Thank you for reporting your experience with this drug. Your experience may well help others.
Your experience with hives is listed as a
Severe side effect of Chantix.
Chantix (varenicline) has some very serious side effects.
See FDA mandated WARNING. Anyone using this medication should be fully informed as to the possible side effects and carefully weigh the potential harm against the advantages.
In relation to the research that demonstrates the “effectiveness” of this drug is also important to know that
“[a]lmost all of the trials were sponsored by the company that manufactures varenicline.” reports the National Institutes of Health.
You allude to the influence of drug companies on the prescription practices of your physician. You are not alone. That has been a long shadow hanging over medical practice for years. In fact, this impression is so pervasive that beginning in 2013
any payment from a pharmaceutical company to a licensed physician must be reported. To a limited extent some information is currently available.
Check on drug company payments to your doctor. While the full force of the law is delayed until 2013, some companies are already reporting such payments. Some voluntarily. Some by court order. You can check the information available on your doctor by linking to:
Dollars for Docs - ProPublica
Tying these factors together,
varenicline has been associated with cardiovascular problems (just one of the many reported problems associated with this drug). However, 2010 research looked at this factor and determined
“Varenicline is effective for smoking cessation in smokers with cardiovascular disease. It was well tolerated and did not increase cardiovascular events or mortality;”
Reading the abstract (summary) of this recent study (that's what most people do) would tend to dampen concern about cardiovascular events. However, at the end of the article you will find the now required disclosure. The study was funded by the manufacturer, Pfizer, and the lead researcher (and at least one other) have a previous history of payments from Pfizer.
Now enter the names of each researcher into the
Dollars for Docs database (link above) for other payments made by Pfizer to the researchers. I believe you will find that a very substantial part of the scientific research demonstrating both efficacy and safety of Chantix involved two researchers, both of whom have a substantial history of payments from the manufacturer.
While payment from drug companies to scientific researchers (or practicing physicians) is not
per se evidence of malfeasance such payments are a factor that should be given consideration by both prescribing physicians and patients.