NRT – Patches

How they work

A bit like clear plasters, patches release nicotine directly and steadily into the bloodstream through the skin.

How to choose

Nicotine patches come in two forms:

• daytime patches – worn for 16-hours while you are awake
• day and night patches – worn for 24-hours

Patches also come in different strengths.  You should speak to your stop smoking adviser if you are unsure, but generally, stronger doses are for people who are more nicotine dependent, for example if you smoke within 30 minutes of getting up or smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day.

How to use them

Patches are used as part of combination NRT.

Whichever strength you start on, you should aim to gradually reduce the strength over time before stopping the use of patches completely.  Some brands use a stepped programme to help you do this.