7mg patch

[Mike-318]

Back story quit cigarettes back in September of 23’ have took one drag while on vacation over the summer disgusting! Have no desire! At that time I switched to vaping did enjoy it, although I was constantly itchy/skin rashes this year on Halloween it finally clicked to me that maybe it was some chemical in the the vape I was allergic to so I ended up switching to 4mg mini lozenges. Was working great for me until they started giving me a sore throat! I just can’t win! So last Monday I switched to the patch started with 14mg patch but that lasted for 30 minuets as it made me dizzy nauseous etc so I switched to a 7mg patch have been using that for past week. Definitely not working as well as the lozenges still crave pretty frequently not horrible I guess. Pretty proud I haven’t have a cigarette in over a year and haven’t vaped since Halloween though! But I am super depressed that I have no desire for a cigarette or a vape but I am still craving “nicotine” in some form I guess. I get I’ve only been on 7mg patch for a week but like am I always going to feel this way/crave?

Edited November 24 by Mike-318

[QuittingGirl]

Welcome to Quit Train @Mike-318!  Very glad to know that you quit smoking and vaping last year.  Vaping, from what I heard, is even worse than cigs.  Here is an article from the NY Post of what happened to a young 32 year old woman.  It was horrific.    https://nypost.com/2024/09/16/lifestyle/vaping-addict-finally-quit-when-lungs-collapsed-black-goo-came-out/   

 

I don't have any experience with the lozenges and/or the gum, but I do believe several people on here have, so they should be around soon.  Please stay around so we can give you the support that you need.  Lots of great people on this forum and many have been quit a very very long time.  There is also lots of  reading material and videos to read about the cigarette companies and all types of articles related to quitting and how bad smoking is.  

 

Stick around and good luck to you! 

[Christian99]

Hi MIke--

 

FWIW, I'd urge patience and grace with yourself regarding the patch:  while I think I'm sort of in the minority on this site when it comes to NRT, I'm convinced that the most--and perhaps ONLY--important thing that matters is not smoking or vaping.  If patches are helping you maintain complete abstinence (and you're achieving that), that is an absolute, unqualified success.  Years ago, when I was very active in smoking cessation communities and very aware of the best peer-reviewed smoking addiction research, it was clear to me to that the scientific consensus was that not smoking was and should be the emphasis.  In fact, many addiction experts were recommending NRT beyond the officially stated guidelines.  In my experience, it's best to see smoking/vaping as the enemy, NOT nicotine.  

 

I'll admit that my "expertise" (such as it is/was), is probably about 15 years old, so I can't really speak to what the contemporary research shows.  But I'd say you're doing great, friend.  Do whatever you need to do to maintain this momentum. 

 

Keep up the great work!

 

Christian99

Nearing 23 years quit

[johnny5]

Welcome @Mike-318 and congratulations on deciding to quit nicotine.

 

Prior to quitting smoking, I attempted to switch over to vaping thinking that it was somehow not as bad for you.  I believe I wound up vaping more than I smoked and got headaches and a weird feeling in my mouth.  I would not be surprised if @QuittingGirl is right and that vaping may actually be worse.  The best thing to do is putting smoking and vaping behind you.

 

I did not quit by using patches but many people here have so I would definitely suggest sticking with it and following the instructions.  Quitting is worth the early struggles.

[DenaliBlues]

Welcome aboard, Mike! Glad to hear that you're neither smoking nor vaping - good work!

 

In listening to your story, I wonder if your body is telling you that it no longer wants nicotine? I have no doubt that you get withdrawal cravings that you experience as "wanting" a nic fix. But rashes, sore throat, nausea, dizziness... all of them sound like signals that underneath the chemical addiction, your body may be having a deeper systemic aversion to nicotine. So rather than finding a new way to ingest it, might it be time to find a way to STOP ingesting it? Something to think about.

 

In the meantime, I can share my experience with NRT, for what that's worth. I 100% agree with Christian that any form of NRT is better than smoking or vaping. But nicotine is still a powerful addiction, and there can be a price to pay for it. 

 

I have experience with patches, lozenges and gum. I was a heavy cigarette smoker and I used all three to help with my initial quit. They helped, but absorption thru the skin or the mouth was a much less potent vehicle than inhalation for the delivery of nicotine to the brain. So it took quite a bit of NRT to make any dent on my cravings. And that much orally or via patch could absolutely give me rashes, nausea, etc. It was a delicate balance to get enough but not too much. Even using NRT, I was in a pretty much constant state of withdrawal. In the end, I got fed up with the whole thing... NRT was expensive and a hassle and was less "gratifying" than smoking had been, anyhow. So I tapered fast, then knuckled down to get through the final withdrawal phase. I ditched the patches, lozenges and gum and become fully nicotine free. It was tough for a while, but it feels great now.

 

Every quitting journey is different, so "your mileage may vary." The important thing is to find your own path toward wellbeing and freedom. This forum is a great sounding board and support system. 

 

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard  Mike 

Congratulations on Quitting Smoking and 

vaping  .

We have some great information on our 

Main Discussion Board to help you along . 
I didn’t quit with a patch , but if it helps you to Freedom that’s great .. 

It does sound like your body is not agreeing with Nicotine any more .. 

Is it possible to cut the patch in half to ween you off .

Glad you have found us

[Genecanuck]

Hello @Mike-318... Congratulations on quitting smoking and vaping.  I think I understand your experience because I have also used lozenges and eventually became addicted to patches over time. I agree that remaining smoke free is your number 1 priority and if you feel that you need to remain on the patch to do that, that's better than smoking. 
 
BUT.... you are exactly where I landed after many years, becoming addicted to nicotine in the patches. I had many many lost quits. I would stop smoking for a period, then quit, then go back on the patch and then start smoking again and then..... REPEAT.
 
NRT did help me to disrupt the habit-forming triggers that caused me to smoke. But once those life triggers where gone, all I had left was raw nicotine addiction, which I was feeding with NRT. And I decided that my true path toward wellbeing and freedom was to step down from the patches for good. My friend @jillar reminded me that I was delaying dealing with the normal withdrawals that everyone on this site had to experience when they stepped down from nicotine (smoking, vaping, or any NRT)

 

So, I decided to treat Day one without the 7 MG patches, like I did my Day 1 of not smoking many years ago. I did start to feel better after three days and continued to feel better after a week. After a month, not wearing the patch started to feel normal. According to Infiniterecovery

 

Quote

"It can take up to 1-3 months for your brain chemistry to fully re-balance after quitting nicotine. The most severe withdrawal symptoms occur 1-3 days after stopping nicotine use".

 

You are doing awesome @Mike-318. I recommend wearing the 7 MG patch for two weeks and set a quit patch date. You can do this the same way that you quit smoking. You will find that those craves your experiencing right now, WILL GO AWAY over time.  Stick around here and you will find lots of support. 

 

 

Edited November 25 by Genecanuck