What about nicotine patches?

Nicotine patches are generally very effective when used by a motivated smoker. Most people note a very substantial decrease in their withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms will not totally disappear, but instead of being overwhelming and almost all-encompassing, the symptoms often become manageable. 

There are several manufacturers and several strategies for the use of the nicotine patches. Many come in 7, 14, and 21 mg strengths. Most people who smoke one pack per day find that the 21 mg patch is the most effective in diminishing their withdrawal symptoms. Most physicians recommend using the 21 mg patch for 6 weeks, the 14 mg patch for 2 weeks, and the 7 mg patch for 2 weeks, and then discontinuing. I generally add to this to keep one or two of the 7 mg patches around if the person's not quite ready to quit so they can slap one back on and buy some more patches. 

Patches may be worn during the day only, or throughout the 24 hour period. Use of the patches at night is often associated with sleep disturbances, restlessness, vivid dreams or nightmares. Taking them off at night may be associated with withdrawal symptoms when one wakes up in the morning. 

The patch itself may cause some skin irritation. This can be minimized by using the patch on an area of the skin that is thick (such as the shoulder, back or thigh). Apply it to a hairless are of skin, hold it for 10 seconds. You should wash your hands after doing this to avoid getting chemicals in your eyes. To avoid skin irritation, move the patch around. If irritation does develop, some of over-the-counter steroid cream is usually effective in quieting it down. 

One should avoid smoking while the patch is on and within 15 minutes of taking the patch off. This is felt to be dangerous due to the additive nicotine levels. It also simply defeats the purpose of the patch. 

There are three manufacturers of patches: 

Use of patches generally double the success rates of other programs. They are not a panacea. There is not one milligram of will-power contained in the patch or any other nicotine replacement therapy. Lot's of people fail, and others relapse. It can be very helpful for some people however. I think that patches have an additional advantage of having a constant level of nicotine in the blood, as opposed to the peaks and valleys associated with smoking and with other nicotine replacement strategies.