Champix is one of the many cessation treatments available on the market (and on prescription), differing from most because it doesn't contain nicotine.
Not long after the article in the main story appeared, the press threw out a story to the effect that Champix was not harmful. An example is published in the MedLexicon News.1 A classic case of bad headline writing, the article is headed 'No link between smoking cessation drug and increased risk of self harm or depression'. Embedded in the article we read,
Although they found no strong evidence of an increased risk of self harm related to varenicline, the authors caution 'the limited power of the study means we cannot rule out either a halving or a twofold increased risk'.
So much for no link. Even the EPG2 drug information page on Champix gives the information:
Post-marketing cases of myocardial infarction, depression and suicidal ideation have been reported in patients taking varenicline. There have also been reports of hypersensitivity reactions, such as angioedema and facial swelling.
That's alright then – there is a link between Champix and other kinds of harm though we don't know that it is conclusive. Note also the ban3 on aviation personnel taking Champix, implemented last year.
Our main story is the work of a hypnotherapist, Chris Holmes. He notes how nearly two years after a safety warning had been issued about suicidal thoughts and behaviour connected with Champix, no warning has appeared on the site for Action on Smoking and Health – an organisation supposedly set up with the health of smokers in mind.
He also notes how the treatments recommended by ASH are exclusively drug based. Even after former Director Deborah Arnott had been forced to apologise to Easyway, because she denied they had a 53 per cent success rate, ASH did not do the decent thing and recommend the Allen Carr method (or hypnotherapy), both of which boast far better results than drug therapy without adverse side effects. It is hard to escape the conclusion that ASH is 'simply a shop window for drug companies POSING as a public health charity'. It is telling that the page for non-NHS treatments is empty.4
Last week the Department of Health issued a series of press releases honouring heroes in the 'smoking cessation profession' from different areas5 in the north west of England6. I was under the impression that such awards were usually given for voluntary work but those nominated do appear to be on the public payroll for their activities.
The expression 'smoking cessation profession' suggests that careers are based on trying to stop people smoking – how strange! ... so many people employed to fight the use of a legal drug that nobody has any intention to outlaw, but they do want to control it. Even more astonishing that, like ASH, the NHS appears to promote only drug remedies7 to smoking, rather than hypnosis or the Easy Way method – although they do supply books, and counselling support. There is reason to doubt, however, that 'you are four times more likely to quit with NRT', as Chris discovered8 earlier this year.
It is hard to escape the conclusion that drug manufacturers have their interests well and truly tied up with tobacco control – it is imperative that politicians realise that the smoking cessation treatments that are being offered to smokers are not the ones that produce the best success rates, but those that further the interests of tobacco control. In the words of Allen Carr9 in his open letter to Tony Blair:
“Your government, aided by the medical establishment, the NHS, ASH and QUIT, under the powerful influence of the pharmaceutical industry, is pouring hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money each year into the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies which are, in effect, competing with the tobacco industry to supply the nicotine addicted market and perpetuate nicotine addiction.”
This is hard enough for those of us at large in the community: it is even worse for those not at liberty, like people in psychiatric care, whose smoking facilities are being closed to them.10
References:
F2C Press Office
