Varenicline is a medication prescribed to help patients stop smoking, targeting one of the most modifiable risk factors for preventing human disease. With smoking contributing to over 400,000 premature deaths annually in the United States, varenicline helps reduce morbidity and mortality linked to conditions such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and malignancies. Additionally, nasal varenicline was recently approved for patients with dry eye disease. Understanding the indications, mechanism of action, administration methods, adverse effects, contraindications, toxicity, and monitoring of varenicline is essential for healthcare professionals. This knowledge enables informed decision-making in prescribing and optimizing dosage regimens, ultimately improving patient outcomes associated with smoking cessation and other therapeutic areas.
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