Hi Pat,

Good to see you quit! Congratulations . I did the same thing with the patch and the gum. I didn't wear the patch very long, and when I did, if I had a craving I used the gum, maybe 4 - 6 pieces a day at first. I used the 2 mg. orange flavored Nicorette. I liked the taste of that the best. The 4 mg. just tasted too strong. I also used Zyban/Wellbutrin, and liked it so much that I still take 100 mg. a day 18 months after quitting. After awhile, I stopped using the patch, and just used the gum. I made myself cut down on the gum because it is not the greatest for your gums and teeth. I chewed regular gum for awhile and eventually stopped that too. The only problem I can see with staying on nicotine replacement indefinitely is that it just prolongs the agony. When I was on just the gum, I definitely had withdrawls between pieces. So my advice to you would be to get off the nicotine replacement as soon as you can, or only use the gum when absolutely necessary. I think it may make it easier in the long run, though I also think it is different for each of us. Whatever you are doing, it looks like you are doing a great job.


i wish you continued success,
Sandy