The nicotine patch is one of the most commonly used quit-smoking aids and one of the most effective, too. Studies have shown that using some form of nicotine replacement therapy or triplets, your chances of quitting smoking successfully. Nicotine replacement therapy products are the most commonly preferred mode of reducing nicotine dependence, making the nicotine patch one of the most popular nicotine replacement therapies.

In this blog, we will share what is nicotine patches, how you use nicotine patches, and the side effects of nicotine patches. Also, we will discuss other things to watch out for during the use of the nicotine patch.

What Is Nicotine Patches?

The nicotine patch is merely a means of giving a controlled dose of nicotine across the skin at a set rate throughout the day, whereas the purpose behind using the patch is to taper the body down to nicotine (exposing it to none of the rest of the nasty chemicals present in cigarettes).

This often makes quitting nicotine “cold turkey” less difficult. An addicted person may also find that the patch makes physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms more acceptable.

Does the Nicotine Patch Work?

There are seven first-line medications and nicotine replacement therapies that have consistently been demonstrated to increase long-term abstinence rates:

• The medications are bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix).
• Nicotine replacement therapies include nicotine gum, lozenges, inhalers, nasal spray, and a patch. All five therapies appear to have a roughly equivalent efficacy.
• Such a study showed that quitting nicotine smoking is most effective using a long-lasting nicotine patch supplemented with short-acting treatment in the form of either a lozenge, gum, or nasal spray. 
• When you use these treatments for 12 weeks or more, they will significantly boost your chances of quitting nicotine.

How Do You Use Nicotine Patches

The following steps outline how to use the nicotine patch; however, every person is unique. Therefore, your best course of action would be to go and see your doctor to ensure that you’re using your patch for the best and safest results for you.

• Stick the patch to clean, hairless, oil-free skin on your upper arm, chest, shoulder, or back. Aim for skin that is not scarring, irritated, or hairy.
• After you have placed on a patch, wash your hands to remove the remaining nicotine.
• Some patches are designed to be worn for 24 hours, but you may prefer to wear one to bed at night and apply a new patch the next morning.
• The application site should be switched each day to prevent skin irritation, and a different place should be used daily.
• Toss the patch. Fold the patch in half, sticky side in. Make sure it is out of reach of pets and children. It can poison them if swallowed.

See a doctor or other health care professional and work together to develop a quit plan for you to quit the nicotine patch.

Side Effects of the Nicotine Patch

There are a few side effects when using the nicotine patch.

• Nicotine patches can interrupt sleep if they are worn at night, and could also cause bad dreams. If this is a problem for you, remove the patch at night and apply a fresh one in the morning.
• In some individuals, new patches sometimes cause itching, burning, or prickling upon application. This side effect disappears within an hour as the nicotine begins to interact with the skin.
• Redness or swelling at the patch site may occur for up to 24 hours.
• Diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, nausea, or vomiting
• Shortness of breath, arrhythmia, seizure, a severe rash, or swelling.

Always discuss with your doctor before using the nicotine patch, and when symptoms are severe, or they become persistent for some days or weeks.

The Final Word

Nicotine is extremely addictive and challenging to quit. If you are planning to quit smoking, vaping, or other tobacco products, the nicotine patch is an excellent adjunct in helping decrease the cravings for nicotine and diminishing withdrawal symptoms. Rates of success are considerably higher with nicotine patches than with quitting alone, and even higher when some form of counselling is used in addition to nicotine replacement therapies. You can shop for affordable stop-smoking products at Direct Care, we feature a range of products from top brands.