After reports that Iraq war veterans were enrolled in trials of Chantix without being advised of its potential psychotropic side effects, the Veterans Affairs office has taken heat over its handling of the study and the ensuing outcry.  However, it may just be the start of a long road for the maker of Chantix, drug giant Pfizer.

The first of surely many lawsuits to come has been filed against Pfizer for failure to disclose these potentially harmful side effects. A widow whose husband committed suicide in January is suing Pfizer, claiming that his use of the drug caused behavioral alterations that led to thoughts of suicide, although he had previously experience no such behavior.

Chantix has had a troubled history since it was put on the market in 2006.  Though it initially saw success, reports of psychiatric side effects not immediately disclosed caused sales to taper off. The FDA struck a major blow with its consumer alert suggesting Chantix needed further study, but the death knell was the report of veterans being subjected to treatment for quick cash (one soldier had a gun confrontation with police that resulted in a taser shock).

Now the lawsuits will begin to roll out…