Is it safe for me to cut the nicotine patch in half?By Marian Mroz from Westlake, OH on November 12, 2005 Category: Nicotine transdermal system A year ago, my plan was to use Nicodern patch as an aid but my heart began beating so rapidly, my doctor told me to take it off. On my own, I tried a lower dose patch (14mg) with the same results. Being a pack-a-day smoker, I then cut the 21mg patch in half with no bad side effects and it helps. However, it says on the packaging not to cut the patch, friends are telling me to 'stop it'. What suggestions do you have that might help me? I'm on a low-fixed income and can't afford to keep buying the patch...is it possible to buy it at a lower price than pharmacies are charging? I've also started with a '12-step program' to quit and plan to also use the 'FREEDOM'; sponsored by the American Lung Ass'n. I do have a chemical imbalance causing anxiety attacks and have to take Xanax to control it. Going cold turkey could very well sent me into an anxiety attack of astronomical intensity and I'm not game to try that. Thank you for your time. |
Mr
I am on the final stage of the patch. To save money I decide to continue buying STEP 1 Clear patched and cut it into 3rds. (21 mg/3 = 7 mg.) My rationale was that the nicotine was evenly distributed in the patch adhesive. It seems this isn't the case. It appears the nicotine is likely distributed in the writing on the clear patch. When I cut the patch in half I was getting half the writing. I was stable. When I started cutting it in 3rds, I was getting 2 days of practically no nicotine and 1 day of nearly 21 mg. I was a basketcase for at least 2 days of the week due to this, I'd probably have been better off stopping the patch completely because of this yo-yo effect of nicotine dosing. It was like I was quitting over and over and over. I was so bad off mentally and emotionally, I might lose my job or some of my intense and rash behavior...all to save a few dollars on my quitting smoking program. My advice to anyone cutting the patch into pieces: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A EVENLY DISTRIBUTED PORTION OF THE WRITING "NICODERM" on the patch slice you cut off, or just don't chance it and buy the dose you are on. The other alternative is to follow the steps properly, even though the 7 mg patch costs exactly the same as the 21 mg patch. (Yeah, this seems like extortion to me, they should at least warn of this on the package.) * I have not smoked in 2 months, despite the trouble I've gone through. - Rob
By Rob G from Victoria, BC on March 03, 2007 | Reply | Mr
I am on the final stage of the patch. To save money I decide to continue buying STEP 1 Clear patched and cut it into 3rds. (21 mg/3 = 7 mg.) My rationale was that the nicotine was evenly distributed in the patch adhesive. It seems this isn't the case. It appears the nicotine is likely distributed in the writing on the clear patch. When I cut the patch in half I was getting half the writing. I was stable. When I started cutting it in 3rds, I was getting 2 days of practically no nicotine and 1 day of nearly 21 mg. I was a basketcase for at least 2 days of the week due to this, I'd probably have been better off stopping the patch completely because of this yo-yo effect of nicotine dosing. It was like I was quitting over and over and over. I was so bad off mentally and emotionally, I might lose my job or some of my intense and rash behavior...all to save a few dollars on my quitting smoking program. My advice to anyone cutting the patch into pieces: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A EVENLY DISTRIBUTED PORTION OF THE WRITING "NICODERM" on the patch slice you cut off, or just don't chance it and buy the dose you are on. The other alternative is to follow the steps properly, even though the 7 mg patch costs exactly the same as the 21 mg patch. (Yeah, this seems like extortion to me, they should at least warn of this on the package.) * I have not smoked in 2 months, despite the trouble I've gone through. - Rob
By Rob G from Victoria, BC on March 03, 2007 | Reply | Write a Reply |
