Nicotine patch or gum work better?

26 Comments

The good news is that I have not smoked one cigarette or cigarillo since January 2, just over one month. And that's good in the sense that I'm not harming my lungs as much anymore by inhaling smoke and those toxins in smokes. I'm not entirely clear though on how effectively I can heal my lungs from the smoking I did when I'm still ingesting nicotine in some form. I am still buying nicotine gum regularly, but I have also bought the patches and have used them for several days instead of the gum a couple of times. Well, for the last week and a half, I've switched between the patches and the gum. But so far, I have not been successful in getting off the nicotine altogether. That's why I'm curious on which will work better with the minimal amount of withdrawal when ending nicotine entirely. How effective have you found quitting nicotine in the patches verses the gum. Click which ever box has been most successful for any of you in quitting smoking. And comment if you want on what you think on this.

Gum	3
Cold turkey	6
Patch	0

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Comments ( 26 )

Mammal-lover

4 years ago

I would try vaping and weaning yourself off that way. Way more affordable

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  No, vaping has been proven by some now to mess with your lungs too. Not as much as smoking, but still more than non-inhaling options. I'm not going to go back to inhaling anything when I've been letting my lungs heal for a month now
  
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  - Mammal-lover
    
    4 years ago
    
    It's a stepping stone. Its litterly inhaling vapor. It's one of the least harmful methods of nicotine. Aslo the most affordable. You do you. I dont really give a shit
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      4 years ago
      
      I didn't want to take any chances with inhaling options because I was just going by a few things I've read about vaping. They could be wrong though.
      
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      - Mammal-lover
        
        4 years ago
        
        Vaping has like 5 things in it. Go to a smoke shop and ask them about it theyll be able to tell you why all the commercials are bull
        
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Fugazi,again

4 years ago

Patches work every time, just put one over each eye and you can't find your fags

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Aethylfritha

4 years ago

Idk. Not a smoker but gum may be safer. I know two guys who had patches mess with meds they were on.
Maybe chew on straws/ candy canes to help with the oral fixation.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  Yes, it may mess with some meds. I take blood pressure meds, but the patch hasn't seemed to have messed with those so far. The only side effect has been a little insomnia, since nicotine can cause insomnia and it's still being released into your body as you're trying to sleep when wearing the patch. So I've only worn it during the day
  
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Ellenna

4 years ago

I reckon a month off the smokes is too soon to think about giving up nicotine replacement in any form. Congratulations, by the way!

I quit smoking anything about ten years ago, used nicotine gum for a couple of years and then gave that up gradually, but relapsed on to gum when I was under stress a few years ago. I've been using lozenges ever since and was worried the nicotine in them could be bad for my heart (I've had two heart attacks), but last time I was in the cardiac unit after a serious heart attack they had posters up recommending any or all forms of nicotine replacement therapy to help patients stop smoking. I checked with a doctor who told me nicotine replacement products don't harm the heart, much to my relief.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  I'm sorry about your heart. But yes, it's good that nicotine itself doesn't hurt the heart. I didn't think it did, that it's the toxins in smokes that hurts it. And it's definitely the toxins and smoke that hurt the lungs. The only slight danger to nicotine may be that it can raise blood pressure a little, but I'm sure that it won't raise it any more than caffeine and coffee. Those high caffeine energy drinks are probably worse for your blood pressure than nicotine gum
  
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Anonymous Post Author

4 years ago

I see that more of you have chosen Cold turkey as your no. 1 option. It's too late for me to try that option since I haven't smoked in a month, and have just been chewing the gum and wearing the patch. But I know that you're just saying what you'd prefer to do to get off the smoking. I wasn't able to do it cold turkey anyway, it was too sudden for me, too much withdrawal. I must say though that a month ago, I was still hacking alot and coughing up nasty crap, and I was for months up until I switched to just the gum and patch. I haven't hacked or coughed anything up for a while now. I like that. I think that you guys can all do it too, make the transition from smoking to the gum and patch. However though, I am still unable to stop all nicotine substances, so I'm going to have to make that my next goal

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litelander8

4 years ago

Drop the nicotine. Just quit.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  Well, since I haven't smoked in a month and have only been chewing gum and wearing the patch since, I'm going to consider that. I just haven't been able to yet. I'll try it very soon
  
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RoseIsabella

4 years ago

Speaking of cold turkey I just ate some cold fried chicken.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  Haha😂 lol
  
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  - RoseIsabella
    
    4 years ago
    
    😋
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      4 years ago
      
      I do like cold turkey in a sandwich with mayo 😋
      
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      - RoseIsabella
        
        4 years ago
        
        I once made a supremely delicious turkey sandwich.
        
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KholatKhult

4 years ago

I think it would depend on what part of smoking you’re dominant on.
I liked the activity of having something to do with my hand and mouth more than just the chill from the nicotine, so if I were to quit I’d have to either do gum or lollipops or something like that that I could still interact with

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  I might try the lolipop. Or the lozenge. Haven't tried them yet.
  
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- Nikclaire
  
  4 years ago
  
  I like the hand activity too but my habit is even worse because I use smoking as a crutch to overcome awkward anxiety moments.
  
  I do this with beverages too. I can pretend to focus on that instead of the people I am with.
  
  Gum, the patch or a lollypop wouldn't satiate that impulse.
  
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  - Anonymous Post Author
    
    4 years ago
    
    I didn't even know about the nicotine lollypop
    
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Nikclaire

4 years ago

Congrats on quitting. Nicotine is not what ruins your lungs, smoke inhalation does. Nicotine prolly isn't good for the heart though.

Wish I could quit.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  Thank you. Try both the gum and patch for a while if switching to just one still gives you too much craving to smoke. You won't be inhaling unhealthy crap anymore and will give your lungs a much needed break and recovery. I did it. I think that you can do it
  
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- Aethylfritha
  
  4 years ago
  
  One doesnt quit, one just finds another different vice.
  
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- Ellenna
  
  4 years ago
  
  I'd always thought nicotine in any form was bad for the heart until I was in a cardiac unit a few months ago after a heart attack, and was surprised to see posters recommending nicotine replacement therapy to help people stop smoking.
  
  I checked with one of the doctors and she said replacement nicotine is OK for the heart, which was a relief as I use lozenges after quitting cigarettes (and joints, damn it) years ago.
  
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Are You Normal?

Nicotine patch or gum work better?