Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

11 years and counting

Timbo637

2024-10-31 6:49 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Feels like hell week all over!!

Timbo637

2024-10-30 9:38 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Roller Coaster Withdrawal

Timbo637

2024-10-14 12:28 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Smile....and don't shoot the messenger

Timbo637

2024-09-27 3:17 PM

Quit Smoking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Loved

Browse through 411.768 posts in 47.066 threads.

161,306 Members

Please welcome our newest members: Geraldine, Snootz, Poul Ilsøe, Trina J Kriya, SG1501

is NRT addictive?


16 years ago 0 579 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Elaine, The nicotene that you get from patches is much less than you get from smoking, so you are already reducing a lot anyway. My experience of being on this site for some time now, is that: 1) Everyone is different, and needs to decide what to do for themselves. We can provide information on different methods, but you choose. 2) Quitting smoking is more attitude and determination than anything else 3) It does not really matter what method you use as long as it works for you! You do not say how long you have been quit, or what strength patches you have been using. You mention that you did not bother to put one on and felt OK.....interesting....how long did that continue for? By the way, I used the patch, but that was the right method for me. :p Keep going! Lizzie :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/23/2003 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1764 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 26,460 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �6,615.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 181 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 5 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49
  • Quit Meter

    $9,166.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 810 Hours: 23

    Minutes: 55 Seconds: 40

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    6111

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    36,666

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 1153 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Eilis, NRT's are meant to be used as an aid to help you through the process of quitting although sometimes people do develop an addiction to the nicotine in them. This does happen from time to time and it is something to be aware of if you choose to use a NRT. On your journey to quit smoking the most important and first step should be to stop smoking cigarettes. You should focus on breaking the habits and behaviours that are associated with smoking. Work on developing some coping mechanisms to deal with triggers and cravings. Once you have developed these skills then you can focus on getting yourself free of nicotine (NRT) if you have been using one. Each person is unique in their quit and how they choose to do it so if you need the help of a NRT then you should consult with your pharmacist and decide the right approach for you. Brenna, Bilingual Health Educator
16 years ago 0 515 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
i did use the gum in the beginning. I found when i used it as infrequently as i did, i got headaches. I think it just prolonged the nicotine getting out of my system. i no longer use it. i do have a friend that is still using it after 2 years thou. Just to share my experience. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/7/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 44 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 792 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $308.88 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 48
16 years ago 0 220 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello Elaine just a few comments on my experience with NRT's. I chewed the gum for a couple of weeks, then just decided that I really did not need it any more. I guess I am one of the very fortunate ones, if I had known my quit would be this easy, I would have done it years ago Keep chatting on here, they area a great group of people and you will find all the support you need! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/21/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 30 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 540 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $114.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
16 years ago 0 1890 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Elaine, you're gas! I really don't mind what method anyone uses to quit smoking... many of the long-timers in here have quit with NRTs and I say, good luck - nomatter how you do it you must, at minimum, stop the crappy cigarette smoke from getting into your lungs 25 times a day. Making sure that you taper off the NRT in a 'reasonable' amount of time after the quit can be tricky but I reckon it must be done in the end so as to block the stimulus that we have always sought in cigarettes... If a couple of gills of rum is known as Dutch Courage, then a pipe full of tobacco must have been know by the Pilgrims as Algonquin Courage, no?? Sorry... feeling a bit weird today... Patrick [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/18/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 33 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 825 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $371.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1
16 years ago 0 120 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
yes i think my natural inclination is to just stay on NRT forever. it's free here in Ireland to public health clients, which I am. i don't want to be a hero but i don't want to be on this forever either. i ended up putting a patch on today but the whole thing is so subtle i wonder that a placebo patch would probably do me. i read allen carr and joel spritzer and both are very anti-NRT. elaine
16 years ago 0 1890 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Elaine, Hi. I just want to cite one example of an addiction to a nicotine replacement; Six years after my friend stopped smoking with the NR gum he has still not quit buying it and chewing on it throughout the day...he never really learned to quit nicotine even tho' he did himself a lot of good by stopping the inhaling of smoke. He is no longer subject to the noxious gasses that accompany nicotine into the lungs and that's a good thing. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/18/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 33 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 825 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $371.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17
16 years ago 0 46 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
When you quit smoking fighting the addiction is only half the battle. The other half is behavioral. For many, me included, struggling with the mental and emotional dependency is much harder than the actual physical addiction. If you believe that the NRT's will help you maintain your quit then, by all means, continue using them. It will be much easier to ween yourself off of them once you've mastered not smoking. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/11/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 71 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,840 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $639.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19
  • Quit Meter

    $1,277.39

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5378 Hours: 8

    Minutes: 50 Seconds: 27

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45621

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    319,347

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 120 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
i'm wondering if i'm making things difficult for myself by quitting NRT early - but i'm concerned about being addicted to it. it's nicotine and nicotine is the most addictive substance on the planet. i'm not using any NRT today and I feel ok elaine

Reading this thread: