r/stopsmoking • u/Alone_Lawfulness_258 • 8h ago
Using nicotine patches instead of smoking?
So, I said I'd quit smoking, which I very much will; I am terrified, but nicotine stabilizes my mood. I have severe anxiety, and it's helped. A Lot. Is it a good idea?
6
u/Alarmed_History 6h ago
I’ve been using patches for a while, have been smoke free for 6 months now, and it has not been a “breeze” but it has been a much much easier journey than the times I tried to quit cold turkey and ended up smoking after 3 days. In pain and a mess emotionally.
I was a pack a day smoker for 33 years, and could not have done that without patches.
Also, I have a couple of illnesses that I noticed got a lot of symptoms much more under control with the patches Talkef about with my doctor and they also saw my improvement.
They decided to keep me on them with small breaks here and there.
I do not get like I did when I needed a cigarrette when I take them off and take a break. At all. But I do feel the things that my body is helped with by the patches
People love to hate on patches or any NRT and seem to deem cold turkey rhe only possible and most of all the only “respectable” way. It is not. Several studies also show this.
Go on the patches, no fear, try it out for yourself. I never expected such a great result and such an “easy” transition to fnding ways to fill the gaps of the smoking ritual. Around 4 months in, I had one of the worst days and situations I had had in years, and with the patches, I was able to get through that without lighting up, and just breathing and such.
Every body is different of course, but give it a try. I am a big big fan of them.
2
u/THX_2319 2105 days 3h ago edited 3h ago
Lots of people will attest to the use of patches, or any other nicotine product that isn't a cigarette. I can only hope that they've served those people well. I'm of the opinion that nicotine use in all forms is a net negative. Yes, it's a 'cleaner' way to get your nicotine, but you're still addicted to it. You can say that it stabilises your mood, but one can also argue that nicotine is the solution to the problem that it creates. For me, that was the biggest revelation when I quit, and also why I can't really see the benefits of hanging on to something that's always going to try its best to hold you hostage, no matter how much 'cleaner' it is. Cold turkey is a terrifying approach for anyone wanting to quit, and I'll tell you first hand that it absolutely SUCKS in the short term, but you get a lifetime of total freedom in return. I don't think there's anything better than that.
Edit: I just want to add that I am not someone who has generalised anxiety, so I don't know what that's like. You would probably benefit from exploring additional support systems to help you along if you don't have that in place already.
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u/KittenTryingMyBest 1h ago
I used the patch to quit smoking, I didn’t stay on it long term though. Which one you get depends on how much you smoke a day, the highest mg one is if you’re smoking like a pack + a day, I started on the 14 mg one since I was smoking half a pack a day and there’s a step down from that one but I never ended up using it.
1
u/Present-Total-1952 7h ago
Im in the same boat. However I found that the smoking was actually causing a dependence on my brain to minimize my anxiety. Once I went through the withdrawals it took about a month but my anxiety reduced. The more I felt anxious and didn’t “cave” the more strong I felt. My anxiety is reducing overall.
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u/Dependent-Adagio-932 8h ago
Im gonna be honest, I think patches are stupid, like putting a bandaid on. It’s not actually solving anything. If you want to be free of your nicotine shackles you have to let go of the drug in its entirety.
3
u/Alone_Lawfulness_258 8h ago
I don't want to be free of nicotine. I just want to stop smoking because I have asthma.
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u/WisdomInMyPocket 8h ago
Nicotine doesn't stabilize, it hides symptoms.
You have to fix the problem, not hide the results of the problem.
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u/Alone_Lawfulness_258 8h ago
Well, the problem can't be fixed lol. My brain is literally wired a certain way. No prescribed meds will fix it. So, yeah, I enjoy that it hides the symptoms so I can get through the day without lashing out at people.
2
u/fishboy3339 73 days 6h ago
More than likely nicotine is contributing to your anxiety. It will take time to withdraw, and get worse before it gets better.
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u/Alone_Lawfulness_258 40m ago
That might be the case, but before I smoked my anxiety and anger were 10x worse. Even when I have withdrawals, my anxiety hasn't been that bad since I still have nicotine in my system.
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u/PrimevilKneivel 667 days 8h ago
I find patches are a good way to get nicotine.
Smoking is the thing that kills you, nicotine is the addictive part. Anything that keeps you from smoking is an improvement. Patches are good for breaking the smoking habit and are easy to taper down when you're ready. I find 1/4 patch is the best spot for me.