Nicotine patches are a form of nicotine replacement therapy to help you quit smoking by replacing the cigarettes and cigars you would use to obtain nicotine with a less toxic method of delivery. While you still get the nicotine you are trying to avoid, the point in using them is so that you don’t experience the craving you normally get from your smoking addiction when you don’t smoke.

Nicotine patches have been found to be more effective in helping you quit if you use them along with some kind of psychological or behavioural therapy or hypnosis.

How Nicotine patches work.

Nicotine patches are plaster like skin patches impregnated with nicotine. You stick them on an arm or body surface and they gradually release nicotine through your skin over a period of time (up to 3 hours to get into your blood, with effect lasting for 16-24hours depending on brand and dose).

They are usually waterproof so you can wear them while bathing or any other activity.

You would normally change your patch with a fresh one once a day.

The patches come in different sizes and contain different doses. Larger patches tend to contain higher quantities of nicotine. Some manufacturers recommend starting with a larger patches and gradually switching to smaller sized patches (and reduced doses) over a period of time.

Nicotine patches help you to diminish the normal nicotine withdrawal symptoms of fidgeting, irritation, inability to concentrate, drowsiness etc.

Side effects:

Some people have claimed to become dependent on their nicotine patches – which is not unexpected since they also supply nicotine to the body.

Nicotine patches have been found to cause dizziness, sped up heartbeat, headaches, vomiting, skin problems, sleeping problems, vivid dreams, in some people. Some users find that removing their patches in the evenings helps them alleviate sleep disturbances.

How do I use a nicotine patch

You should however use the patches according to the directions given to you by your doctor who has your medical records and is aware of specific information concerning you, and your body that the manufacturers will not be aware of.

Normally, the patches are simply Nicotine impregnated plasters you can apply to any hairless part of your skin. It is best to place them on your shoulder, back or upper arm.

Since the patches can cause skin rashesor irritation in some people, try to apply new patches to different parts of your body each time rather than the same place each day.

Don’t remove your patch and put it back on. Don’t use patches and cigarettes at the same time – they are substitutes for the cigarettes you would normally use.

Change your patch to a new one daily. Avoid using more than one patch a day.

It can take up to 8 weeks to quit but they have been shown to cut craving in under 2 weeks.

How effective are Nicotine Patches:

This is debatable with a range of studies showing effectiveness from 10%-40%. They are more effective when used with some other method of quitting as they only cut down on the withdrawal symptoms.

Filed under: Drugs to Quit Smoking

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