Nicotine Patches, how do they really work?

[angyl1]

I am using the 14mg and it is doing wonders. I am not craving a cigg, or having withdrawal. Its been 3 days since my last cigg and I smoked for 4 years about 7-10 a day. The morning was hard for me, because I don't sleep in them. But after I put it on it worked instantly. My question is, how am I suppose to be quitting if I am still getting what I need? What is the point of it, if I am still feeling like I am smoking?

 

[john]

Well the nicotine isn't as dangerous as the actual smoke, so by getting your nicotine without the smoke you are reducing your risk for cancer.

Also if you reduce your nicotine over a longer period of time you can phase it out completely. Just don't rush otherwise you are more likely to fall off the wagon.

 

[tink]

Yep, you cut down...so after that, you'll go down to the 7mg....and a few days of withdrawal isn't as bad at 7 as it is at 14 Mg's....

You are still gonna go through the withdrawal, and you are still gonna wanna smoke, and you are still gonna wanna throttle people and leap out of your skin. But the rationale behind them is two fold: 1) gently adjust the drop - if withdrawal isn't as bad as going cold turkey, you are more likely to endure it. Same idea behind giving suboxone to junkies....2) it gives you some practice as 'living as a non-smoker' - hopefully after a few weeks you aren't used to having a smoke in your hand, with your morning coffee etc...

Smoking is 16 times harder to quit than Heroin (and 17 times harder than that for women*) - - people quit heroin everyday. So whatever it takes....do....

(15, 10 and 5?, wow, You guys have a 'top end' that isn't high enough IMO, but I do wish we had a bottom end that was lower)

 

[tink]

Yep, you cut down...so after that, you'll go down to the 7mg....and a few days of withdrawal isn't as bad at 7 as it is at 14 Mg's....

You are still gonna go through the withdrawal, and you are still gonna wanna smoke, and you are still gonna wanna throttle people and leap out of your skin. But the rationale behind them is two fold: 1) gently adjust the drop - if withdrawal isn't as bad as going cold turkey, you are more likely to endure it. Same idea behind giving suboxone to junkies....2) it gives you some practice as 'living as a non-smoker' - hopefully after a few weeks you aren't used to having a smoke in your hand, with your morning coffee etc...

Smoking is 16 times harder to quit than Heroin (and 17 times harder than that for women*) - - people quit heroin everyday. So whatever it takes....do....

(15, 10 and 5?, wow, You guys have a 'top end' that isn't high enough IMO, but I do wish we had a bottom end that was lower)

 

[DAVE]

The point is that you slowly lower the dose of nicotine you are taking in by reducing the patch strength, the should be a leaflet explaining this with the patches.

"The patches come in three different strengths: 15mg, 10mg and 5g. Most smokers should start with the 15mg strength. One patch should be applied at the same time every day, usually in the morning. It should be removed after 16 hours, usually at bedtime. If after eight weeks at this strength you have managed not to smoke, you should then drop down to the 10mg strength patches for two weeks, and finally the 5mg patches for two weeks. Reducing the patch strength in this way gradually weans you off the nicotine, allowing you to focus on breaking the smoking habit. By the time you stop using the patches your psychological urge to smoke should be reduced."