How do smoking cessation patches work?

Before going to talk in detail about the  mechanism of action  of  smoking cessation patches  , it is appropriate to see how  nicotine works  once our body has developed addiction, as it is the predominant ingredient of these patches .

When we smoke, nicotine is absorbed by the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract. Subsequently this substance comes to determine long and short-term effects on the brain.

It is precisely at this point that the nicotinic dependence syndrome begins to develop, due to the increase in nicotine receptors which is induced precisely by the habit of smoking.

For those who have developed a chronic addiction syndrome and the simple desire to quit smoking is not enough,  nicotine  patches have been invented.

The mechanism of action of these plasters is very simple and works just like any other type of medicated plaster. After applying it to the skin, in fact, the patch will gradually release a certain amount of nicotine.

In this way the smoker will have his daily dose of nicotine and, in theory, the patches should completely replace cigarettes as the need to smoke subsides following the assimilation of nicotine through the skin.

The doses of  nicotine  found on  the smoking cessation patches  should be decreased over time and the withdrawal symptoms will gradually disappear.

What are the benefits of smoking cessation patches?

Among the main  advantages  that can be taken advantage of by using the patches to stop smoking, we mention above all the following:

• The amount of nicotine contained in the patches is significantly lower than that normally inhaled with a cigarette;
• The concentrations of nicotine in the blood plasma are stable over time thanks to the gradual release of the substance through the skin;
• The patches contain only and exclusively nicotine, there are no other toxic substances found in cigarettes.

Obviously you can take advantage of all these advantages if you follow your doctor’s instructions step by step. For example, if you smoke more than ten cigarettes in a day, your doctor will probably advise you to start with heavy patches .

The dosage of the patches must therefore be closely related to the number of cigarettes smoked throughout the day. If you don’t follow your doctor’s directions, you could end up with nicotine poisoning, but we’ll talk about the side effects later.

Niquitin®: smoking cessation patches

The smoking cessation patches  are easily available in any pharmacy or parapharmacy. Among the most famous we certainly remember those signed  Niquitin® .

Nicotine delivery with  Niquitin® patches  occurs continuously over a 24-hour period. This happens thanks to a particular technology which characterizes these patches: the  Smart Control technology  which allows you to constantly and continuously supply nicotine thanks to a specific membrane.

One of the first visible effects of  Niquitin®  is the lack of desire to smoke a cigarette as soon as you wake up. This effect will also continue throughout the day you are wearing the patch to stop smoking.

Furthermore,  Niquitin®  offers you three types of patches that differ according to the dosage of nicotine. These different dosages are used to overcome the dependence on the substance in a completely gradual way, thus avoiding the stress that would be created with a sudden interruption. In fact, in the pharmacy you can find three dosages:

• fase 1: 21 mg/24 ore;
• fase 2: 14 mg/24 ore;
• fase 3: 7 mg/24 ore.

Nicorette®: patches and chewing gum to stop smoking

Another very famous product in this sector is  Nicorette®  smoking cessation patches. The mechanism of action is basically the same as Niquitin®, i.e. the nicotine is released gradually transcutaneously throughout the day.

On the market it is also possible to find the chewable gums produced by the same company.

How are smoking cessation patches used?

To have the desired effect, i.e. to reduce the intake of nicotine, it is necessary to use the patches in the correct way. Your doctor or pharmacist will explain in detail how to use these products.

It is not difficult to use the smoking cessation patches , you should follow the steps below:

• You need to use  only one patch a day;
• Apply it as soon as you wake up, in the morning;
• The skin to which the patch is to be applied must be clean, dry and smooth to ensure a better adherence that lasts throughout the day.

Are there any contraindications related to smoking cessation patches?

As we said earlier, smoking cessation patches will only have positive effects on your body if you follow all your doctor’s instructions step by step, especially as regards the dosage of nicotine.

Also, smoking cessation patches should not be used for longer than  three months  as, at this point, there may be a risk of becoming dependent on the products themselves.

If you do not follow all the indications of the specialists, there is a risk of  experiencing side effects  which are practically the same as those that occur in the case of strong nicotine intoxication, namely:

• Cold sweat;
• Visual changes;
• Respiratory difficulties;
• mental confusion;
• Hearing changes.

Finally, it happens quite often that skin irritations occur  , due to the patch. For this reason we advise you to always change where you apply the patch, for example alternating arms.

Lastly, but no less important than those we have already talked about, remember that during the period of pregnancy the pregnant woman absolutely cannot take nicotine in any form, neither patches, nor cigarettes, nor gums nor pills based on this substance.

What are the alternative products to smoking cessation patches?

If for some reason you cannot use  smoking cessation patches but are still looking for an alternative treatment to achieve your goal and kick your addiction, we recommend that you inquire about  nicotine lozenges  and  gum  .

The principle of action is the same that underlies the patches: even the gums and lozenges release  nicotine  into our body gradually. In practice, it is also a question of cigarette replacement therapies.

Also in the area of ​​quit smoking gums, the pharmaceutical company  Nicorette®  has put a wide range of products at our disposal.

Are there any side effects related to these products?

Also in the case of gums and tablets we can encounter  side effects  which, like patches, mainly concern a condition of nicotine intoxication.

In fact, if the typical symptoms of intoxication from this substance occur, it is advisable to contact your doctor in order to take the right measures in a timely manner.

Finally, even if gums and lozenges are more practical than plasters that must be worn throughout the day, these types of products can also induce gastrointestinal disturbances, especially as regards gums which are often chewed in a hurry.