NicoDerm CQ 7mg Step 3 Nicotine Patches to Help Quit Smoking - Stop Smoking Aid, 14 Count

Spoiler: these worked! Skip to the end for update. I started with a generic brand of nicotine patches while trying to quit snus (a tobacco pouch held in the cheek) because it was damaging my gums. The generic brand had two major issues. First, it didn’t stay stuck very well or stay in place overnight. Second, it hits HARD like a cigarette, even though it was step 3 at only 7mg. You feel it in your head, and as a non smoker, I hate this feeling. Snus doesn’t do that to you, and I never liked it. Placing the patches over a fattier area helps, but not enough. After all that, I decided to try the real deal, these Nicoderm 7mg clear patches. They are SO MUCH better! There were 3 key differences I would like to share. First, the patch stays put! It doesn’t come loose or come off. Second, the patch is clear and not Eurocentric coloring. The generic patch was only suitable for “white” skin. These Nicoderm brand patches are clear, so they disappear on your natural skin color, whatever that is. Third, the nicoderm patches don’t flood your brain with nicotine like a cigarette or the generic patches. That rush or “hit” is what makes nicotine addictive! The nicoderm does not hit like this, it’s more of a gradual slow release to prevent cravings, which is what we want. The generic brand will keep your brain addicted with that heavy hit. I love that these don’t have that problem. Smooth and steady, no cigarette-like punch to the brain. Now the catch… I’m allergic to the adhesive in these. If you are allergic to the adhesive in band-aid type sticky bandages (aka sticking plasters), then you may react to these as well. I’m including a picture taken 12 hours after removing the patch. This is exactly how it is for me with bandaids too. The adhesive itches, might burn, and always leaves a red mark for 2-3 days after removal if worn for 24h. But, it’s also not that bad, about 10% of the intensity of a mosquito bite. It remains to be seen if I can make it to quitting with this allergy issue, but I’m going to try, because these patches are better in every other way. The adhesive makes the patch itch and burn slightly for me while worn and a few days after. Most people won’t have this problem, only those allergic to common adhesives used in bandages/plasters. If you have this issue, it’s likely you already know. I’m going to try to stick it out with these. The gentler trickle of nicotine made a big difference in how I felt the first day, so much better than the other brand. I just wish I wasn’t allergic to the adhesive. First Written: August 31, 2022 Update: September 27, 2022 Update: these helped me successfully quit! It has been two weeks and counting, and I know that’s not long, but I’ve never successfully made it past three days on my own. Cravings have not been bad enough to make me use another patch so far, but it’s good to have them as a safety net. I don’t care about my adhesive allergy, these worked so well, and I’m extremely grateful. Very, very happy.

It works. It was a rough 3 months but it works. See people say ‘you gotta want it’ and that is, almost unfortunately half of it. Because this isn’t as magical as I personally hoped. You’re gonna want to vape or smoke, a lot, during the process. I needed flavored toothpicks and lollipops and I was super grumpy and reactive and just, not a fun time, for the entire 3 months. But it worked. Sure I still wonder if the 3rd box and month were necessary- like the final round patches are comically small with very little nicotine and I wondered a lot during that month if this was just a dangling bandaid that was ready for a little rip. If maybe the third step was a little cash grabby. But alas. It worked. The most powerful tool I had was affirming out loud to myself “you don’t do that anymore. You used to, and now you don’t.” Cos you gotta do a little grinding, you gotta kinda force-turn the page here. The patch will do half the lifting for sure, it works, but… you gotta show up for it. Good luck and remember, you are strong enough and if you want to, you will.

This product is truly incredible and completely changed my life. The NicoDerm CQ 7mg Step 3 patches helped eliminate the physical addiction to nicotine and made it clear that quitting smoking is largely a mental game—one that is absolutely manageable once the physical cravings are under control. After smoking for 20 years, I successfully quit in just six weeks by following the full three-step program, using each step for two weeks exactly as directed. The patches worked smoothly and consistently, without spikes or crashes, allowing me to focus on breaking the habit rather than fighting constant withdrawal. For the first time, quitting felt achievable instead of overwhelming. I strongly recommend this product to anyone serious about quitting smoking—it doesn’t just help you stop, it can quite literally physically save your life.

I was very addicted to nicotine for 15-20 years. I smoked cigarettes, used chewing tobacco, then rolled my own cigarettes, then vaped, and finally settled on nicotine pouches. I was doing 10-15 4mg pouches a day, which I think is like the equivalent of 1-2 packs a day. I basically always had a pouch in my mouth and would sometimes double pouch when I was out for the night. I’d tried quitting multiple times in the past as well with varying degrees of success. But this time it seems to stick and I credit the structured program of the patch with helping me stick to the plan. It is coming up on one year now that I’ve been nicotine free and while I still get phantom cravings once in a while, I can positively say I’m better off without nicotine. My resting heart rate dropped about 15 bpm after quitting and I sleep much better now. If you’re considering quitting or trying again, do it. And don’t give up if you slip. Just keep trying until you find your motivation. It’s different for everyone.

So far have not had an issue with these not sticking, but I did notice some sleep disturbance one night. NP are just so pricey, it's hard to fork over the price they ask. Probably price would be the ultimate reason I may end up with another brand.

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