Smoking patches, or nicotine patches, help quitting smokers battle the symptoms of nicotine addiction. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), between 70 and 90 percent of smokers cite nicotine withdrawal as their sole reason for not quitting. Nicotine patches, which are available to you without a prescription, can help you stop smoking in as few as eight weeks.
How the Patch Works
When you first quit smoking, fighting your craving for cigarettes can be difficult. According to Drugs.com, withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation include anxiety, difficulty concentrating, irritability, restlessness and anger, among many others. Nicotine patches, which are applied directly to your skin, deliver a low, steady amount of nicotine to your bloodstream without the toxic effects of cigarette smoke. Wearing a nicotine patch won't deliver the same satisfaction as smoking a cigarette, but it does reduce the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Before You Use the Patch
There's more than one way to use nicotine replacement therapy. In addition to the patch, you can also choose from nicotine gum or lozenges, which are available without a prescription, or a nicotine inhaler or nasal spray, for which you need a doctor's prescription. Before you decide nicotine replacement therapy is for you, you must first make the decision to stop smoking. According to a June 2001 article in "American Family Physician," you should not smoke cigarettes while wearing the patch or using any other form of nicotine replacement therapy.
Proper Use
According to the National Institutes of Health, a nicotine patch offers the best results to people who smoke more than 15 cigarettes each day. Most quitting smokers initially start with a stronger patch that contains between 15 and 22 mg of nicotine, while smokers who smoke under 10 cigarettes daily may opt for a weaker patch of 14 mg. Apply the patch to a part of your skin located above the waist but below the neck, says the NIH. To avoid skin irritation, don't put the patch on the same part of your body each day. Wear each patch for 24 hours before replacing it with a new one. After four weeks, decrease the strength of the nicotine patch. If you use a full-strength patch, use a weaker patch that contains between 5 and 14 mg of nicotine for another four weeks.
Cautions and Concerns
Using the nicotine patch can result in some side effects, says Drugs.com, which may include nausea, dizziness, high blood pressure and irritation and redness of the skin. You can wear the patch when you go swimming or take a shower, as it's impervious to water. If the patch you're wearing falls off, replace it with a new one. Don't try to cut the patch into smaller pieces to adjust the dosage. When you dispose of used patches, make sure you place them in a trash receptacle that's not accessible to children or pets.
Stop Smoking Success
Nicotine addiction isn't just physical--it's also mental, points out the ACS. Numerous smokers who quit smoking using the nicotine patch or another form of NRT eventually start smoking again. You may have many false starts before you quit smoking for good. To enhance your chances of quitting smoking for good, combine NRT with other methods to address the psychological component of your addiction. According to the ACS, studies indicate that using the patch and engaging in a smoking cessation program double your chances of kicking the habit for good.
