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coming off NRT - Patches - any advice???

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  • 08-04-2012 7:31am
    #1
    sporina
    Registered Users Posts: 6,785 ✭✭✭


    So I have been on the patchers 3 months - 1st day without them tomorrow.
    I was on 15mg for 2 months and 10mg for the past month.

    So I have been giving myself a little nicotine everyday, thus keeping the cravings at bay.

    But as of tomorrow, I am alone.

    Has anyone been in this position? If so, any advice for me? Like what to expect? Will it be like quitting all over again?

    thanks in advance, S..


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    #2
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    Sporina, I have every confidence in your ability to tackle this small last bit of the process of quitting.

    I dont know how it goes coming off the patches but Id say go with the standard advice for a cold turkey quit, drink plenty of fluids and juices, get some exercise, eat regularly and snacks in case your blood sugars are a bit up and down, avoid caffeine and get plenty of rest.

    I cant imagine its going to be too bad tbh, you have already gone through the hard part, this is only a tiny tiny bit at the end.

    For me the psychological cravings were much much worse than any physical craving, and youve already beaten that.

    3 days, thats all it takes to clear the nicotine from the system - youre nearly there.


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    #3
    Love2love
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Love2love


    I'd say you'll be grand. You've done the hard part.

    I was using the e-cig to quit and started off on extra high nicotine and eventually went to low but after a night out I was too hung-over to use it and that was the end of it. I did buy the zero nicotine cartridges but I literally forgot to use them for 2 days so I would actually say that I didnt notice the difference!


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    #4
    sporina
    Registered Users Posts: 6,785 ✭✭✭sporina


    So first day over without any nicotine - NRT or cig's. I didn't get any cravings which I am amazed by but perhaps they are in the post - only time will tell.
    3 months off the cigs today which is a milestone but I do not feel like celebrating because I feel I am still a bit vulnerable.


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    #5
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    Youre doing great - sure you are THREE MONTHS off them - thats amazing! This is only a small thing with the patches - you'll be over it in no time.

    Go you!!


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    #6
    sporina
    Registered Users Posts: 6,785 ✭✭✭sporina


    thanks U123 but you know - i still have to beat the patches be nicotine free,,

    so how long does it take to rid my body of nicotine? 3 days? i thought it was 3 weeks?? can't remember..

    i am gonna get the niquitin lozenges for this weekend anyway,.. just in case…


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    #7
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    72 hours!!! Yippee dippee - you are nearly there!

    After you clear it from your system there is a period where the receptors in the brain need to go back to normal (and not to the level they were at in response to getting a nicotine hit). Thats finished after 21 days. But you dont suffer for the 21 days. I didnt anyway. I only suffered for the 3 days or so, and then the habit quitting was what I suffered from, the associations, some dizziness that may have been anxiety related, disturbed sleep etc...


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