Anti-smoking drug linked to violence

AN anti-smoking drug prescribed under the medical card scheme is 18 times more likely to be linked with violence and aggression compared to other drugs, according to a study.

The research, carried out the by Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in the US, found that Varenicline, known as Chantix in the US and Champix in Europe, had the strongest association with violence by every measure used in the study.

To be disproportionately linked to violence, a drug has to be associated with at least five cases of violence. Statistical analysis also had to indicate that the cases associated with it were unlikely to have occurred by chance.