Chantix is a kind of a big deal here in my house. Because in late 2008/early 2009, my husband used Chantix to quit smoking. It worked well in that he found it easy to quit smoking after some 30 years. It did not work well in that he had a seizure in 2009, and it changed our lives.
Back then, seizures were not part of the warnings on the label. Even if it had been, he probably would have tried it, just as many folks ignored the "strange dreams" and suicidal thoughts things to give it a whirl. What is sad, to me, is that after the seizure, we mentioned the "possibly Chantix" cause to our doctor -- a doctor who had not prescribed it. And he said, oh, no, Chantix couldn't possibly have caused the seizure - it's been well studied.
Imagine our surprise when nowadays, Chantix advertisements mentions seizures as a possible outcome.
Meanwhile, what does a seizure do to your life? If you need to drive to see clients for work, you're out of work, because you can't drive for six months. When you apply for new jobs, they think you were DUI unless you feel like telling them about your exciting adventure in the Emergency Room. Of course, if you do that, you've revealed a pre-existing condition, which was not covered by most healthcare in 2009, and might not be covered in the future. Suffice it to say: it was really hard to get a job during the first six months after a seizure.
During those first six months, you're on anti-seizure medications. But in many states, including mine, after six months seizure-free, you can go off medication. Which made no sense to me, since the six months kinda proved that the medication was working. But whatever.
After my husband's second seizure in 2011, he was again prescribed medication, medication that he will be taking for the rest of his life. But of course, the second seizure included another six months without pay, along with a modest amount of depression - due, I think to the no-work thing, rather than the psychotropic affects of Chantix earlier.
Adult onset seizures are kinda rare, and usually indicate a brain tumor. No brain tumor here. But, so far, a year of lost wages due to the two seizures, and a never-ending prescription cost.
Vaping seems way easier, cheaper, and safer.