[Effectiveness and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation].

Smoking is one of the major avoidable risks for mortality and morbidity. Thus developing new strategies for smoking cessation is a crucial medical challenge. Varenicline is an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist developed especially for smoking cessation. Several trials proved the efficacy of varenicline and its superiority to other medications for smoking cessation (bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy). Varenicline was associated with severe cardiovascular and neuro-psychiatric side effects. This article discusses the current research data on efficacy and safety of varenicline therapy for smoking cessation.