analysis suggests that the benefits of varenicline for smoking cessation outweigh the as yet unproved risks of suicidal behaviour. In the UK, varenicline is recommended alongside bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy as first line treatment for smoking cessation.75 Therefore, the reduction in varenicline prescribing in the UK should be as much a cause for concern to clinicians, regulatory agencies, and policy makers as the unfounded fears regarding varenicline’s association with suicidal behaviour.
