Varenicline and Suicidal Behaviour: a Cohort Study Based on Data From the General Practice Research Database

This study sought to determine if varenicline, a smoking cessation product, is associated with an increased risk of suicide & suicidal behaviour compared with alternative treatments bupropion & nicotine replacement therapy. A cohort study was done with 80,660 patients, aged 18-95 years, who were prescribed a new course of a smoking cessation product between September 2006-May 2008. There was no clear evidence that varenicline was associated with an increased risk of fatal or non-fatal self-harm, although a 2-fold increased risk cannot be ruled out on the basis of the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval. There was no evidence varenicline was associated with an increased risk of depression or suicidal thoughts. (18 refs.)