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Smoking Patches, Do They Really Work?

Nicotine Replacement Therapy or NRT is a form of medication which has been developed in order to help people give up smoking. Medications come in a number of different forms including Patches chewing gum and nasal sprays. Their aim is to reduce a person\'s withdrawal symptoms which are mainly due to an addiction to the nicotine within cigarettes.

NRT patches are applied directly to the skin where they release nicotine steadily into the bloodstream. The amount of nicotine varies – heavy smokers usually need to receive more than light smokers, and will be able to reduce their dose as time goes on.

A patch which releases 21mg of nicotine is generally recommended to people who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, and one containing 14mg is usually the advised amount for lighter smokers.

The benefit of using patches as opposed to other forms of NRT is that quitters can get on with their lives while nicotine levels are kept steady. There is no need to keep repeating the administration of a product – the only requirement is to put the patch on (generally once a day) and carry on as usual.

Although smoking patches can be a very useful tool in giving up smoking, the success rate is really down to the individuals concerned. Many people report finding greater success in kicking the habit, and studies have shown that using NRT patches can double the rate of success when giving up smoking. But it has to be emphasised that NRT is no substitute for will power.

Aids such as smoking patches can help someone give up smoking, but what is needed in the first place is a determined resolution to quit. As well as using the patches a person needs to make big lifestyle changes including changes to routines if they are to be successful.