Hello, I have never been a smoker but my husband has been for over 35 years. He quit about 2 months ago and so far he is using the patch. My question is when he switches from the higher dose to the lower dose does the difference in the amount of nicotine that he receives cause the irritability and emotional roller coasters every time he goes down in the amount of nicotine? He is on the 7mg now. This is his 3rd step and final step. He has been on this one about 2 weeks or maybe 3 and the irritability is crazy. Its bad enough with the covid-19 and everything else that goes with it. Not to mention we have both had to work through this - he is a truck driver and i am in waste removal so we are considered essential in our state. I am just looking for some advice on what to expect and what to chalk up to the nicotine. Thanks for your help.
Good morning. Irritability is a common withdrawal symptom. Nicotine replacement may help to reduce some withdrawal symptoms, but it may not eliminate them totally.
The psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:
There are things he can do to help with the psychological symptoms, such as deep breathing, exercising, etc.
You could suggest them to him.
Congrats to him on his 2 month quit. That's quite an accomplishment.
Barb