Can I wear nicotine patches forever?
Can I wear nicotine patches forever?
Author
Discussion

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
I've been stopping smoking for a couple of months and it's about time i ditched the patches. If I wear the 21mg patches I'm fine, switch to the 15mg and I'm a right miserable bd and start hanging out for a smoke, bad.

I figure the patches are better than smoking. What harm would it do if I stayed with 21mg patches forever?

Metroarea

448 posts

228 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
I've been on Lozenges since I gave up the fags....2 years ago!

I know it's bad but I swear I'm more addicted to these things than I ever was to cigarettes.

Stick with it. A bit of commitment and you two could have a 2 year NRT addiction.

L1OFF

3,774 posts

286 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Metroarea said:
I've been on Lozenges since I gave up the fags....2 years ago!

I know it's bad but I swear I'm more addicted to these things than I ever was to cigarettes.

Stick with it. A bit of commitment and you two could have a 2 year NRT addiction.
Same as me, I am now addicted to wrigley's extra.
(been off fags for 4 years)
Alan

scorp

8,783 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
I tried the patches once, and found they had to be taken off to go to sleep.

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
you do have brilliant dreams if you keep the patch on

NobleLord

1,065 posts

278 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Weird... I've got a similar problem.

I've been trying the patches on and off for years, but keep going back to the fags. I now work in London all week and smoke like a chimney, but when I go back home to the sticks at the weekend, I patch up as I don't like smoking around the wife and kids. I'm sure it's become an association thing for me as I don't really get the urge to smoke at home, even without a patch on.

I need to buck up and knock it on the head once and for all. I turn 39 next year and, thanks to growing up in Spain where a Fortuna comes hand in hand with baby food, I've been on the fags for wayyyyyyy too long frown

NL

pimpin gimp

3,319 posts

230 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Is the nicotine bad for you? I'm not a smoker so can't really comment but surely it's the tar and smoke from cigarettes that are damaging. if the patches are the lesser of two evils then at least you're in a better position than you were!

SS HSV

9,646 posts

288 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Well you will be replacing the risk of lung cancer with the risk of skin cancer. How else is the carcinogen going to enter the bloodstream to satisfy your desire for nicotine?

The patches are designed to be reduced in size (medication) until you have such a small dosage that you can grow a pair and do without. What's the point of buying patches if you are not going to follow the instructions and downsize? After all thats the only reason you are buying them right? It's like getting a whole course of antibiotics and then not finishing the course, on in this case its the other way round.

I produced a white paper at Uni many years ago which produced a simple system of abruptly giving up. It is a purely physiological method and as long as you buy into its simple theory before you start to use it, it will work as it did on 16 people in my class year. It was based on the idea that you are in full control of your habit and at 'D Day' (any given date on which you are going to give up), you simply stop smoking. So you can build up to that date by cutting down gradually then stop on that day. You remove all the objects that will entice you to keep smoking like ashtrays, lighters, skins Rizzla's etc and from that date and time you are now a NON SMOKER. People around you must accept that you are a non-smoker, and if you are the only smoker its a lot easier because you just band smoking in your house.

Immediately after that time has passed, your body will demand a nicotine fix.. but you are a non-smoker so why would you want to start smoking again - you don't smoke right? In the next two days (which are the worst) your body will try and use your brain against you and every nerve in your body will demand a cigarette. BUT you don't smoke, you gave up on D day right?. The simple physcology of this is that after a few days of being active and not stopped for a chance to smoke you will see the craving reduce dramatically. After a week you have effectively stopped smoking permanently. I have given up for six years now, but I still get a craving every now and then. My response? Why would I want a cigarette, I don't smoke smile
During the early days your brain will come up with literally hundreds or excuses for you to start smoking again, such as:

  • I'm really stressed out - I need a cigarette now
  • Work is not going right - I need a cigarette now
  • I really must have a fag - I need a cigarette now
  • All my mates are still smoking - I need a cigarette now
  • Damn, pint of beer with no cig - I need a cigarette now
  • Mr's has dumped me - I need a cigarette now
  • I'm depressed - I need a cigarette now etc etc..
^^ all the above are just excuses. You don't smoke, you ARE a non smoker, why would you want to start again? The only reason you would start again is becuase you are bullstting yourself - why do it?

The system is so simple, it works on reason and common sense. The hard part is trying to get yourself to buy into it, but as I said it worked for me and 16 others in my Uni year.

Why not make a PH'er give up smoking thread where people that want to give up, all pledge to help each other and try and give up en mass? If it had enough responses maybe a forum section for ideas for giving up?

Good luck either way smile

Davi

17,153 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
SS HSV said:
but as I said it worked for me and 16 others in my Uni year.
How many people did it not work on.

No disrespect but your paper sounds identical to a theory I've heard from a dozen different sources on "the" way to give up. If like me you have all the willpower of an ant stood by a bowl of sugar, it fails miserably no matter how excited you get in the lead up to becoming a non-smoker or how much you buy into it.


SS HSV

9,646 posts

288 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Davi said:
SS HSV said:
but as I said it worked for me and 16 others in my Uni year.
How many people did it not work on.

No disrespect but your paper sounds identical to a theory I've heard from a dozen different sources on "the" way to give up. If like me you have all the willpower of an ant stood by a bowl of sugar, it fails miserably no matter how excited you get in the lead up to becoming a non-smoker or how much you buy into it.
Look you have to decide if you really want to give up or not. By the negativity in your comment it sounds like you don't really want to. Don't try and justify your reasons for continuing to smoke to yourself, instead try and focus on the positive results that you get when you give up.

It's not actually that hard to stop smoking, it IS hard to convince yourself that you can actually do it. The above system worked because the person can see the very simple logic there to remind themselves when their brain is telling them to smoke. The cravings willpass, you can stop smoking.

Rather than shooting the idea down with negativity try it and see. If it fails it is because you are not willing to accept change and therefore are your own worst enemy. After all its only chemically caused emotion wink

Davi

17,153 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
SS HSV said:
Rather than shooting the idea down with negativity try it and see. If it fails it is because you are not willing to accept change and therefore are your own worst enemy. After all its only chemically caused emotion wink
I have tried it, as I say it's identical to a theory I've heard from a dozen sources. I'm well aware that I am my own worst enemy, I'm more than willing to accept change, I desperately WANT to be a non smoker, I don't like the smell anymore, there is nowhere I can smoke indoors and I'd like to be able to do more than a few minutes of hard graft without wheezing hehe I bought into this with as much enthusiasm as any other methods I've tried.

Doesn't alter the fact that without willpower it's not easy no matter how strong your convictions at the outset.

Which was mostly why I asked how many it failed on...

Edited by Davi on Thursday 13th November 12:12

indi pearl

319 posts

227 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
The answer..........electronic cigarette, no tobacco, no real smoke, no combustion, no carcinogens, no cough and no withdrawal problems.As a smoker for 40 years who has given up "hot" cigarettes for the first time and will never go back they are the answer. All the other stop smoking products failed for me just as they do for so many of us "addicts".Maybe one day there will be electronic food for the fat addicts and electronic booze for the army of binge drinkers!!!!

SS HSV, nicotine is NOT a carcinogen, it is the other 400 odd contaminents of cigarette smoke that cause the problems. Patches do NOT contain those contaminents.

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
NobleLord said:
Weird... I've got a similar problem.

I've been trying the patches on and off for years, but keep going back to the fags. I now work in London all week and smoke like a chimney, but when I go back home to the sticks at the weekend, I patch up as I don't like smoking around the wife and kids. I'm sure it's become an association thing for me as I don't really get the urge to smoke at home, even without a patch on.

I need to buck up and knock it on the head once and for all. I turn 39 next year and, thanks to growing up in Spain where a Fortuna comes hand in hand with baby food, I've been on the fags for wayyyyyyy too long frown

NL
I'm kinda the same, weekends and evenings at home I'm Ok. At work I'm a nightmare without a 21mg patch.

SS HSV I get where you're coming from and know the rules. Just that the patch seems like the lesser of the 2 evils. Is there harm with the gums and losanges too?

SS HSV

9,646 posts

288 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Then try to find a mate that also want to give up. You can do it it's not that hard really. I was a 40 a day Benny Hedgehogs smoker and surrered badly with asthma. When I gave up so did the asthma. There are thousands of reasons to give up and thousands more presented to you by your brain not to give up but as long as you accept one thing - that whatever your brain is telling you IS WRONG, then you can give up. Ignore your brain and carry on. It feels like you are sawing through your arm with a pocket knife but your not of course, and it will pass.

How about having a bet with an honest mate that wants to give up? Bet him that whoever starts smoking first has to pay £500 to the other person smile

Life - this is not a dress rehearsal

PS you're right it smell distusting vomit

SS HSV

9,646 posts

288 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
indi pearl said:
The answer..........electronic cigarette, no tobacco, no real smoke, no combustion, no carcinogens, no cough and no withdrawal problems. As a smoker for 40 years who has given up "hot" cigarettes for the first time and will never go back they are the answer. All the other stop smoking products failed for me just as they do for so many of us "addicts".Maybe one day there will be electronic food for the fat addicts and electronic booze for the army of binge drinkers!!!!

SS HSV, nicotine is NOT a carcinogen, it is the other 400 odd contaminents of cigarette smoke that cause the problems. Patches do NOT contain those contaminents.
Oops I stand corrected. All I know is that you intake carcinogens when you smoke. See I learnt something there.

Glad you found a way out btw clap

Davi

17,153 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
SS HSV said:
Then try to find a mate that also want to give up. You can do it it's not that hard really. I was a 40 a day Benny Hedgehogs smoker and surrered badly with asthma. When I gave up so did the asthma. There are thousands of reasons to give up and thousands more presented to you by your brain not to give up but as long as you accept one thing - that whatever your brain is telling you IS WRONG, then you can give up. Ignore your brain and carry on. It feels like you are sawing through your arm with a pocket knife but your not of course, and it will pass.

How about having a bet with an honest mate that wants to give up? Bet him that whoever starts smoking first has to pay £500 to the other person smile

Life - this is not a dress rehearsal

PS you're right it smell distusting vomit
I don't have any mates that smoke anymore, and I couldn't scrape together £500 if I tried hehe (and before you say it, I smoke rollies which only costs £6 per week wink )

I've been meaning to try one of those e-cigarettes for some time, think I'll put one on my Christmas pressie list, then I'll have no excuse!

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
SS HSV you have a way of putting your point across and hitting the nail on the head.

I like the not believing your brain theroy and i'll give it a go. I Don't smoke at the weekends anyway, so I guess I'm stopping Saturday.

Care to join me Davi? Betca a fiver you smoke before me!!

blueyes

4,799 posts

282 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
indi pearl said:
The answer..........electronic cigarette, no tobacco, no real smoke, no combustion, no carcinogens, no cough and no withdrawal problems.As a smoker for 40 years who has given up "hot" cigarettes for the first time and will never go back they are the answer. All the other stop smoking products failed for me just as they do for so many of us "addicts".Maybe one day there will be electronic food for the fat addicts and electronic booze for the army of binge drinkers!!!!

I thought you were joking so I googled it... amazing!

There are hundreds of different manufacturers.
Any particular brand/make you recommend?


Davi

17,153 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
aussiebruce said:
SS HSV you have a way of putting your point across and hitting the nail on the head.

I like the not believing your brain theroy and i'll give it a go. I Don't smoke at the weekends anyway, so I guess I'm stopping Saturday.

Care to join me Davi? Betca a fiver you smoke before me!!
Would I lose the bet if I admit to having just touched flame to leaf while reading your post? hehe

Davi

17,153 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
blueyes said:
indi pearl said:
The answer..........electronic cigarette, no tobacco, no real smoke, no combustion, no carcinogens, no cough and no withdrawal problems.As a smoker for 40 years who has given up "hot" cigarettes for the first time and will never go back they are the answer. All the other stop smoking products failed for me just as they do for so many of us "addicts".Maybe one day there will be electronic food for the fat addicts and electronic booze for the army of binge drinkers!!!!

I thought you were joking so I googled it... amazing!

There are hundreds of different manufacturers.
Any particular brand/make you recommend?
From what I read last time I looked into them, Gamucci Micro is the one to have (also the most expensive)