by Adrian Perkasa

Created on: September 07, 2008

Since 1996 nicotine patch is sold as over-the-counter drug in US market so you don't need doctor's prescription to get it, but we must obey its usage direction.

There are three major considerations before using nicotine patch:

1. Be sure to stop smoking on the day you start using nicotine patch. Keep on your mind that nicotine patch is a part of nicotine replacement therapy, so if you keep smoking while using nicotine patch, it will doubled your nicotine level in your body.

2. Contact your doctor before start using nicotine patch if you're under 18, pregnant, breastfeeding, having heart or blood vessel problems, stomach ulcers, diabetes, and allergies to tapes, bandages, patches or similar products.
3. Ask your doctor to know your starting dosage. Most of nicotine patch products available in market as full-strength patch (15-22mg), moderate patch (5-14mg), and weak patch (5mg or below). Most smokers who used to smoke a pack or more cigarettes a day could start with full-strength patch for 4-6 weeks, then move to moderate patch for another 4 weeks. Moderate smokers used to smoke less than 10 cigarettes may start with moderate patch.

And how do we use this nicotine patch? Using nicotine patch is just like using other transdermal patch products:

1. Peel the protective cover off the patch, try not to touch its sticky side.
2. Put a patch on a clean, dry area of skin on your upper body area that isn't covered by hair. Most users put it on their stomach or upper arm.
3. Place the sticky side of patch on skin and press it firmly for 10 seconds. Make sure the patch is already flat and smooth on your skin.
4. Always wash your hands after attaching nicotine patch. Nicotine residue on your hands could get into your eyes or nose, cause stinging, sometimes even cause burning sensation
5. Let it attached on your skin for the amount of time shown on the package. Most nicotine patch products require 16-24 hours attach time. You don't have to take it off when you take shower or swimming, because water will not harm the patch.
6. Some people may feel mild tangling, itching or burning sensation while using nicotine patch. This is normal skin reaction, and usually lasts about 15 minutes to 1 hour.
7. When it's time to take off patch, take a look closely to skin area where the patch was. Your skin maybe became red, it's normal if it lasts for 1 day. Call your doctor if it lasts for 4 days or more or gets swollen
8. When it's time to take off the old patch, fold it half with the sticky sides together, and put it in disposal tray provided in the package. Put it on trash where children and pets cannot find it.
9. Don't forget to put the next patch on different area. Use a different area each day to avoid burning sensation or swollen on that area.

Nicotine patch is one form of nicotine replacement therapy. If you feeling discomfort using nicotine patch, you can choose other alternative, such as nicotine gum, nicotine nasal spray or nicotine inhaler instead.

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