Nicotine patches
A nicotine patch looks like an oversized adhesive bandage. The outer part of the patch sticks to your skin, while the inner portion presses against and slowly releases nicotine into your skin. See a picture of how to use these patches to help you quit smoking or stop using spit tobacco
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Nicotine patches are usually sold in kits that contain enough patches to get most people through the quitting process. Many brands come with different-sized patches containing different strengths of nicotine. You use patches containing more nicotine for the first few weeks, then you step down to patches that contain less nicotine. With other brands, you simply stop using the patch. There is no evidence that slowly decreasing the use of the patch (tapering off) is more effective than abruptly stopping use.1
Nicotine patches are available in forms that supply a constant dose of nicotine for either 16 or 24 hours. There is no evidence that the 24-hour patch is more effective than the 16-hour patch.1
The 24-hour patch may cause sleep disturbance, such as difficulty sleeping or unusually vivid dreams. Removing the patch at about 8 p.m. may stop sleep problems.
Choosing the right patch strength is important to your success in quitting smoking. If you weigh more than 45 kg (100 lb), start with the highest dose patch. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more help choosing the right patch strength.
Use of nicotine patches usually lasts 8 to 10 weeks, but this can vary with the individual and the brand of patch. There appears to be little benefit in using the patch for more than 8 weeks.1
How to use nicotine patches
- Read and follow the directions enclosed with the medicine as well as any given to you by your doctor.
- Apply the patch to a clean, hairless place on the skin between the neck and the waist, such as the upper arm, the shoulder, or the back.
- Do not apply the patch to the same location over and over again. Find several locations and rotate among them. This will decrease problems with skin irritation.
- Wear the patch all day. Do not put it on and remove it as a substitute for a cigarette. Do not remove it in order to smoke a cigarette.
- Some brands of nicotine patches come in several strengths. Use the largest (highest-strength) patch first, then switch to the smaller (lower-strength) patches according to the schedule recommended by the manufacturer.
Your chances of quitting may be increased if you use nicotine gum, inhalers, or bupropion along with the patch. Do not do this unless you first talk with your doctor, because this approach requires medical supervision.
| Author: | Douglas Dana Debby Golonka, MPH Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: August 31, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine John Hughes, MD - Psychiatry Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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