One of the advancements regarding
this matter is the introduction of nicotine patches. These patches
help quench the smoker’s appetite for nicotine as it provides
steady inflow of the chemical without puffing a cigarette, and it
also decreases the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal .
These patches are applied topically to the upper part of a
client’s body, usually on the upper arm, everyday. A single patch
is taken off in the evenings to give the person’s bloodstream a
rest from the influx of nicotine. There are some brands though that
can be worn in the nighttime.
These patches are usually available for either a month and a half
or a little over two months of treatment time. Drugstores now carry
these patches and there are some nicotine patches that can be
bought even without a prescription. Like many of these new quick
help advancements though, lifestyle changes can vastly increase the
success of these treatments.
Like almost everything that people use, side effects are to be
considered. These include itching, light-headedness, tachycardia or
increased heart rate, sleep disorders, headaches, and muscle aches.
All of these manifestations may be related to the amount and dose
of the nicotine, the brand of the patch the client is using,
tolerance and sensitivity of the client to patches, the duration of
usage, and if the patches are correctly applied.
Here are some special considerations if ever such anaphylactic
reactions occur:
1. Always remember not to smoke for the whole duration of the
treatment.
2. Check first for the first few patches to determine whether or
not you are allergic to a certain brand of nicotine patch and if
your skin develops irritation and sensitivity.
3. Try to decrease the dose of the patches to limit the amount of
nicotine that is sent to the body.4. If sleep problems occur,
assess the condition in less than a week.
If you are using a 24-hour patch and the problem only worsens or
doesn’t disappear at all, try changing your patch to a 16-hour
one. 5. If unsure, stop usage at once and find another alternative
for replacing nicotine. Do not forget though that the best
treatment is always prevention so even before you try a nicotine
patch, make sure that you have checked and rechecked whether or not
that certain patch is for you.
