Habitrol Patches

Habitrol patch can help you quit smoking

How Habitrol Patch works
Smokers have both a physical reliance on nicotine (i.e. the body becomes dependent on nicotine) and a psychological reliance on the smoking habit.

When you give up smoking, your body will miss the effects of nicotine and you will miss the habit of smoking.

Habitrol Patch helps you to tackle these two sides of the problem separately, instead of all at once.

It is your body's dependence on nicotine, which causes with-drawal symptoms when you suddenly stop smoking. Nicotine is an addictive substance. Symptoms may include irritability, restlessness, depression, weight gain, and craving for cigarettes.

Habitrol Patch is intended to ease such withdrawal symptoms by providing your body with nicotine. This leaves your mind free to concentrate on overcoming your psychological desire to smoke.

Habitrol patch has been designed to slowly allow nicotine to be absorbed through your skin. The amount of nicotine in the Habitrol Patch is sufficient to help overcome the withdrawal symptoms but is lower than the amount of nicotine which you get from smoking. Therefore, overcoming your reliance on the nicotine in Habitrol Patch is much easier than overcoming your dependence on the nicotine you get from smoking.

How to use Habitrol Patches

Choose and prepare and area of skin
Before you open the pouch choose an area of skin and make sure it is clean and dry. Any area of the body could be used, but preferably hairless skin is best to stick the patch on. Some examples may be the upper thigh, hip, the upper arm or the chest.

The patch should be placed on a different part of the body each day. This will help reduce skin irritation.

Each patch is sealed in a childproof pouch. You will need a pair of scissors to cut the pouch open. Cut along one edge of the pouch with the scissors and carefully remove the patch. Be sure to handle the patch carefully as the nicotine on the sticky side could come off on your hands. This can cause stinging and redness if it gets near your eyes or nose.

To apply the patch remove the clear plastic coating and press the sticky side onto the clean dry skin for about 10 seconds. Run your finger around the edge of the patch to ensure it sticks properly.

If you apply the patch correctly you can shower, bathe or swim without worrying about it coming off.

Which Strength of Habitrol Patch to use and how long it should be used for
There are three different strengths of Habitrol Patch. The patch is applied on waking (usually in the morning) and removed 24 hours later.

When you first start to use the Habitrol Patch you should use the highest strength. This is the 21mg Habitrol Patch. You should use this strength patch daily for 8 weeks.

Then you should reduce the amount of nicotine you are using by changing the strength of the patch you use. Use the next lower strength patch (14mg) applied daily for 2 weeks, then use the lowest strength patch (7mg) applied daily for two weeks.

This gradual reduction in the amount of nicotine will help your body get used to going without nicotine.

If you have been unable to quit smoking after this time, then further use of the Habitrol Patch may be considered after advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

MORE INFORMATION:
Stop Smoking Shop - a specialist site to with information and products to help you stop smoking.

Netpharmacy also stocks Nicotrol and Nicorette products which will be your another option to quit smoking.