When should I stop NRT?

[momobrick]

I've been reading on the forums a lot this morning. I stumbled on a debate between going cold turkey and using NRT. I did a little research online as well, and read that more people have longterm success with cold turkey. 

 

In my situation, I quit smoking 9 years ago using nicotine gum. I chewed it for about 4–6 months when I was having a craving. Over time I noticed I went through less pieces a day, until one day, I just didn't need it any more. 

 

Well, last year I started smoking again when I started dating my now husband who smokes. And now I'm quitting, this time using the patch (Step 1) as well as gum when I need it. 

 

My initial thoughts were that I would use NRT to hold off the physical withdrawal while I cope with changing habits and routines, as well as the emotional side of quitting.

 

Plus, I'm scared to go through withdrawal all at once, cold-turkey style. My vision gets fuzzy on the edges and I can't concentrate or focus, like at all. I basically become a pile of un-productiveness, and I am super busy this month.

 

I want to be successful at this quit. I DO NOT want to relapse. 

 

What do you guys think I should do? Should I try cold turkey? Or should I follow through with NRT and ween myself off?

[Evelyn]

I get this crazy cravings.... Itchy feeling... Anxious but hey I'm on the 3th day I suspect it to get better next few days.

[Doreensfree]

We are all different here...folks have quit using NRT...some cold turkey...

I say as long as you follow the instructions and wean yourself off nicotine as prescribed...that's OK..

We say here..never stick anything in your mouth ,and set fire to it...

As long as you quit smoking those dam cancer sticks...

Don't over think ...one day at a time....

[Sonic]

I used the patch for a week or two and knew I was ok.

 

If you have concerns that you're going to relapse, stay on the gum and patches.

 

Either way your not smoking.

 

You'll get opinons on both sides, the way I see it is, if the NRT is working follow the program 

[momobrick]

I used the patch for a week or two and knew I was ok.

 

That's how I feel... I don't think I'll need the NRT for the amount of time the box says to use it for. I feel like I'm starting to be ready to taper off this next week. So I think I will start, see what happens, and if it gets really bad, I'll go back to the patch. I'm doing well with it, but I really want to get rid of the nicotine in my system all together.

[Nancy]

I've been reading on the forums a lot this morning. I stumbled on a debate between going cold turkey and using NRT. I did a little research online as well, and read that more people have longterm success with cold turkey. 

 

In my situation, I quit smoking 9 years ago using nicotine gum. I chewed it for about 4–6 months when I was having a craving. Over time I noticed I went through less pieces a day, until one day, I just didn't need it any more. 

 

Well, last year I started smoking again when I started dating my now husband who smokes. And now I'm quitting, this time using the patch (Step 1) as well as gum when I need it. 

 

My initial thoughts were that I would use NRT to hold off the physical withdrawal while I cope with changing habits and routines, as well as the emotional side of quitting.

 

Plus, I'm scared to go through withdrawal all at once, cold-turkey style. My vision gets fuzzy on the edges and I can't concentrate or focus, like at all. I basically become a pile of un-productiveness, and I am super busy this month.

 

I want to be successful at this quit. I DO NOT want to relapse. 

 

What do you guys think I should do? Should I try cold turkey? Or should I follow through with NRT and ween myself off?

Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and confident about reaching a forever quit is what you should do.

[bakon]

Over a month and I would say your just replacing it with another form. Those companies want you to use it as long as possible.

[beacon]

Way not wait until you feel ready. For some, it is a week, for others months. I did the patches for four months and then stoped. I did the whole step down program. I am not sure if this is the way to go but it was what I did.

[Sirius]

I quit using NRT.

 

The NRT indulges your physical need for nicotine while you come to terms with not smoking.  However, NRT doesn't give your body 'jolts' of nicotine like smoking.  Instead its a very steady low impact.

 

I did 21 mg NRT for a month.  Did 14 mg for two weeks.  Did 7 mg for two weeks.  Then stopped.

 

Going cold turkey from 7 mg was MUCH easier then from 21 mg.  It was still, by far, the biggest step.   But it was more a step then the leap you make doing cold turkey. 

 

Thing is, after going two months with out smoking, when you do, finally, terminate nicotine, its like your missing something but your not certain what it is, as you've already gone a fair bit without lighting up.

 

After a while this too will pass.  Takes a long freaking while in my opinion, but it does pass.

 

The longer you use NRT, the less you associate nicotine with smoking.  You still have the physical addiction (reduced a tad), but the mental "habit" of lighting up is ...uh um... ameliorated.  <====My big word of the day.

 

Anyhow, that's how it worked for me.  Hope your journey is equally successful.

[ChRiSpY]

I quit chewing the gum.  Like you... I used less and less everyday until one day I realized that I really didn't need or care about the gum anymore.  I did not have any issues not chewing anymore.

 

Do what you need to do for you... we are all different in our quits.

 

NRT vs. Cold Turkey.... WHO CARES... just don't smoke anymore.

 

Keep on keepin on.

[Sazerac]

I quit cold turkey because I didn't want to prolong my addiction

and didn't want to give any more money away to nicotine.

But, I honestly know that

Any way you quit smoking is the best way.

[momobrick]

I had been using step 1, but decided I was ready for less nicotine. I wanted to see how bad off I would be if I just stopped using the patches all together, so yesterday I didn't use one. I did have a step 2 patch in my purse, just in case. But you know what? I totally didn't need it! I did not have horrible withdrawal symptoms. There were a few strong cravings, so I did chew some of the 2 mg gum to get through those. All in all though, I put way less nicotine into my system yesterday than any previous day. And I feel really, really good about it. 

 

I know the gum works for me, so I'm going to keep using that for now, when the cravings are really bad. I'll do that for a few weeks, and then I'll work on chewing less and less gum. 

[IndigoChilde]

I've heard you shouldn't use two NRT products at the same time because you risk nicotine overdose, same as if you smoke while using the patch. I'd follow up on that with your doctor. But if you aren't having symptoms of overdose you're probably fine. I'm thinking of trying the patch again with this quit, though I got a rash last time, but it didn't itch. I wonder if I was allergic to the patch, or the area just got irritated. But if it helps you not smoke, I say go for it. It helped me when I was in a mental institution where I couldn't smoke. Makes me wonder why I went back to smoking after not smoking for a few days.