How to Use the Patch & Gum to Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking could be the best decision you ever make. Smoking causes lung cancer and other serious medical conditions. However, if you are addicted to nicotine, quitting smoking could be very difficult. Your body has built up a dependency, and you might feel it's nearly impossible to quit. Luckily, you do not have to do it alone. Use nicotine patches and gum to help you stop the habit. You can even use both the patch and the gum at the same time.

Things You'll Need

• Nicotine patch
• Nicotine gum

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Instructions

Nicotine patch

• 1

  Open the package and remove the protective cover. Make sure to avoid touching the sticky side of the patch.

• 2

  Apply the patch to a clean, dry, hair-free area of skin on your upper body. Typical areas include your stomach, upper arm or side. Make sure you do not apply the patch to an area that is burned or cut.

• 3

  Press the patch firmly to your skin with the palm of your hand for 10 seconds. This will ensure the patch is secure.

• 4

  Wash your hands. If you have nicotine on your hands, it can spread to other parts of your body and cause irritation.

• 5

  Wear the patch for the amount of time specified on the package. Most patches can be worn for 16 to 24 hours.

• 6

  Apply the next patch to a different part of your skin. You can apply it to the original area after a week.

Nicotine gum

• 7

  Place the gum in your mouth and slowly chew it 12 to 15 times. You will notice a tingling sensation, which indicates that nicotine is being released.

• 8

  Stop chewing and place the gum between your check and gums.

• 9

  Leave the gum in your check until the tingling sensation decreases. To release more nicotine, chew the gum again, and then place it back between your check and gums.

• 10

  Repeat this cycle until the tingling subsides. Generally, most people chew 10 to 12 pieces of gum per day during the first month. Physicians recommend that you chew no more than 30 pieces of gum per day.