Overview
- The medicine is now listed in the Gazzetta Ufficiale and in pharmacies, with the National Health Service reimbursing it only for patients in accredited stop‑smoking programs.
- Outside those programs the drug remains available by prescription and typically costs about €90 for the standard 25‑day course.
- Use is recommended for adults ages 18 to 65 due to limited data in younger and older groups, and the most common side effects are mild gastrointestinal issues.
- Clinical studies and institutional reports show higher quit rates than placebo or nicotine replacement, with about 40% of patients smoke‑free at one year in some studies.
- Specialists urge combining the medicine with counseling at centri antifumo, and the policy broadens access beyond earlier varenicline reimbursement that was limited to patients with COPD or cardiovascular disease.