Social Anxiety Support

Some Russian Guy · 10-31-2009, 11:13 PM

I'm using nicotine patches to help me to quit smoking...

It says on the back of the box:

If you smoke 10 or less cigarettes per day, start with 14 mg patches for 6 weeks, then switch to 7 mg patches for two weeks and stop.

It also says that it should not be cut in halves...

I only have 14 mg patches...

Can I just ignore that warning and cut it in two halves, throwing away one piece and applying another on my skin... ?

I need to do it by the book, coz I'm afraid I will just start smoking again...

Neptunus · 10-31-2009, 11:19 PM

Perhaps these links will help:

http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/shubinsk/smokmet1.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com...ss=105x4213781

Some Russian Guy · 11-01-2009, 12:27 AM

Oh noez!

the comment:

Quote:

DON'T CUT THEM

If you do they will release ALL THEIR NICOTINE AT ONCE!!!!!

AND YOU WILL GET SICK!!!

But why does it do that ?

Ok, now I don't want to risk and will ask my doctor for a prescription of 7mg nicotine patches... (they cost even more than 14 mg patches) I hope my insurance will cover them...

I don't wanna buy them... coz i'm a cheap *******...

Thanks for the links, I appreciate it ...

Neptunus · 11-01-2009, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some Russian Guy

Oh noez!

the comment:
But why does it do that ?

Ok, now I don't want to risk and will ask my doctor for a prescription of 7mg nicotine patches... (they cost even more than 14 mg patches) I hope my insurance will cover them...

I don't wanna buy them... coz i'm a cheap *******...

Thanks for the links, I appreciate it ...

Well, you can't always go by what people say on the internet, perhaps you should ask your doctor.

zookeeper · 11-01-2009, 09:38 AM

I would assume that cutting them would cause the nicotine to come out much faster on the edge you cut. And too much nicotine is NOT a good feeling.

I know the price of the patches sucks, and I used that excuse many times to not follow through, but in comparison to paying for cigarettes for the next few months (which are disgustingly expensive up here, like almost $10 for a pack of 25) it's really quite inexpensive.

Good luck!

euphoria · 11-01-2009, 11:07 AM

Sounds like they are just saying that so people will buy each dose patch individually. Nice scam if you ask me. I have heard of people cutting larger dose patches into various sizes and saving money, with no ill effects. Nicotine overdose is baaaad, though. I had a seizure and psychotic feelings from chewing too much nicotine gum.

If I were you, I'd cut the patch into a tiny size first, then try it to see if it's slow or instant release when cut. Then work your way up to the size you want, just to be on the safe side. Maybe you could do this with any new type of patch, just to be sure the design doesn't release all the nicotine at once if cut.

Vini Vidi Vici · 11-01-2009, 03:17 PM

when i overdosed on nicotine gum, i felt like puking, and was extremely anxious and couldn't sleep. unfortunately, i was extremely tolerant to nicotine, so when i stopped chewing it i had really bad withdrawal, and surprisingly the symptoms were similar to nicotine overdose, so i had no idea what was going on... you could buy nicotine gum online, its always a ton cheaper....15 $ for around 100 pieces, ....thats alot better than the patches.

Neptunus · 11-01-2009, 05:28 PM

Or you could just gradually smoke less over time - that's what I did. Over 3 months, I eventually got down to half a cigarette per day... then nada!

You can also reinforce your decision by making a "promise" to quit to yourself (first, of course)...then a loved one, or a good friend, someone who'll support you...or, if your religious, your god. I found that really helped when I was tempted to slip up. Keeping "my word" is of the utmost importance to me...and sometimes we have to play these little psychological games with ourselves to win the battle.

10-31-2009, 11:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Some Russian Guy Status: Some Russian Guy Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Local group, Local Supercluster, Universe Gender: Male Posts: 603	Can I cut the nicotine patch in half ? I'm using nicotine patches to help me to quit smoking... It says on the back of the box: If you smoke 10 or less cigarettes per day, start with 14 mg* patches for 6 weeks, then switch to 7 mg patches for two weeks and stop.* It also says that it should not be cut in halves... I only have 14 mg patches... Can I just ignore that warning and cut it in two halves, throwing away one piece and applying another on my skin... ? I need to do it by the book, coz I'm afraid I will just start smoking again... __________________ It socializes with other people, or else it gets the hose again!

10-31-2009, 11:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Neptunus Status: Authenticating Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Gender: Female Posts: 2,840	Perhaps these links will help: http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/shubinsk/smokmet1.html http://www.democraticunderground.com...ss=105x4213781 __________________ "When I stand before thee at the day's end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing." ~Rabindranath Tagore "Being gentle means forgiving yourself when you mess up. We should learn from our mistakes, but we shouldn't beat the tar out of ourselves over them. The past is just that, past. Learn what went wrong and why. Make amends if you need to. Then drop it and move on." ---Sean Covey

11-01-2009, 09:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
zookeeper Status: The floor is lava!! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Soap Fortress Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 1,066	I would assume that cutting them would cause the nicotine to come out much faster on the edge you cut. And too much nicotine is NOT a good feeling. I know the price of the patches sucks, and I used that excuse many times to not follow through, but in comparison to paying for cigarettes for the next few months (which are disgustingly expensive up here, like almost $10 for a pack of 25) it's really quite inexpensive. Good luck! __________________ You leapt into the abyss, but find It only goes up to your knees, ~ Nick Cave

11-01-2009, 11:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
euphoria Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 1,650	Sounds like they are just saying that so people will buy each dose patch individually. Nice scam if you ask me. I have heard of people cutting larger dose patches into various sizes and saving money, with no ill effects. Nicotine overdose is baaaad, though. I had a seizure and psychotic feelings from chewing too much nicotine gum. If I were you, I'd cut the patch into a tiny size first, then try it to see if it's slow or instant release when cut. Then work your way up to the size you want, just to be on the safe side. Maybe you could do this with any new type of patch, just to be sure the design doesn't release all the nicotine at once if cut. __________________ Disclaimer: I am not a trained medical professional, so consult one before taking any action that may be discussed here.

11-01-2009, 03:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vini Vidi Vici Status: altruistic philanthropist Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Minnesota Gender: Male Age: 18 Posts: 287	when i overdosed on nicotine gum, i felt like puking, and was extremely anxious and couldn't sleep. unfortunately, i was extremely tolerant to nicotine, so when i stopped chewing it i had really bad withdrawal, and surprisingly the symptoms were similar to nicotine overdose, so i had no idea what was going on... you could buy nicotine gum online, its always a ton cheaper....15 $ for around 100 pieces, ....thats alot better than the patches. __________________ Please don't take or trust any medical advice from me...Consult a perffessional. meds taken for extended period of time: zyprexa, zoloft, risperdal, klonopin, temazepam, xanax, agomelatine, ambien, adderall, metadate, EMSAM, selegiline, paxil, lexapro, wellbutrin, seroquel, trazodone, clonidine, tramadol, remeron, vyvanse, concerta, Lunesta, Parnate. Current Meds: Parnate 30 mg, Diagnoses- Major Depression, OCD, Social Anxiety, GAD

11-01-2009, 05:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Neptunus Status: Authenticating Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Gender: Female Posts: 2,840	Or you could just gradually smoke less over time - that's what I did. Over 3 months, I eventually got down to half a cigarette per day... then nada! You can also reinforce your decision by making a "promise" to quit to yourself (first, of course)...then a loved one, or a good friend, someone who'll support you...or, if your religious, your god. I found that really helped when I was tempted to slip up. Keeping "my word" is of the utmost importance to me...and sometimes we have to play these little psychological games with ourselves to win the battle. __________________ "When I stand before thee at the day's end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing." ~Rabindranath Tagore "Being gentle means forgiving yourself when you mess up. We should learn from our mistakes, but we shouldn't beat the tar out of ourselves over them. The past is just that, past. Learn what went wrong and why. Make amends if you need to. Then drop it and move on." ---Sean Covey