Which nicoderm patch to use

During Step 1, people wear nicotine patches that deliver 21 milligrams of nicotine per day. These patches are traditionally designed to be extended-release, which means that 21 milligrams of nicotine will be doled out little by little over the hour period.

Step 1 patches are recommended for those who currently smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day. Each patch contains 21 milligrams of nicotine, which will be delivered, bit by bit, over the course of 24 hours.

Rite Aid recommends using these patches for four weeks before switching to a lower-dose patch. Then, develop an action plan—and consider the obstacles you may run into along the way. During Step 2, people wear nicotine patches that deliver 14 milligrams of nicotine per day.

These patches are traditionally designed to be extended-release, which means that 14 milligrams of nicotine will be doled out little by little over a hour period. Like other Step 2 patches, this one contains 14 milligrams of nicotine, which will be gradually delivered over a hour period. Like other NicoDerm patches, it is clear, making it easy to wear discreetly.

Each pack contains 14 patches, making it a two-week kit. Like many Step 2 patches, it's designed for those who currently smoke fewer than 10 cigarettes a day, and NicoDerm recommends using these patches for the first six weeks of an eight-week smoking-cessation program. This patch is also suitable for those who are moving to a lower-dose nicotine patch after completing the Step 1 portion of a quitting program.

NicoDerm recommends this group use the Step 2 patch for two weeks before moving to an even lower-dose option. Like other similar patches, this one delivers 14 milligrams of nicotine over the course of 24 hours. Unfortunately, because the patch is beige, opaque, and relatively large, it may not be as discreet as some other options.

Like many Step 2 patches, the Rite Aid Transdermal Nicotine Patch is designed for those who currently smoke fewer than 10 cigarettes a day, as well as for those who are moving to a lower-dose nicotine patch after completing the Step 1 portion of a quitting program.

Rite Aid recommends using its Step 2 patches for two weeks before moving to a lower-dose option. Each patch contains 7 milligrams of nicotine, which will be released in controlled doses over the course of a day.

Unlike some other similar patches, this one is not transparent. Instead, it is circular and opaque, making it a less discreet option. Like other Step 3 patches, this is designed for those who are moving to a lower-dose nicotine patch after completing the Step 2 portion of a quitting program. Habitrol recommends using its Step 3 patches for the final two weeks of your smoking cessation program. The Habitrol Nicotine Transdermal System Patches package is an all-in-one kit that makes following a quitting program particularly easy.

Instead of asking you to piece together a quitting timeline and stock up on a bunch of different boxes, Habitrol gives you everything you need in one package. Each pack comes with 56 nicotine patches: 28 Step 1 patches enough to last you four weeks , 14 Step 2 patches which will last you two weeks , and 14 Step 3 patches enough for two weeks. Combined, these patches create an eight-week program that makes it easy to gradually reduce your nicotine consumption. The work is done for you—all you have to do is buy the box and remember to wear a patch each day.

This lack of customization may put some off. But many will appreciate that by removing some tedious obstacles, Habitrol has made it easier to start a quitting program—and to stick with it. The primary way nicotine patches vary from one another is in dosage. Step 1 nicotine patches deliver 21 milligrams of nicotine, Step 2 nicotine patches deliver 14 milligrams of nicotine, and Step 3 patches deliver 7 milligrams of nicotine.

These doses are typically released little by little over a hour period. And the dose you should opt for will vary, based on your smoking history and where you are in your quitting program. Some nicotine patches are beige and opaque, while others are clear. If you want a more discreet option, one of the clearer patches will likely serve you better than one of the opaque ones. Nicotine patches come in packs, and these packs tend to contain somewhere between seven to 21 nicotine patches.

As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. So you're ready to finally quit smoking? Our free guide can help you get on the right track. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or younger than 18, you should not use these medicines without talking to your doctor. If you use tobacco products other than cigarettes like cigars, chew, snuff, hookah, or e-cigarettes , talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider or call the quitline QUIT-NOW to get help with quitting.

Some of the ways have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. How to Use Nicotine Patches.

The nicotine patch is an FDA-approved medicine that can help people quit smoking. The study, published Feb. Six months after treatment, 22 percent of participants in the eight-week group were abstinent, compared with 27 percent of those in the week and week groups. The work replicates the results of a previous University of Pennsylvania study that showed week patch treatment leads to a higher likelihood of smoking cessation than eight-week treatment.

But the new study was the first to investigate week treatment. While safe, 52 weeks on the patch did not lead to better quit rates. It might be that people with a longer smoking history or who are more nicotine dependent may be the ones that should be continuing longer than six months, or at least should have the option to if they want it.