Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the major avoidable causes of disease and mortality  among adult smokers globally. India has 200 million estimated smokers. Every year in our  country, smoking causes the deaths of almost 600,000 males between the ages of 25 and 69. The  most common reason for smoking is the physical nicotine dependence. Varenicline is a novel  class of drugs for the cessation of smoking that reduces the rewarding effects of nicotine and  also reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting nicotine. The present  study was undertaken to study the efficacy of Varenicline in nicotine de-addiction.

Materials and Methods: 50 healthy and well-motivated Security Forces Personnel, ages  ranging from 20-58 years, who self-reported nicotine deaddiction constituted the sample for  the present study and were administered the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire for Nicotine  dependence.  

Results: There was a significant difference existing between the pre and post-values on the  Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire after six months of review. Subjects who had responded  well to deaddiction with Varenicline remained in remission even after six months.

 Conclusion: Varenicline is a first-line smoking cessation therapy option, as a possible  substitute for bupropion SR or NRT.