so yay - I'm just over 3 weeks from my quit date and I only had the one relapse!

But I'm having a conundrum. I can't decide when to quit the nicotine patch.

I am super sensitive to all drugs and caffeine and such (I can't even take cold medicine without it making me crazy) and I only smoked about half a pack a day so I started at the smallest dosage they make and I take it off when I go to bed at night instead of wearing it 24 hours. Normally you'd take the highest dose, move down a step and move down another step. That whole process is supposed to last 8 weeks or more. Since I started on the smallest, I was thinking I'd only do it for 4 weeks.

Now, I've forgotten to put one on a couple times in the morning (which in a way is a good sign, cause I'm almost never thinking about smoking, now, ya know?). But I've left a few at my desk at work so I end up putting them on when I get here. This morning, I forgot until after a morning meeting already. Now that I've put it on, I'm feeling the yucky, tingly, speedy effects I don’t like from too much caffeine or cold medicine or whatever.

Everything I've read (including smoking cessation stuff from the Mayo clinic's website) says to be careful not to stop nicotine replacement too early. But I'm only at just over 3 weeks now and I'm not sure I want to do this anymore if I'm gonna get the yucky side effects.

What do you guys think? Have any of you ever used the patch?

I think that warning on there is so you keep with their program and buying patches. But I think it was more of a warning to not cut out "Cold turkey". I think you're far enough along on the small dose that it shouldn't matter. I would probably stop wearing the patch. Your body is saying "I don't need that!"

I'm not sure actually.
I stopped cold turkey, and I'd say week 2 or 3 was when I stopped caring that I wasn't smoking or that I even thought about it.

Personally, I'm a n advocate of quitting cold turkey, so may you can just try not putting the patch on.
The worst that could happen if you're disciplined is you put it back on if you just can't stand it. Either way, the biggest hurdle is done.

I had to reprogram the way I thought about smoking. I had to keep telling myself "ewwww. gross!" even though I was craving it.


Either way, time heals all. 3 weeks is great. Before you know it it'll be 3 months and then 3 years. I'm on year 8 or 9 now I think and I can't imagine a time when I will ever smoke again. Just doing the videos alone where I'm smoking was annoying--the way my clothes smelled, how light headed I got, the yuck mouth, etc. etc.

Can you cut the patch with scissors?

I've never tried these so I'm just sayin' if you cut them up you can possibly decrease your dose so you don't get all tingly? Maybe? I really don't know what I'm talking about?

superspaceboy said:

But the mayo clinic even said that, not just the company that makes the patch. Which is why I was consdiering it good advice.

hmm....

RenHoek said:

I don't know!

But that's a good idea!

I'll look at the package and see if it cautions against that for any reason.

Imago said:

I've tried cold turkey and I can't do that. I'd have to take a week off of work and hole up in a room somewhere so I didn't harm anybody and so nobody would want to harm me.

It's that bad.

I guess my biggest concern is that I've quit before (for 2 weeks and then for 2 months) and I still ended up back smoking. I don't want to do that again. So I want to do everything "right".

RenHoek said:

I'm thinking you can. Or go to a lower dose.

superspaceboy said:

I'm using the lowest dosage they make. I'd have to cut it if I wanted it lower...

i read somewhere that drinking noni juice when you get a craving for a cigarette works.

To overcome cravings for nicotine or other addictive substances, take 3 to 6 ounces per day. Those who have successfully quit smoking say they swish 1 ounce around in their mouth for two minutes before swallowing it and they take their noni juice at least ½ hour before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner. Also, at the time of a craving, take 1 teaspoonful and hold the noni juice in your mouth for 30 seconds, or so, before swallowing. Keep some by your bed at night. If you wake up with cravings, sip some. Do this until you have kicked the habit, then go on to the maintenance dose**. This seems to alleviate the typical withdrawal symptoms. You can’t overdose on noni, so you can take it more frequently, if needed.

horatio said:

noni juice sounds like somethign dirty.

CarrieMpls said:

i was thinking the exact same thing...

CarrieMpls said:

i know

Sounds like you're on track to take it off, right? You started at the lowest dose and you've worn it for the recommended time, so there's nowhere to step down to except no patch at all (unless you can cut it).

I think with quitting smoking the biggest issue is quitting the act, not quitting the nicotine, but that's just my experience. Nicotine doesn't actually feel very good (like most drugs, actually) once you step back from it, like you've done.

What it comes down to is you'll have to choose to not smoke for the rest of your life. That choice is easy after a while, but it will never go away. You can't just assume it over and you're "safe." The patch is less important, now, and what's important is sticking with your decision, learning to appreciate not smoking.