The Patch Is An Aid, Not A Guarantee

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I just read where someone was using the patch and had gone through all three dosage levels

and still felt helpless.

I got the opinion he thought he didn't have to do anything but wear the patch to quit.

The patch can get you through some tough times while you learn what memories and emotions

drove you to smoke. You need to start getting a handle on the psychological part of quitting from

the beginning so you know what to do when a crave rears its head or you're under stress and

want to give in. then you can tackle getting off the nicotine.

I used 10 patches during my first 14 days and then stopped.them

by then I knew that smoking was only a decision each and every time and that I could decide not to

You are not doing yourself any favor using a nicotine replacement unless there is hope of getting off it.

Don't depend on it so much.

Use it.

DON'T LET IT USE YOU

.

[pam-c]

Good warning about using NRT's.  Also very useful advice for Chantix and other non-nicotine drugs.

Years ago I was foolish and thought wearing a patch was all it took to get free of smoking... after 3  months I was off the patch and back on cigarettes.  I was not educated in the ways of addiction to understand the NRT's were a tool for me to use to separate myself from my cigarettes.  Years later I did the same thing with Chantix.  I guess old dogs do learn, just takes them the third time around to actually learn a lesson.

Many have done very well with NRT's.  My sister is 15 years clean and she used the nicotine patch system to get quit.  It can work, but as you said,  use it as a tool, not a crutch.

[Linda142]

Heartily agree.

[ivy2]

Well said...

[cb_3]

I agree, it never stopped my cravings just kept me from being so irritable.  Only used it for 2 weeks but it served its purpose.

[sean1198]

so true; great post

[jasvanek]

Amen, Jones! I noticed that it really doesn't have much to do with the patches when I forgot to put one on during my first week. Didn't really make a difference one way or another. The quit was in me, not some little sticky nic-aid. I hear the same thing from people using Chantix as well. It is a tool to help with quitting, not the quit process in a pill. If it were that easy then everybody would be an ex by now. Great post.