http://open.salon.com/blog/xylocopa/2011/05/29/chantix_is_suicide_an_expected_eventChantix was approved by the FDA on the basis of five studies, all funded by Pfizer and published in July and August of 2006. The designers of these studies seem to have pulled out all the stops in their efforts to stack the deck in Pfizer’s favor.

As many as one-third of prospective study participants were turned away for conditions including but not limited to a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a history of alcohol or drug abuse, major depression, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, systolic blood pressure greater than 150 or diastolic pressure greater than 95, a body mass index of less than 15 or higher than 38, weight less than 45kg, those with "clinically significant abnormalities in the screening laboratory values…” The list goes on and on.