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I haven’t been successful in quitting for good yet, but I have smoked much, much less during the past 10 years as I know that when I want to stop, I can do that today without the horrible withdrawal symptoms.

My failure to stay stopped has nothing to do with the effectiveness of Nicoderm CQ, as we all know that with all programs, after a certain point its all about the smoker.

But as a product which allows you to stop smoking today and get through withdrawal, its worked extremely well for me.

There are two major problems with Nicoderm CQ.

One is price, and the other is accessibility.

These patches are ridiculously expensive and have always been that way for as long as I have used them. How does the cost NEVER come down?? I suspect that the manufacturer just keeps it at the price where it is marginally cheaper per day than cigarettes in most states. But after a decade of production, there is no way these patches could cost this much to make. Its sad, because the threshold price of this product keeps it out of the hands of lower income smokers which could use it.

I would discourage ANY user from buying these boxes one at a time as you need them – HUGE mistake. The first time you run out of patches and don’t have your next step ready is a massive opportunity for your quit to FAIL. Take the plunge, and invest the $150+ in the 3 steps at one time (although I think lighter smokers dont need step 1 – see the box)

These patches are insanely hard to obtain relative to the product they seek to wean you off of. IMHO, Nicoderm, by law, should be available EVERYWHERE cigarettes are sold without any exception whatsoever. Instead, they are kept under lock and key only at pharmacies and (some) supermarkets. I often find it common for them to be poorly stocked at some locations – like missing a step 1 or 3.

In a lot of ways, Nicodrem is sold like condoms were in the early eighties. Pharmacies only, often behind the counter to discourage minors. If it were after hours (i.e. ‘prime time’) the potential for unwanted pregnancies and STDs skyrocketed. It was sad that it took AIDS for society to realize ‘hey the more accessible we make these things the more effective they are”. DUH.

Its the same case with Nicoderm – if they would stop regulating it like radioactive-cigarettes-on-steroids and instead promote and subsidize it to get it into smoker’s hands, it would be 100x more effective in helping people who want to quit.

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Having recently gone through the entire patch program, I can tell you it worked for me. I smoked for 40 years, and didn’t think I would ever be motivated to quit. If anyone mentioned it to me, I said, “yeah, yeah, tommorrow” . All of a sudden I decided it was time, I was tired of being out in the cold, or rain whenever I wanted a smoke, or checking to see how long a film was before I would go to a movie. Here’s the thing though, these patches will give you what you need physically, it’s the mental part that’s really tough. You really have to choose NOT to smoke, every time that craving hits.

I am reviewing the patch program in general, as I purchased which ever brand was on sale, and found they all worked the same. The best price wise I found was the Rite-Aid brand(called Nicotine Transdermal System). It followed the same program as this one. If you have gone the route of saying, “we don’t need no stinkin patches”, and tried to do it on your own, cutting down day by day unsuccessfully, then give this program a try.

I smoked about a pack a day. I started with Step 1 which constantly deilvered 21 mg of nicotine to me. Even for me that seemed like more nicotine then I was used to, so if you are closer to a half a pack a day smoker, I would suggest starting with step 2. The instructions tell you to first set a date. You can’t just buy them and stick a patch on. You have to have it in your mind, that the date you pick will be the date you will quit. Don’t schedule your first quit day at the time of some big or stressful upcoming event. I gave myself a week of having the patches in the house, before I used them. It was not easy(I still have times when I want to smoke, but it gets easier to get through those times every day!). After 3 weeks(less then the recommended time of 4-6 weeks), I stepped down to a 14 mg patch(step 2) and 3 weeks after that to step one(7 mg). That was the hardest to give up and took me a few extra days to get it in my mind that I didnt need it.

Making a list of the reasons you want to quit is helpful, giving yourself little rewards every so often(no, not a cigarette), helps, but mostly, finding something to do when the cravings hit. Yes they do still hit on the patch. With me, it was after a meal, or driving, even after writing a review, I really wanted one. Keep in mind, the cravings WILL pass. Try to follow the instructions. They may seem corny, but they will help. The only instruction I didnt follow, was to throw out all cigarettes, so you wont have them. This part did not work for me, I needed them there, to feel in control of my actions. They are still unopened.

Get some support from friends. Tell people what you are doing. Then you may feel like you HAVE to live up to it, and also, they will understand when you want to punch them out(try not to do this!)

You should also invest in a roll of some medical tape. These patches(all the brands) did not stick for 24 hours like they said they would. I would often wake in the middle of the night and find the patch had fallen off and then I panicked. Stick a little tape on them, they are too expensive to lose.

Yes, what is in these patches in not healthy(but neither is cigarettes, right?). You need to wash your hands, whenever you touch them and make sure, kids or pets dont touch or ingest them either. But, you will no longer be inhaling all these chemicals, and when you are through, you are through!

Each time I started the next step, it seemed like it was starting over. The first few days of each were VERY hard. But I got through it. I don’t know if I will ever smoke again. I always imagine some crisis will have me opening up one of the packs. But I have been smoke free for well over 3 months now, and getting close to a month without help from the patch, and I am doing fine. You won’t know if they work for you unless you try. The cost for a 2 week supply is around the same price as a carton of cigarettes. You can buy them in packages of 14, or if you feel you only need a week more, they also come in packages of 7. Some are clear and unnoticable as well.

Go for it, you have nothing to lose(except the addiction) by trying, and Good Luck!

Laurie

P.S. Oh yeah.. be prepared to gain some weight. Then switch to fresh and healthy snacks, and it’ll start coming off again!.

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Simply put, the patch worked. I had smoked 1 1/2 packs a day for 29 years, and had attempted to quit cold turkey on numerous occasions. Nothing helped me. I became almost psychotic, and always returned to my cigarettes after a few days.

You must feel like quitting for the patch to work. It’s not a silver bullet that takes away all desire for tobacco. It simply takes the big edge off your nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which is a huge boost. You then take care of the motivational “triggers” yourself — and believe me, it’s far easier than you think, once the nicotine cravings are gone. If I can do it, you certainly can, too.

I did not suffer any kind of rash, and the only side effects I had were vivid dreams (nice) and a sort of occasional, pleasant drowsiness.

Within six days of dropping the habit and using the patch, my blood pressure dropped to normal. I had more patience. I breathed deeply and without coughing. My sense of taste and smell improved. My circulation was better (no more cold feet or hands on a chilly night), and I had noticeably more energy. Even my skin improved. And my sex life certainly did, also. There were other, less obvious differences, but ones which I definitely felt. These were evidence of a body beginning to heal itself after 29 years of poisoning.

After two weeks my urges were barely noticeable. After four weeks, I didn’t think about cigarettes anymore, and couldn’t stand smelling one burning from across the street.

And I gave myself back about 21 hours a week that I would have wasted smoking.

Please, if you have had trouble quitting before, get the patch and follow the schedule. Make the commitment. It’s not scary, nor is it torture to say goodbye to those coffin nails. It’s an adventure. Within just a few weeks, you’ll be looking at smokers with pity (and feeling great while you do). I came through it, and you can too.