Nicotine patch is another form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. It is a transdermal patch, which is basically a patch that adheres to the skin to deliver nicotine through the skin and into the bloodstream.
If this is your first try at quitting smoking, I would generally suggest you try quitting cold turkey. Nicotine patches and other stop smoking products I feel comfortable recommending to people who’ve tried and failed in their previous attempt or attempts in quitting smoking. The only exceptions on first time quitters would be those who are long-term smokers, heavy smokers, or people who are self-aware that they are not particularly patient people.
Nicotine patches much like nicotine gums deliver controlled amount of nicotine to your system to help you deal with the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. The release of nicotine in a less intense and slower pace than cigarette allows the user to gradually wean nicotine dependency until the patches are completely inessential. Most patches are worn up to 24 hours, making everyday use very convenient.
It comes in three strengths, the 21mg, the 14mg, and the 7mg. The 21mg is recommended for those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day and the 14mg is recommended for those who smoke fewer than 10 cigarettes per day. The 7mg is the dosage that will finish the quit smoking program. The quit smoking program should last 8-10 weeks and you may lower the dosage depending on the strength you choose.
Generally the financial cost of nicotine patches should compare favorably to the cost of most cigarettes. It could be a different story for the light smokers, but you have to understand once you quit smoking you no longer need to purchase additional nicotine patches. The alternative is to keep smoking your life away.
There are few things you should know before using nicotine patches. On some occasions users may experience irregular heartbeats or palpitations, if so discontinue the use. Speak to a doctor if you experience skin redness for more than four days or if your skin swells. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness and weakness may also show as side effects. With that said, the side effects of nicotine patches are mild unlike Chantix which is reported to cause suicidal thoughts. I’m going off topic here a little, but I would never recommend Chantix to anyone. Nicotine patches are studied as a way of treating schizophrenia and it’s also found to be efficient in reducing post-surgical pain. They are used in other good ways and not just for quitting smoking.
Some 3 percent of nicotine patch users become dependent on the patch. By stopping smoking you no longer subject yourself to cigarette smokes that contain carcinogens known to cause cancer. But the effects on the long term use nicotine patches aren’t clear. It is generally recommended to end the therapy in 4 to 6 months at the least.
As with any stop smoking advice we at Giving Up Smoking provide for our readers, we cannot stress enough of the fact that you are the key to giving up smoking. All the stop smoking aid products are meant to help you through your cigarette free journey. They are useless unless you are onboard with the program. With that said, use all the tools available to your advantage and kick the habit for good. All our staffs at www.givingup-smoking.com wish you the best of luck. Continue with “How To Stay Thin After Quitting Cigarettes”.