How do Nicorette Patches work?
Are Nicorette Patches right for me?
Do Nicorette Patches have any side effects?
How long should I use Nicorette Patches?
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How do Nicorette Patches work?
A Nicorette Patch looks rather like a large band-aid. The higher strength patches are larger in size then the weaker ones. You apply the patch to the surface of the skin and it releases controlled amounts of nicotine transdermally into the body over a period of 16 hours. This serves to alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms and relieve the craving for cigarettes.
The patch should be applied to a dry, clean, and hairless area of the body. Usually this is a site above the waist and below the neck. The upper arm is the probably the most popular place for the patch. Other possible areas include the hip, the back, the upper thigh, the front or side of the chest. It goes without saying that the patch is only to be worn externally. Do not put the patch on an area where the skin is broken, fragile, or inflamed. Try to place the patch where it will not rub against clothing. You should not apply a patch to the same area of the skin two days in a row. By rotating where you place the patch you reduce the chance of developing a localized skin irritation. It is suggested that you do not attach the patch to the same area of skin within a one week period in order to minimize the potential for irritation.
Run your finger around the edge of the patch and press the patch to the skin for about 10 seconds so that it remains attached. The patches adhere to the skin quite well and should not fall off even if you take a swim, have a shower or bath. If a patch does fall off, you should dispose of it carefully and replace it with a new dry, clean patch. After applying the patch you should wash your hands just to make sure that you do not transfer any residual nicotine to your eyes or nose. Do not use soap when you do this because soap may increase nicotine absorption. This is why you should also avoid rubbing soap on the patch or the area surrounding it when you shower or bathe.
You must only use one patch at a time. Alternatively, you should not attempt to cut a patch to reduce its strength because they are not designed to be used this way. If you want to use a weaker strength of patch you should just buy them.
The patch only releases the nicotine slowly into the system so it takes a while to work. Self-administered NRT's, such as the gum or inhaler, can be used at the on-set of nicotine cravings as a cigarette substitute to get relatively quick relief but the patches require a little more patience. This is because the nicotine released by the patch can take up to three hours to reach the blood stream. The patch is, however, worn all day and each one lasts 16 hours, which is considerably longer than any of the 'instant gratification' products. As with other NRT products, Nicorette Patches provides enough nicotine to the body to overcome cravings without exposing the user to any of the harmful effects of cigarettes.
Are Nicorette Patches right for me?
Nicorette Patches are not to be used by children or persons under 18 years of age. The patches are not to be used by non-smokers. Nicotine can be harmful during pregnancy so Nicorette Patches should not be used by those who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. The patches should not be used if you are breast-feeding as nicotine can pass into the breast milk. The patches are not suitable for use by people who have recently suffered a heart attack or a stroke. You should also refrain from using the patches if you have a history of heart disease or circulatory problems such as cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), heart palpitations or severe angina.
As with other NRT, you should not smoke while using Nicorette Patches. After all, that is the whole purpose of the exercise. It also increases the risk, however small, of nicotine overdose. You should remember that nicotine continues to enter the bloodstream several hours after removing the patch so even smoking within twelve hours of removing the patch is not recommended. As the patch is not removed until you are ready to go to bed, the chance of this occurring is reduced anyway.
Caution should be taken using Nicorette Patches if you have any of the following medical conditions: high blood pressure, gastric or peptic ulcers, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) kidney disease, liver disease, controlled angina or diabetes mellitus. If you suffer from any of these, or want to know what effect Nicorette Patches may have when taken in conjunction with other specific medications, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist. You should also consult them if you experience a prolonged allergic skin reaction to nicotine.
Patches have some benefits over other types of NRT. You can use the patches without having to worry about damaging your dentures or dental bridgework. You also do not have to abstain from drinking acidic beverages or coffee for 15 minutes at various times throughout the day as you do with the gum and the inhaler. You may, however, want to consider reducing your overall caffeine intake anyway. Sometimes when you stop smoking the effects of drinking coffee become more noticeable as the body absorbs it more efficiently. Nicorette patches work slowly over time and so do not give you the immediate relief from nicotine cravings offered by NRT gum or inhalers. They do, however, provide a constant level of nicotine. Sometimes people using the gum or the inhaler think they should only use them when they feel like smoking but this may be insufficient to stave off nicotine withdrawal.
Do Nicorette Patches have any side effects?
The most common possible side effect of using the patch is a local skin rash or irritation. This is why you should apply Nicorette Patches to alternative areas of skin each time you use one. The rash may be caused by a reaction to nicotine but sometimes it is just a reaction to the adhesive on the patch. If you experience this sort of allergic skin reaction when you use a band-aid then you are probably susceptible to develop this sort of irritation.
Each patch lasts 16 hours. The reason for this is that otherwise you may experience difficulty sleeping. This is because the body is unaccustomed to receiving nicotine while you are asleep. Nicotine can produce vivid, abnormal dreams. There is less chance of experiencing this sort of sleep disturbance when using the 16-hour patch. The 16-hour patch focuses on combating your urge to smoke during your waking hours.
If there is a negative, it is that the 16-hour patches are least helpful when you wake up first thing in the morning. This is when you apply the new patch and it takes a while before this will be transferring nicotine into your system. If you are the sort of smoker who wakes up craving a cigarette then this may be the most difficult time for you. This is usually taken as a sign of a high level of nicotine dependence. Some have suggested that this type of smoker should put on a patch at night to avoid these morning cravings. Doing so, however, would only increase the risk of suffering some form of sleep disturbance, especially as the nicotine from the last patch would still be in the system. If you really have a problem with your cravings in the morning then you would be better advised to try 24-hour NRT patches instead.
Other possible side effects from using the patches include headaches, increased sweating, weakness, diarrhoea, stomach upset, and blurred vision. Keep in mind though that what might be considered side effects could actually be symptoms of nicotine withdrawal if the body is not receiving enough nicotine through NRT to replace the levels lost when you stopped smoking. These symptoms include irritability, anxiety, lethargy and the inability to concentrate.
How long should I use Nicorette Patches?
NRT does not get any easier than this. You just apply one fresh Nicorette Patch to the skin first thing every morning and remove it before you go to bed at night. Nicorette Patches come in three strengths, each lasting 16 hours. The strongest is the 15 milligram (mg) patch, followed by the 10 mg and, last and least, the 5mg patch. Each pack of patches contains 7 individual patches. Under a typical course of Nicorette Patches you would start using the 15mg patch once a day for the first 8 to12 weeks. This is because this is the time period when your nicotine withdrawal is likely to be most severe. For the next two weeks you would then use the 10mg patch and follow this up with two weeks using the 5mg patch. You are gradually reducing the amount of nicotine that your body receives until eventually you can stop using the patches completely. It really depends on the individual as to when they feel comfortable enough to stop using the patches and are confidant that they can avoid relapsing into smoking.
It is easier giving up the patch than it is giving up smoking cigarettes because the patches do not provide the instantaneous satisfaction cigarettes provide. The patch distributes nicotine to the body in a constant fashion so you do not get the nicotine surge that you do with cigarettes. As you only apply and remove a patch once a day there is no sort of behavioural pattern to break as there is with lighting up and smoking a cigarette. You are no longer responding to specific social situations and external stimuli that in the past may have prompted you to reach for a cigarette. It is recommended that you only use the patch for around 6 months. If you find that it takes you longer than this before you no longer fear a relapse into smoking then you should consult your doctor or pharmacist about extended use. Any possible side effects resulting from the prolonged use of the patches are likely to be significantly less than the dangers represented by a return to smoking.
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