Are you considering to quit smoking? Every year millions of people trying to quit smoking. Only 10% of the people succeeds. Most people start smoking again after a week, partly because they can’t withstand the bodies cry for nicotine. Giving up smoking can be tedious and can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as:
- Continuing urge to smoke
- Irritability, frustration and anxiety
- Concentration problems
- Restlessness
Nicotine patches might help to make things a bit easier on you. Nicotine Patches give you a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day. The patch is used for about 16 or 24 hours a day. This will reduce your carvings for a cigarette. Some users have problems with side effects such as insomnia or skin irritation.
There are Niquitin and Nicotinell patches on the market. Both brands are available at your local pharmacy. Use only the patches on an undamaged skin and do not use them if you suffer from a skin disease like eczema or psoriasis.
- How do nicotine patches work?
- How to use nicotine patches?
- What type of patch do you need?
- What are the possible side effects of nicotine patches?
How do nicotine patches work?
If the patch is placed on your skin, it slowly releases nicotine. The nicotine on the skin is absorbed into your blood keeping a constant low level of nicotine in your body. Yet unlike smoking a cigarette, this takes a while. If you smoke a cigarette, nicotine is absorbed in your blood much faster. But this constant low level release of nicotine, may be enough to keep you from craving cigarettes or experiencing other withdrawal symptoms.
How to use nicotine patches?
If you wake up, paste the patch to a clean, dry and hairless place on your skin, for example on your arm or your hip. You should not shave the skin before pasting. The patch works for 24 hours. This patch allows you to use it during sleep. This ensures that you have less temptation to smoke the next morning. An important warning is that the 24-hour patch may cause insomnia.
- Take a fresh patch out of its packaging and remove the protective liner from the adhesive. Save the wrapper for later disposal of the used patch.
- Stick the patch onto your outer upper arm or any clean, dry, non-hairy part of your trunk.
- Press the patch firmly onto your skin for about 10 seconds, making sure that the edges are sticking well.
- Wash your hands. Any nicotine sticking to your hands could get into your eyes or nose, causing irritation
- After 16 or 24 hours (depending on the brand), remove that patch and apply a fresh patch to a different spot on your body. To reduce the chances of irritation, do not return to a previously used spot for at least a week.
- Fold the used patch in half, place it back in its own wrapper, and throw it in a trash container that cannot be reached by children or pets.
What type of patch do you need?
The patches come in three strengths: 7, 14 and 21 mg per 24 hours. The strength of the patch that you start with depends on how many cigarettes you smoke.
The following guidelines will give you an indication of the average use of the patches. However, you can consult with your doctor or pharmacist about the proper dosage:
- 2 packets or more a day: Start with 2 patches
- 1 packet: Start 21-mg patches
- 15 cigarettes: start with 14-mg patches
- 10 cigarettes: start with 7-mg patches
You can thereafter use lighter patches. Less nicotine is then issued and your body can get gradually used to less nicotine. Eventually you have to stop using the patches.
>>Table of ContentsWhat are the possible side effects of nicotine patches?
If you use the patches, you may experience the following side effects:
- Dizziness
- High blood pressure
- Itching and burning at the application site
- Nausea
- Redness of the skin
Nicotine patches are not suitable for everyone. For people who only smoke occasionally, people younger than 18 years and those breastfeeding, nicotine patches are not suitable.
>>Table of Contents