Study Indicates increased risk of heart attack, congestive heart
failure and irregular heartbeats Chantix® (varenicline
tartrate), a smoking cessation drug manufactured by Pfizer, has
been linked by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine to an increased risk of "serious adverse cardiovascular
events" that could include heart attack, stroke, and
cardiovascular related death. The study differentiated between
patients with no previous heart conditions and those with a
history of heart attacks or other heart-related conditions.
Other outcomes researched in the study included coronary artery
disease, irregular heartbeat, congestive heart failure and more
(page 2 of study). The drug attaches to nicotine receptors in
the brain, blocking the influence and "pleasurable effects of
nicotine." It is also said to reduce both craving and the
addictive effects of cigarettes. While the drug has helped
smokers who wish to quit at double the success rate of no form
of treatment, reports of the frequency and