Do nicotine patches/ products actually work?

[CaughtTheKaty]

Really want to stop smoking and don't think I can on will power alone. Will nicotine products actually stop be craving a fag?

The do work because you are still getting the nicotine hit but learning to break that ‘hand to mouth’ habit as you reduce the strength.
Some pharmacies and local groups do smoking cessation advice, it’s worth a Google for your local area and see if there is support near you. Good luck!

Yes, you're 4x more likely to quit successfully if you access nicotine replacement therapy and professional support. Both available for free on the NHS.

Stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do to improve your health and it benefits your mental health and finances too.

Thank you both, I will give it a try!

They worked for me. I started using patches whilst still smoking and gradually reduced the fags over about 10 weeks, “losing the habit” by stopping the best fags iykwim, then just stopped when I was down to one or two a day, thinking “I’ll have one tomorrow.” but never did have another one. I kept using the patches for another 4/5 months, cutting down on the nicotine content until I was using a quarter of a patch 😂🤣. Then kept one of those inhalators with me for another six months until I lost it. Only ever used the nicotine plugs that came with the mouthpiece thingy. Haven’t smoked for years now and much happier about that.
I didn’t go to a smoking cessation service as that isn’t me, but I know some people find the support invaluable. Even paying for the patches cost less than buying fags.

@FadedRed glad they worked for you! Did you have any adverse reactions to them?

Yes worked for me. I loved smoking and that’s why I gave up. Took 3 tries but got there. Not smoked for 15 years now.

They definitely work but I guess only if you really do want to give up. My OH had smoked for around 20 years and gave up with the help of these. He just woke up one day with chest pains, knew he had to give up and never smoked again

The patches were a bit itchy for the first half hour or so, and the inhaler thingy is not a ‘substitute fag’ in that you don’t inhale as such (it made me cough) but sort of short abrupt ‘sucks’ so the nicotine is absorbed through your mouth.