This info may help in addition to what Polly said. I was told that if my wife put the patch on an hour before I woke up (which is what I do) it would help the difficulty in the morning of having all that withdrawal when starting the day, I was told the patch takes 2 whole hours to get your blood up to a comfortable level. I can't recommend the following to you, but this is what I do. I chew a piece of nicotine gum when I wake up (because I smoked so much that it is an option [consult your physician]). That is what helps me get through the morning. Which is the hardest moment of the day to stay cigarette free for me also.