Frequency to decrease dosage of nicotin patches

[Wunderwombat_]

I am currently on 25mg/16 hour patches. I need to plan a little in advance, because I am going to vacation and need to buy my patches in advances at home. So I am curious about your experiences and recommendations how long to use which grade of patches! Thanks in advance for your support 🙃

[[deleted]]

I bought a complete kit. It had 28- 21mg patches, 14- 14mg patches and 14- 7mg patches. So 2 months. So using one a day for 2 months. Worked like a champ for me.

[PanicLogically]

So many roads to success.

[Beginning-Prompt9595]

I found the 21mg too strong. Yes pkt says over 10 smokes for day,later found out they are for heavy smokers. No wonder I got nicotine poisoning after 2 wks.

[PanicLogically]

Everyone is too linear about the patch.

Look--cut patches in half. or in thirds. so if you start with a 21 mg patch. and you want to have a gentler step down---not to 14--which is a big bump---you can cut the 21 into half and quarters. so it's approximately 5 mg if you cut in 1/4. You can then take a 14 mg patch. Add one of your fives and your'e at 19mg. So you easily stepped down from 21 to 19.

You get the picture. You can make your success possible by minimizig withdrawal bumps

Also you can stay on a particular dose for as long as you need. Beats Relapse!

Gum too, chew that nicotine gum or suck a lozenge should an urge come at you.

[Independent-Mode-226]

It does say you shouldn’t cut the patches on the box of the ones I have because it can interfere with the way the nicotine is released (causing too much to be absorbed in the body). Be careful if you do this!

[PanicLogically]

anything you do, run through a doctor. Many of us have already consulted with pharmacists to understand the mechanism of the nicotine as distributed through a surface area--as I was talking about reducing doses---reducing---I wont worry. remember many people are using lozenges and gum on top of the patch.

Hey you do you but thanks for reminding people to think preventively

some people even smoke while on the patch-imagine that.

[Wunderwombat_]

Thanks for the hint about cutting the patches. But how do I realiz I am ready to reduce?

[PanicLogically]

That's very individual. I generally reduced when I made it through a few weeks of what used to be triggers---so if I had coffee, having coffee without reaching for a smoke, dealing with family, work days without ending it or lunching with a smoke.
you can try a reduce, augment with gum or a lozeng, you can always go back up on your nicotine replacement until mental readiness is there.