Nicotine Replacement Therapies: Patches

Published at 15 October, 2018.

When it comes to stopping smoking, we understand how difficult it can be to kick the habit and go cold turkey. But, if you haven’t quite managed to quit yet, there’s no need to worry! With the huge range of Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) now widely available, it’s easier than ever to quit with a little help.

To help you to get started on your quitting journey, we’ve put together a series of blog posts to help you choose the best NRT for you!

What are nicotine patches?

Once you’ve decided to stop smoking, it’s then time to choose which treatment is right for you. A nicotine patch is one of these such therapies. A product that sticks to your skin, patches look like small square plasters and deliver a constant stream of nicotine into your body throughout the day.

Unlike other forms of NRT, patches only need to be applied once in the morning, and then shouldn’t be touched for the rest of the day, making it a simple way to help you stop smoking. They can be applied to any part of your body, although are normally used on the upper arm, back or hip, and users tend to move the patch around from day to day to maximise nicotine absorption.

Nicotinell Patches are available in three strengths. The dose you start with depends on how much you smoke per day.

How do I know which nicotine patch to choose?

Nicotine patches are available in a variety of different strengths, ad the dose you begin with will depend on how many cigarettes you usually smoke. There are two standard patches – a 24 hour and a 16 hour, and these are available in doses ranging from 7 to 22 milligrams. If one cigarette is equal to around 1mg of nicotine, it’s relatively easy to work out the right dose for you.

Heavy smokers who go through a pack-a-day should use the higher dose of 22 milligrams, while those who smoke socially or only have a few cigarettes a day can opt for a lower strength patch.

With nicotine replacement therapies, people should aim to gradually cut down their use the further into their non-smoking journey they go.

The simple diagram below is a simple way to work out which patch to choose:

Our NHS Yorkshire Smokefree services are designed to help you to quit in the right way. With clinics across Yorkshire, we offer a personalised service to help you reach your quitting goals. Give us a ring today on 0800 612 0011 (free from landlines) or 0330 660 1166 (free from most mobiles).

You can also enter your details here and one of our stop smoking advisers will give you a callback.