|
|
|
|
|
Nicotine Patches |
|
|
|
- Description - |
Nicotine patches, which are available under several brand names, are designed to help you quitsmoking by reducing your craving for tobacco. Each adhesive patch contains a specific amount ofnicotine embedded in a pad or gel.
Nicotine, the habit-forming ingredient in tobacco, is a stimulant and a mood lifter. When yougive up smoking, lack of nicotine makes you crave cigarettes and may also cause anger, anxiety,concentration problems, irritability, frustration, or restlessness.
When you wear a nicotine patch, a specific amount of nicotine steadily travels out of thepatch, through your skin, and into your bloodstream, keeping a constant low level of nicotine inyour body. Although the resulting level of nicotine is less than you would get from smoking, itmay be enough to keep you from craving cigarettes or experiencing other withdrawal symptoms.
Habitrol patches are round and come in three strengths: 21, 14, or 7 milligrams of nicotine perpatch. You wear a Habitrol patch 24 hours a day.
NicoDerm CQ patches are rectangular and come in three strengths: 21, 14, or 7 milligrams ofnicotine per patch. You wear a NicoDerm CQ patch 24 hours a day.
Nicotrol patches are rectangular and deliver 15 milligrams of nicotine per patch. You put on aNicotrol patch in the morning, wear it all day, and remove it at bedtime. You do not use it whenyou sleep. Nicotrol is available over-the-counter. |
|
|
- Common Side Effects - |
|
Dizziness, high blood pressure, itching and burning at the application site,nausea,redness of the skin |
|
|
- Possible Interactions - |
Acetaminophen-containing drugs such as Tylenol
Caffeine-containing drugs such as No Doz
Certain airway-opening drugs such as Isuprel, Dristan, and Neo-Synephrine
Certain blood pressure medicines such as Minipress, Trandate, and Normodyne
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Insulin
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Oxazepam
Pentazocine (Talwin)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|