medical condition - seizure, epilepsy, heart problems, diabetes, etc - that caused the blackout. But now there may be another answer - Chantix.

Chantix is a medication that is used to help people quit smoking. While many people say that is has helped them in this regard, the side effects experienced were worse than the smoking habit. Chantix has been linked to seizures, suicides, heart problems, and diabetes. There have also been numerous reports of traffic accidents due to blackouts while the affected driver was taking Chantix. I think that it is telling that the Federal Aviation Administration will not allow pilots to be taking Chantix and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has banned operators of tractor trailer trucks from using this prescription drug.

If an accident happens due to a driver blackout, Chantix needs to be added to the list of consideration for potential causes.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jean Martin

Just Say No To Chantix

Jean Martin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:16:19 GMT

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has just announced that truck drivers and bus drivers are not allowed to use the smoking cessation medication Chantix. The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that pilots and air traffic controllers cannot use Chantix. So my question to you is: If this drug is not safe for truck drivers, bus drivers, pilots and air traffic controllers, is it safe for the common Joe Blow out there driving down the highway beside me? What about the soccer moms who are carrying the most precious cargo - their children and your children?

Chantix is associated with violent suicides, suicide attempts, seizures and more. This drug simply is not safe. I just heard a story of a loving mother who shot herself in front of her 3 precious children. This woman had no history of depression, had everything to live for and committed this violent act in front of the three people who meant the most to her. The only change in her recent personal history? Using Chantix to stop smoking.

I am a strong advocate for people to quit smoking, but there are better methods than Chantix. Chantix has not been shown to be more effective than a nicotine patch. So why would anyone risk suicide or seizures? Because they don't know - that's why.

Listen, I personally think that cigarette smoking is quite dangerous to your health. But Chantix is not the answer. The anti-drug campaigns have long used the slogan "Just say no." I say "Just say no to Chantix."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jean Martin