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Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is not associated with excess risk for adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. However, continuing concerns about CV risk with bupropion and varenicline prompted the FDA and its European counterpart to request that a multinational, industry-funded trial (conducted to evaluate the neuropsychiatric safety of these drugs) be extended to collect additional CV safety data. More than 8000 smokers (mean age, 47) who wanted to quit were randomized to varenicline (1 mg twice daily), bupropion (150 mg twice daily), a tapering NRT regimen (starting with one 21-mg patch once daily), or appropriate placebo controls for 12 weeks, plus 12 weeks of follow-up; a subset of 4500 participants were followed for an additional 28 we…