Everything You Need to Know About Smoking Cessation Patches
It's hard to quit smoking, but doing so can greatly improve your health and possibly add years to your life. If you've decided it's time to kick the habit, consider using smoking cessation patches to help you do so. These patches help you reduce your nicotine intake gradually over time, reducing the number of cigarette cravings you'll have and increasing your odds for success.
Why choose patches over nicotine gums and lozenges?Smoking cessation patches aren't the only smoking cessation aids available, but there are some compelling reasons to choose them over the alternatives. One is that you don't need to think about the patch throughout the day. You simply apply a new patch every morning and you're set for the day. Lozenges and gums, however, require you to reach for them throughout the day, possibly during an unpleasant craving when you may find yourself tempted to have a cigarette instead. Patches also let you keep your hands away from your mouth, helping to break the hand-to-mouth cycle that leads some people to eat more when they quit smoking.
Which patch do you need?Smoking cessation patches come in three different strengths, each one containing a different amount of nicotine. Each strength is sold separately, with 14 patches in a box. Step one patches contain 21 milligrams of nicotine. Step two patches contain 14 milligrams, and step three patches contain 7 milligrams. Using the suggested routine, most people will need three boxes of step one patches and one box each of step two and three. If you reach the end of your treatment and feel you need to continue a bit longer with the patch, the FDA has given the all-clear to do so. In addition to selecting the strength, you can usually choose tan patches or clear ones if you prefer your smoking cessation journey to stay more discreet.
How many should you buy?The patch is designed to help you step down your nicotine usage gradually. Running out of patches midway through treatment is much like trying to quit smoking cold turkey. Plan how many weeks you intend to spend at each step and consider purchasing all of the patches you'll need at one time. This will keep shipping delays or out of stock items from impeding your progress. Remember to talk to your doctor when making your patch plan. If you're a heavy smoker, he may recommend preloading. Preloading is when you wear a nicotine patch for a few weeks before you quit smoking. If your doctor recommends this, you'll need more patches.