KEY POINTS:
MedSafe says it has known for months of links between an anti-smoking drug, and suicidal thoughts in people taking it.
Newly released research in the US shows an increasingly likely link between the drug Chantix, sold here as Champix, and serious psychiatric behaviour.
The medication is prescription-only, and has been monitored by the government watchdog for the last nine months.
Chair of Medicines Classification Dr Stewart Jessamine says the drug is related to anti-depressant medicines, which are often linked to psychiatric disturbance. He believes more research needs to be done into whether the drug causes or inflames the mental disorders.
He says users and prescribers should be aware any anti-smoking product can be linked to psychiatric disturbance.
- NEWSTALK ZB
