FDA strikes again: Suicide warning on Chantix and Zyban anti-smoking drugs

It's hard to keep up with the Obama-era Food and Drug Administration. Within the past two weeks alone, the FDA warned that Zicam cold remedy could damage the sense of smell, took aim at lowering the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen, and Wednesday ordered Pfizer Inc (PFE) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) to add a strong black boxed warning on their anti-smoking drugs Chantix and Zyban to highlight the risk of serious mental health problems, including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal thoughts.

As it is, people who quit smoking can experience symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbances. It seems the two drugs may worsen these symptoms. The black boxed warning is the strongest of its kind.