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bkseler
Mon, Jan-02-06, 13:21
I know all the health reasons to quit but my main motivator is the cost. Said I'd quit when the started costing over $3.50 a pack and here I am paying almost $5. My question is about the cost and effectivness (sp) of the patches. I'm not a gum chewer, my work involves face to face contact with the public. I'm also what I would call a light smoker; during the week maybe 5 cigs a day. I know this sounds pathetic but I really enjoy smoking. How sick is that. Any feedback on patches would be appreciated.

SidC
Mon, Jan-02-06, 15:12
The patch seems like overkill if you're only having 5 cigs/day. The AHCPR says that there is not much research that's been done on light smokers using the patch (see AHCPR clinical guidelines (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat6.table.34956) ).
Scott Sledge, a physician at Wake Forest, says:
"Finally, those who smoke 5 or fewer cigarettes per day appear to have a low level of nicotine dependence and have few symptoms of withdrawal when they quit smoking. It is unclear if these patients benefit from nicotine replacement."
(See: An Introduction to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (http://intmedweb.wfubmc.edu/grand_rounds/1998/nicotine_replacement_therapy.html))

A google search on nicotine replacement for light smokers brings up mixed advice from medical sources - some advise against, others advise using the lowest possible dosage level.

If you do decide to try it, you might want to check to make sure you're not getting more nicotine from the low dose patch than you are from smoking -

Lisa N
Mon, Jan-02-06, 16:50
Ditto what SidC said. If you are only smoking 5 cigarettes a day on average, the patch, gum or lozenges, even at the lowest dosage possible, are probably going to deliver more nicotine to your system than it is currently getting. It doesn't make sense to quit using nicotine by first giving your body more than you are currently taking. :idea:
Check out this website (http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksCAids.html) for more information on using nicotine replacements when quitting. Some of the other articles on that website may be helpful to you as well, especially this one (http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_01_02_I_Like.html)