Cardiovascular disease and varenicline

When varenicline first became available in the UK in 2006, there was reporting on the incidence of cardiovascular serious adverse events among those using the medication and a call to evaluate the association of these events with its use.

Two meta-analyses have reviewed existing evidence. Whilst findings were not uniform, based on the findings of these reviews, the risk of cardiovascular events associated with the use of varenicline is judged to be minimal and clinically insignificant.

With the safety of varenicline now well established, this briefing is no longer being updated. It remains accessible in our archive..