So
youve finally decided to quit smoking good for you! By now
youve probably heard about all the health risks of smoking
and may have even experienced some of them yourself. Just as
a reminder, though, smoking is the number one cause of preventable
deaths in the United States (cigarettes are responsible
for at least 1 of every 5 deaths in this country!). This article
will focus on using the nicotine patch to aid you in your quest
to get back to a smoke-free lifestyle.
There
are many therapies that can be used to help a person quit smoking.
Treatments range from the nicotine patch, nicotine
gum, and
a medication called Zyban
(which in the past was used to treat depression) to acupuncture
and hypnotism. Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult,
especially when one tries to quit "cold turkey." Dont be afraid
or embarrassed to ask for help in reaching your goal of quitting!
One
of the more popular forms of treatment for smoking cessation
is the nicotine patch. People who use the patch are three to
four times more likely to quit smoking than those who use no
treatment at all. Remember, however, that there is no "magic
bullet" to make you stop smoking and every person who gets
treatment of any form still has to be very motivated to quit.
There
are several brand names for the nicotine patch, including Nicoderm,
Habitrol, Prostep and Nicotrol. The point of all these nicotine
patches is to deliver a steady amount of nicotine into the body
to reduce cravings. Nicotine is thought to be the main addictive
substance found in cigarettes, so the patch aids in reducing
withdrawal symptoms. The patch is easy to used and tolerated
well by most people.
A
new patch is generally applied to the skin each morning and
left on for twenty-four hours. The patch should be placed on
a relatively hairless area of skin somewhere between the neck
and the waist most people prefer the upper arm or chest area.
Once applied, the patch does not result in any restrictions
on activity and is often hardly noticed.
The
patch is usually used for a total of roughly eight weeks, as
scientific studies have shown no advantage to a longer duration
of treatment. During the first four weeks a high dose of nicotine
is inside each patch and this amount is then tapered down once
or twice over the next four weeks. Certain individuals may benefit
from a different dosing schedule talk to your doctor about
the best treatment for you.
Side
effects of the nicotine patch are generally mild. The most common
side effect, which occurs in up to 50% of people, is a local
skin reaction. This is often mild and can be minimized or eliminated
by rotating the area where the patch is applied. For moderate
skin reactions a steroid-containing skin cream may be required
and roughly 5% of people must discontinue using the patch because
of severe skin reactions. The other fairly common side effect
is insomnia. This often resolves as time goes on but the patch
can be taken off before going to sleep at night if needed.
Talk
to your doctor about the possibility of using nicotine patches.
Most people can use nicotine replacement without any difficulty.
As other articles on this site discuss, there are also alternative
nicotine delivery systems that may be preferable for certain
individuals, such as nicotine
gum or nasal
spray.
Quitting
smoking can be frustrating and, at times, may seem like an overwhelming
task. The nicotine patch is one form of treatment that may help
you reach your goal of quitting. Some people say that smoking
is so pleasurable that they cant live without it. If you ask
the people who have severe emphysema or lung cancer, though,
they will tell you they wish they did live without it. Good
luck!
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