Is it possible to get addicted to nicotine patches

Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. On the surface, chewing a couple of pieces of nicotine gum every day is much better than smoking. Cigarette smoke contains over 7, chemical compounds; of which are known to be poisonous, and upwards of 70 that have been identified as carcinogenic.

We also know that inhaling secondhand smoke is hazardous, and for a smoker, it's a double whammy because we breathe in both mainstream and sidestream smoke.

It puts us at risk for heart disease, COPD, and cancer for starters. That said, while cigarette smoke is worse than nicotine alone, nicotine is not a harmless drug. Even when using nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking, you should be aware of the potential risks that nicotine poses.

There is growing concern that long-term use of nicotine may contribute to cancer. Nicotine harms the linings of our arteries which leads to the build-up of plaque, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

While it's true that the amount of nicotine you're getting daily from the gum may be small when compared to smoking, don't forget that nicotine is addictive.

The message you're sending to yourself is that you can't live without nicotine—that you're not strong enough to give nicotine up completely. Even though nicotine replacement therapies NRTs have the potential for addiction, they are an effective way to quit smoking.

Always use caution, however, and follow your doctor's and the manufacturer's instructions. All forms of NRT except for the nicotine patch are easy to misuse because you take a dose multiple times a day. The patch is the only NRT that is applied once in the morning and offers time-released nicotine throughout the day.

Talk to your doctor about your options and weigh the potential pros and cons of each option before you decide which one is right for your needs. Your doctor may recommend the patch on its own or a combination, such as a patch and a lozenge or gum as nicotine replacement therapy.

Research suggests that an approach that combines passive nicotine delivery e. NRTs have helped many thousands of smokers stop smoking successfully. Just remember that they are not intended for long-term use. Follow the manufacturer's directions exactly, and wean yourself off the NRT product of your choice in the time period suggested.

Recovery from this addiction involves learning how to deal with life's ups and downs nicotine-free. If you remain dependent on nicotine, regardless of the form it comes in, you run an increased risk of a smoking relapse. Additionally, as is the case with habit-forming drugs, your tolerance for nicotine will increase over time and so will your intake. When the right or wrong situation presents itself, you may find it's a short jump to lighting up when a piece of nicotine gum isn't handy or just doesn't do the trick in taking the edge off.

Stressful situations will continue to trigger the urge for nicotine until you clear it out of your system and learn new ways of coping. Nicotine patches come in three different doses. Dosage should be chosen based on how much you currently smoke. Check package instructions regarding appropriate dosing or ask your health care provider about what dose is appropriate for you. If you experience dizziness, rapid heartbeat or nausea, this may mean you are getting too much nicotine and you may need to reduce the nicotine patch dose.

Place the nicotine patch on in the morning and remove at bedtime. Some people sleep with it on as well. If you have trouble remembering to put it on, try setting an alarm on your phone or put the nicotine patch near your toothbrush or car keys.

Apply the patch to clean, dry skin — not skin that has oil, lotion or creams on it. Also, avoid putting the patch in a location that has a lot of hair. Upper chest, upper arm and shoulder are common places on the body to put the patch. The nicotine patch can cause skin irritation. Using nicotine replacement products can double your chances of successfully quitting smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy , or NRT, has its fair share of fans — but it has its critics too.

Time to put the rumors to rest. Here are seven of the most common myths about NRT — and the truth behind the fiction.

In fact, according to a study published in in The Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews , using nicotine replacement products can increase the likelihood of quitting by up to 70 percent. Quitting can be difficult under any circumstances, and NRT only helps counter the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal , not the psychological urge for a cigarette, says Michael Siegel, MD, MPH , a professor of community health services and a tobacco researcher at the Boston University School of Public Health.

Quitting smoking is a process, he says, and some people may need a variety of tools to help them succeed. By providing a small dose of nicotine to your body, NRT can help ease the withdrawal you feel when you stop smoking. Siegel, like lighting up, inhaling the tobacco smoke, and sharing a smoke break with your buddy. The best quit-smoking method is the one that works for you.