Reducing patches - nervous!

[nsd_user663_2847]

Hi. Am on week 7 with Nicorette patches (25mg) and they recommend starting Step 2 after 8 weeks and it is only 15mg which seems a big jump down. Am coping OK at the moment (this has been my best and most positive quit ever (and I intend it to be my last) but am getting nervous about how well I will cope on a lower dose?

Anybody had any experience of this and what I can expect?

One month, two weeks, 12 hours, 54 minutes and 57 seconds. 1336 cigarettes not smoked, saving £467.64. Life saved: 4 days, 15 hours, 20 minutes.

[nsd_user663_14771]

just a personal opinion, but i would say dump the patches altogether if you possibley can, by 7 weeks (which is amazing by the way!! big respect!) you should be pretty much clear of the habbit side of things, in a couple of days you could be riding high and nicotine free the change from patches to patch free really isn't as dramatic as going the full cold turkey, you've done most of the work already

i undertand the nervousness, i had it too, we are moving into the unknown, but i can tell you being that nicotine free is wonderful, and that i believe you can do it, whichever way you choose

[nsd_user663_2847]

Hi. Thanks for the advice but I'm way too scared to be doing this without a 'safety net'. Deep down, way at the back of my mind I know nrt is 'cheating' and that I'm still an addict but it has helped so much with the habit side of things that I don't want to change something that feels as if it is working for me just yet.

But I'm finding it particularly hard tonight and if I hadn't had 2 glasses of wine I might be very tempted to get in the car and go down to the shop - so I'm just trawling round the site and getting myself back in the right frame of mind. I know I'm not the type to manage with just will-power and really admire those who can do it.

[nsd_user663_20978]

Hi. Thanks for the advice but I'm way too scared to be doing this without a 'safety net'. Deep down, way at the back of my mind I know nrt is 'cheating' and that I'm still an addict but it has helped so much with the habit side of things that I don't want to change something that feels as if it is working for me just yet.

But I'm finding it particularly hard tonight and if I hadn't had 2 glasses of wine I might be very tempted to get in the car and go down to the shop - so I'm just trawling round the site and getting myself back in the right frame of mind. I know I'm not the type to manage with just will-power and really admire those who can do it.

stay on the patches as long as u need and dont feel like you are cheating cause your not your doing wat u have to in order to get your mindset in the right place and once you get that in the right place you will be able to deal with the NRT

but please dont rush

i felt a right wuss cause i was on patches and everyone else seemed to be cold turkey but i wouldnt be where i am today if it wasnt for the nrt

it got me in the right place mentally then everything fell into place after that

i used the inhalator after my patches would definately recommend this

just used it as and when needed and just used it less and less as time went on

but i still take it with me if i am in a new situation or a stressfull situation would rather use NRT than smoke

[nsd_user663_7469]

I agree whatever feels right for you is the right way to deal with your quit, any other way will not be your way and as much as I know you need to come of the nicco in any form, I know it has to be when you feel ready, here is a pretty for you to say well done and when you do decide to go the whole hog you will feel great I promise.

PS welcome to the forum

i1181.photobucket.com/album...

[nsd_user663_15712]

hi to everyone,i have not posted for a while mainly due to my computer been fixed and would like to say well done to everyone who has quit and is still quit.

just wanted to say like you frenchkiss i am in to my 7th week and have just gone down to the middle patch and like you i am not confident enough to go without,i think with myself it is due to lots of stresses in my life and seem to blame the stopping smoking for how i am feeling on everything,although i have also been using the minis as well which i do not think is a good idea but at this moment there is no point in kidding i feel the worst i have felt and hope there are better days ahead.

i am sure you will be fine going on to the middle strength i think it is a mind thing at this stage but this is where i find it difficult and could not cope with this feeling forever i am just hoping it gets better.

is any one else finding it difficult at this stage,i was speaking to someone through the week not on here and she said she does not even think about them after 6 weeks,well i do so theres no point lying about it,my other half has also stopped which has been good for me but he is also feeling the strain lol so is this just a process we have to go through.

sorry to rant on when i was trying to give advice which i am not very good at at the moment,both myself and my husband do not have a lot of get up and go it seems to have gone we are justing hanging in there.

good luck frenchkiss with the patches and to all of youx

[nsd_user663_2847]

Thanks everyone for the support and advice - where would we all be without each other?! (And Jamangie I loved the diamond roses!!:D).

Feeling a bit better about things now and realise that I just need to concentrate on the stopping smoking part of things and deal with the nicotine part later when I feel stronger. And if I know I can survive without puffing away every 30 minutes, I know I'll feel strong enough to cope without stupid bits of plastic stuck to my body eventually!

Am feeling a bit lethargic too - where is that burst of energy that we are supposed to feel? But actually I have spent ages this weekend sorting out all my paperwork so I suppose that is a positive outcome!

[nsd_user663_15712]

does it really matter how you get there as long as you do not smoke,think we have to do what ever it takes,even if that means doing nothing and sleeping for hours on end lol,take care everyonex

[nsd_user663_1658]

Hi frenchkiss

Reduced mine to step 2 earlier in the week! its easy..honest to god, you wont feel anything other then good, and a sense of relief

[nsd_user663_6596]

Hi Frenchkiss,

I hope your doing well?

Thought i'd comment as i saw you were worried about patch reduction. You've really no need to, when you come down, you will get mild symtoms of withdrawal, but nowhere near the ones you felt when you first stopped.

Keep things at hand to keep yourself busy and entertain yourself with and you will be fine.

I used Nicotine patches for the first week of my quit and then stopped as they weren't agreeing with me, even just a week helps loads to combat the underlying nicotine addiction, and if your weaning off them by stepping down as recommended then thats wonderful, you'll find it a breeze!!

Well done as well, you've come a long way since you slapped that first patch on!!! xx