Nicotine patch 21 mg sick help please

[jjwilkerson]

I put on my first 21 mg nicotine patch yesterday morning, I was so sick and vomitting that I took it off I was sick and weak most of the day.  I am a pack or pack and a half smoker generally so that is why I started off with the 21mg patch.  Can I cut in in half I have a whole box full.

Thanks for the advice.

[Patty-cake]

Cutting the patch in half is not suggested. If you are a pack to a pack and a half a day smoke the right size patch is usually the one you have. But.... it sounds like you and the patch are not a good combination.

Please talk to your primary care physician about an alternative quit smoking aid. There are many to choose from these days.

You say you are smoking 1 to 1 1/2 packs a day. Are you currently smoking this much? If so, have you done any of the separation exercises that have been suggested on this site? Doing so will help you relearn what life is like without  smoking through some of your daily activities.

Take some time to get educated about nicotine addiction. Even if you believe you know everything there is to know about it, there is so much more to understand.

[beccas]

I wasn't able to use the patch at all.  I tried a couple of times several years ago and it would make me sick as a dog every time.  I tried starting with the 21mg. and the next time used the 14mg. and still got sick.  You just may not be able to use it.

I also tried using Chantix a couple of times.  Each time I would get through the first week and start feeling sick again.  I have ended up going Cold Turkey because I would rather quit cold turkey than be a Cold Turkey...lol.  There is a lot of support out there, including this site.  I suggest watching Joel Spitzer's stop smoking videos too. http://www.whyquit.com/joel/#video

The most important thing is to know your own body and take care of YOU!!  You don't have to do what everyone else is doing.  You CAN do this...you just need to find the best method for you.

Huggs!

Becca~

[Michwoman]

Like Becca said whyquit.com is fantastic and so is quitsmokingonline.com.

This book is a lifesaver - many people here will tell you that:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

You will be amazed I promise!

[wishingstar]

Like patty I would have to agree. the more educated you are about this addiction , the better your chances are . Opions about the patch differ on  here. I for one tried in the past, and it just kept me hooked and made feel like my skin was burning.. I tried the gum, but I wanted the real thing..  I wanted the crap out of my system fast.  not pro long it.

Now their are few on this site that have quit just fine with the patch or gum.  I would try to find a diffrent method in this case, its make you sick. 

Educating myself really helped me understand this addiction. they told me  to read a book, I kinda laughed, when they said to the read the book, But I am glad I did, and satying close to this makes a huges diffrence.

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

Benefits

http://smokefree-lungs.blogspot.com/2009/12/quitting-timeline.html

  Understanding with drawl

               http://www.becomeanex.org/docs/nicotine_withdrawal.pdf        

http://www.tobaccofreeu.org/cessation/preparing_to_quit.asp

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/aztec-blog/2012/10/16/things-to-do-instead-of-smoke

some links 

renee 8 days in the works

[Nyima_1.6.13]

People here sometimes recommend cutting....do not! It is not the size of the patch that feeds you 21mg, it is the size of the molecules! The patch is only the delivery system! Use them as directed people!

The problem with NRT's without a medical professionals help is there are sooooo... many variables! I was 1 and a 1/2 to 2 packs daily but I probably only inhaled deeply on my first and second drags, then the cigarette sat in an ash tray or I puffed lightly. Pretty sure I couldn't have gone above a 14mg! They really should provide MD's with sample packs and that way people could at least gage where to start! Oh, I forgot they're in the NRT game to make big profits!

Sorry, you are having a hard time....don't give up!

[ladybug49]

One time I took a hot bath then right after whild my skin was still hot iput one one. I never did that agen. thought I was going to die. I quit cold turkey this go around. but there are lots of optiond. I agree read study some. also talk to your dock if you want. what ever you deside to get to freedom get there we are here for you. for me 33 days clean big hugs

[joyeuxencore]

Oh my goodness so sorry you got sick...nicotine is a leathal poison and some of us believe the whole NRT "medical quit" is just a way for drug companies to cash in on the large number of folks quitting...I used the gum for 6 days just to get me through until I had a bit of EXperience re-learning my daily activities without cigarettes...(mostly driving to work and after grocery shopping) THEN I realized that as long as I kept putting the drug in my body the longer my body would crave it...As suggested above...please check out www.whyquit.com I found it to be THE most valuable link...251 days for me today...xo