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Vital Information about the Nicotine Patch

All About the Nicotine Patch

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of one of the nicotine patch, one of the most popular NRT’s (nicotine replacement therapies) available on the market today.

• The patch first became available in the U.S. by prescription only in 1992, and by 1996 could be bought over-the-counter.
• The nicotine patch looks like a square tan bandage. Applied once a day in the morning to clean, dry, non-hairy skin, the nicotine patch is left on all day, and removed just before bed. Nicotine patches are also available in a clear material, making them less visible on the skin.
• Wearing the nicotine patch to bed at night can disrupt sleep and cause vivid dreams.
• The nicotine patch works by delivering small, controlled doses of nicotine into the bloodstream, but without all of the other toxic and dangerous chemicals present in cigarette smoke.
• The patch comes in several different dosage strengths, with 21mg(amount of nicotine in the product) being the highest.
• The 21mg patch is recommended as a starting point for people who smoke a pack of 20 cigarettes or more daily. From there, following package instructions, the user steps down gradually to lower dose patches until the final step down to no patch.
• Side effects associated with the nicotine patch may include itching, burning or tingling at the site of the patch. This usually goes away within an hour, and is a result of nicotine coming in contact with the skin. After removing the patch, the skin could be red for up to a day. If a rash develops, or the area becomes swollen or very red, consult your doctor.
• If you take any other medications, be sure to check with your doctor before starting the patch, as it can change the way some medicines work.

The patch, like other NRT’s, allows a person to put more focus on conquering the psychological addiction to the smoking habit without having to endure physical withdrawal from nicotine at the same time.

Let your doctor know if you have any illnesses, including the following:

• chest pains or a recent heart attack
• heart disease
• thyroid disease
• diabetes
• skipped or irregular heart beats
• allergies to tapes, bandages or medicines
• skin rashes or skin diseases
• high blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease.

A DEFINITION OF NICOTINE

Prussic acid is the deadliest poison known to science; nicotine approaches it in poisonousness, and often “acts” as rapidly. Eleven milligrams (about one-sixth of a drop) of nicotine will kill a cat or a rabbit. From one-half to two drops placed on the tongue of a dog kills almost instantly; a drop placed on the eye of a sparrow or a white rabbit kills at once. Eight drops will kill a good stout horse in four minutes. The amount required to kill a man ranges from sixty to one hundred and twenty milligrams, (one to two drops), depending on the age and condition of the individual.

One ordinary cigar contains enough nicotine to kill two full-grown men if extracted and injected internally. Only a very small amount of the nicotine of a cigarette or cigar enters the body with each smoke or chew, too little to kill, else would nobody live to smoke or chew more than once.

Please note! Do not smoke when using any NRT, as you run the risk of receiving an overdose of nicotine.

Signs of an overdose may include:

• dizziness
• upset stomach
• bad headaches
• vomiting
• cold sweats
• drooling
• confusion
• blurred vision
• hearing problems
• weakness or fainting

If you suspect an overdose, take the patch off and call your doctor immediately.

I used the nicotine patch, and it worked effectively for me in alleviating the physical withdrawal from nicotine. Each step down left me feeling mildly edgy for a couple of days, and by the third day, I was back to normal. I was extra good to myself during the transition period. I got more rest, had a treat here and there, and made pamper the word of the day. When I took the final step to no patch, I found the symptoms were just the same as the other shifts – a day or two of edginess and it was gone.  Ridding yourself of the physical addiction of nicotine is the first step to becoming a natural non-smoker.  The final stage is to rid your subconscious mind of the psychological need for cigarettes and tobacco.

As I mentioned, it was a great aid for me, but it worked because I was determined to get cigarettes out of my life no matter what it took. I knew that the responsibility for success or failure was on my shoulders, not on the patch.

NICOTINE OVERDOSE

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of nicotine.

Poisonous Ingredient:
Nicotine

Where Found:

• Animal tranquilizers
• Some brands of insecticide
• Tobacco leaves
• Cigarettes
• Chewing tobacco
• Pipe tobacco
• Nicotine gum (Nicorette)
• Nicotine-transdermal-patches (Habitrol, Nicoderm)

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive

Symptoms:

• Agitation, restlessness, or excitement

• Muscular twitching
• Weakness
• Convulsions
• Coma
• Fainting
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid breathing
• No breathing
• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Drooling (increased salivation)
• Burning sensation in mouth
• Rapid and pounding heartbeat followed by slow heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure followed by decreased blood pressure
• Confusion
• Depression
• Headache

Home Treatment:

Seek emergency medical care immediately. Call Poison Control. You may be instructed to INDUCE VOMITING.

If there is skin exposure, wash the area well with soap and water.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

• The patient’s age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• When it was swallowed or inhaled
• The amount swallowed or inhaled

Poison Centre or a local emergency number:

If you think you are suffering from nicotine poisoning in the US call the Poison Centre on  0800-222-1222 and in the UK call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• May administer activated charcoal.
• May administer a laxative.
• May use gastric lavage (pump the stomach).
• Will treat other symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Overdose may cause seizures. Recovery depends on the dose, the amount of time before treatment, and severity of seizures. An overdose may be fatal. Unless there are complications, long-term effects from nicotine are uncommon.

FINALLY

Nicotine patches if used responsibly are an effective aid in eliminating your physical addiction to smoking.  Always remember that the magic of success is within you, not in a package containing a quit aid. Use the Hypnostyx Quit Smoking programme to help you develop a rock-solid resolve to do whatever it takes for however long it takes, and apply yourself daily to the task. Do this, and you will not fail!

About the Author

I am a clinical hypnotherapist, CBT and NLP practitioner specialising in treating anxiety/panic attacks, traumatic illness, stress management, weight control and quit smoking.  Together with fellow practitioners I run two clinics in the UK, one in Kent and one in Surrey.