Those looking to quit smoking as their New Year’s resolution will have more financial support from the Saskatchewan government, but it may come with serious health risks.
Starting January 1, two smoking cessation prescription drugs, Champix and Zyban, will be covered under the government’s drug plan.
While Zyban was originally used as an anti-depressant, Health Canada recently put out an advisory for Champix to remind users of some very serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts, depression, aggression and self-harm.
“In very, very rare instances it could actually affect people’s moods and behaviour,” pharmacist Spiro Kangles said. “It could exacerbate underlying mental conditions.
Kangles said the number of people affected by those kinds of side effects, however, is less than one per cent.
A statement by Pfizer, who manufactures Champix, says they work closely with Health Canada and keeps up its monitoring of adverse drug reports for all its products.
It is enough for the Saskatchewan government, who says the pros outweigh the cons.
“There are lots of side effects that come with many drugs, so they’re just something that people should be aware of,” Tracee Smith from the Ministry of Health said. “A key piece is talking to your health care provider and your pharmacist, so you understand as a patient what you should be looking for and watching for.”
Health Canada released a statement saying they are constantly re-assessing the risks and benefit profiles of their drugs. In the case of Champix, they say when used as directed the benefits continue to outweigh the risks.
The Lung Association of Saskatchewan is also on board.
“If there’s a drug out that that will help patients quit then we’re fully supportive of that,” Jennifer Miller said. “Some may experience side effects, but side effects happen with drugs.”
Champix does provide a much higher success rate for smokers who use it, regardless of all the serious side effects.
“In their research they found that it could block the receptors in the brain that are responsible for giving you pleasure and reward and that was for the craving of the cigarettes,” Kangles said. “That would also help prevent some of the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal.”
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