How does it work?

Nicotinell TTS patches contain nicotine. They are a type of medicine known as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and are used to help smokers give up the habit.

Nicotine is the addictive substance present in tobacco. Smokers who try to give up often experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and cravings for cigarettes, because they are dependent on the nicotine in tobacco. Withdrawal symptoms can include irritability, headaches, restlessness, insomnia and difficulty concentrating. These, combined with cigarette cravings, are why it is difficult for some people to give up smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapies work by giving you a small amount of nicotine, but without the dangerous effects of inhaling tobacco smoke. This helps relieve the withdrawal symptoms and cravings for a cigarette that you get when you stop smoking, and allows you to get on with breaking the psychological habit of smoking. If you are physically addicted to nicotine, using NRT has been shown to almost double your chances of successfully quitting smoking.

Nicotinell patches are worn continuously for 24 hours. The nicotine in the patches is absorbed continuously through the skin into the bloodstream. This produces a lower amount of nicotine in the blood than smoking, but the continuous level is enough to help prevent the withdrawal symptoms and cravings that you get after you stop smoking.

The patches come in three different sizes: 30cm2, 20cm2 and 10cm2. These contain 21mg, 14mg and 7mg of nicotine respectively. People who smoke more than 20 a day should start with the 30cm2 size. One patch should be applied at the same time every day, usually in the morning and replaced after 24 hours. (You can remove the patch before going to bed, but leaving it on overnight will reduce your morning cravings.) If you have managed not to smoke after three to four weeks of using the 30cm2 patches, you should then drop down to the 20cm2 patches for three to four weeks, and finally the 10cm2 patches for three to four weeks. People who smoke less than twenty cigarettes a day should start with the 20cm2 patches. Reducing the patch size in this way gradually weans you off the nicotine, allowing you to focus on breaking the smoking habit. By the time you stop using the patches your psychological urge to smoke should be reduced.

NRT comes in many forms. There are factsheets on all these linked at the end of this page. Nicotine patches are used to help prevent cravings for cigarettes, while nasal sprays, inhalators, chewing gum, tablets that dissolve under the tongue, and lozenges, are all forms that can be used instead of smoking when you get a cigarette craving.

As well as breaking the physical addiction, you also need to break the smoking habits you used to have. Try to avoid situations where you will be tempted to smoke, and remember to seek help and support whenever you feel like giving in to your cravings.