Customer Reviews

NicoDerm CQ Step 1 Opaque Patch, 21 mg, 2-Week Kit (14 patches)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have tried everything and this is the only thing that worked for me. I have just finished the Nicoderm 3 step program and have not had a cigarette in 2 1/2 months! You can do it too and the patch will make it possible. There are a few tricks:

1) Do not even bother unless you really want to quit--you must have a purpose.
2) The night before you want to start, make sure that you smoke ALL of your cigarettes, every last one (or flush them down the toilet to get them out of sight and mind). When you are ready to go to sleep, put on the patch.
3) When you wake up, the patch is working, its up to you at that point.

Good luck! Anyone can get rid of their addiction if they really want to with the patch.

PS: I also had really wonderful and vivid dreams.

If you are here and thinking about Step 3 of the "NicoDerm CQ Stop Smoking Aid, 7 mg, Clear Patch, 2 Week Kit 14 patches", it probably means you have successfully completed Step 2, and maybe even both Step 1 and 2. If you are just thinking about quitting and haven't started yet, please see my review of Step 1(those smoking closer to pack a day or more) or Step 2 (1/2 a pack a day or less). Step 3 is not a starting place, but more of a weaning off the patch place.

Okay so here I am and I just past the 6 month mark of no cigarettes after 40 years of being addicted. I don't have to tell you how the patch works, as you have already been on at least step 2. I finished up this patch program in October, so I've been 4 month without the patch, and I'm doing fine. I will not tell you that you will not get cravings, or just feel like it is time for a smoke, but they are no where as bad, and much easier to get through then before.

What I want to say about this step 3 patch, is that it was hard to go from step 2 to step 3 and it was even harder to wake up one day, knowing that would be the day, I'd have no patch at all. But if you got this far, go for it.And of course, you already know that the patch will give you the physical needs, but you have to keep denying those mental cravings. Imagine, going to the movies, without worrying about how long it is and will you make it through, or not having to go out into
the cold or rain for a smoke, etc. etc....

Anyway, I never thought I would quit. I never even really had intentions of quitting(even knowing what the consequences might be). Guess it just dawned on me one day, that the cigarettes had more control over my life, then my own mind did.

So why I am going 4 stars, if it worked so good? A couple of reasons. If you have read my reviews on the first two steps, you may remember that I said that no matter which brand I used I had to secure the patch with medical tape. They just don't stick the full 24 hours like they should(the package said they would even stay on in the shower). And these are just too expensive to lose. I also mentioned, the tendency is to gain some weight. You have to really be careful about that. One nice thing is though, that you will have more lung capacity to work out longer and burn those calories!

So Don't Stop Now! You CAN do it. Go For Step 3
Oh and by the way, the Rite Aid(look for it near the pharmacy dept at your local store) brand costs less and works the same. I also seem to recall that they came in packs of 7 patches, as well as the 14 so you could just buy enough for one more week if necessary.

Laurie...a little heavier(I'm working on that part)...but..alot healthier!

If you are ready for Step 2 of the Patch Program you are doing great. It means you have made it through Step 1 or it means that you smoke less then 10 cigarettes a day to start with, and you can start with this step 2 patch!

Having recently gone through the entire patch program, I can tell you it worked for me. I smoked for 40 years, and didn't think I would ever be motivated to quit. If anyone mentioned it to me, I said, "yeah, yeah, tommorrow" . All of a sudden I decided it was time, I was tired of being out in the cold, or rain whenever I wanted a smoke, or checking to see how long a film was before I would go to a movie. Here's the thing though, these patches will give you what you need physically, it's the mental part that's really tough. You really have to choose NOT to smoke, every time that craving hits.

I am reviewing the patch program in general, as I purchased which ever brand was on sale, and found they all worked the same. The best price wise I found was the Rite-Aid brand(called Nicotine Transdermal System). It followed the same program as this one. If you have gone the route of saying, "we don't need no stinkin patches", and tried to do it on your own, cutting down day by day unsuccessfully, then give this program a try.

I smoked about a pack a day. I started with Step 1 which constantly deilvered 21 mg of nicotine to me. Even for me that seemed like more nicotine then I was used to, so if you are closer to a half a pack a day smoker, I would suggest starting with step 2. The instructions tell you to first set a date. You can't just buy them and stick a patch on. You have to have it in your mind, that the date you pick will be the date you will quit. Don't schedule your first quit day at the time of some big or stressful upcoming event. I gave myself a week of having the patches in the house, before I used them. It was not easy(I still have times when I want to smoke, but it gets easier to get through those times every day!). After 3 weeks(less then the recommended time of 4-6 weeks), I stepped down to a 14 mg patch(step 2) and 3 weeks after that to step one(7 mg). That was the hardest to give up and took me a few extra days to get it in my mind that I didnt need it.

Making a list of the reasons you want to quit is helpful, giving yourself little rewards every so often(no, not a cigarette), helps, but mostly, finding something to do when the cravings hit. Yes they do still hit on the patch. With me, it was after a meal, or driving, even after writing a review, I really wanted one. Keep in mind, the cravings WILL pass. Try to follow the instructions. They may seem corny, but they will help. The only instruction I didnt follow, was to throw out all cigarettes, so you wont have them. This part did not work for me, I needed them there, to feel in control of my actions. They are still unopened.

Get some support from friends. Tell people what you are doing. Then you may feel like you HAVE to live up to it, and also, they will understand when you want to punch them out(try not to do this!)

You should also invest in a roll of some medical tape. These patches(all the brands) did not stick for 24 hours like they said they would. I would often wake in the middle of the night and find the patch had fallen off and then I panicked. Stick a little tape on them, they are too expensive to lose.

Yes, what is in these patches in not healthy(but neither is cigarettes, right?). You need to wash your hands, whenever you touch them and make sure, kids or pets dont touch or ingest them either. But, you will no longer be inhaling all these chemicals, and when you are through, you are through!

Each time I started the next step, it seemed like it was starting over. The first few days of each were VERY hard. But I got through it. I don't know if I will ever smoke again. I always imagine some crisis will have me opening up one of the packs. But I have been smoke free for well over 3 months now, and getting close to a month without help from the patch, and I am doing fine. You won't know if they work for you unless you try. The cost for a 2 week supply is around the same price as a carton of cigarettes. You can buy them in packages of 14, or if you feel you only need a week more, they also come in packages of 7. Some are clear and unnoticable as well.

Go for it, you have nothing to lose(except the addiction) by trying, and Good Luck!
Laurie

P.S. Oh yeah.. be prepared to gain some weight. Then switch to fresh and healthy snacks, and it'll start coming off again!.

If you've come this far, you are at least entertaining thoughts about quitting. That's important.

Simply put, the patch worked. I had smoked 1 1/2 packs a day for 29 years, and had attempted to quit cold turkey on numerous occasions. Nothing helped me. I became almost psychotic, and always returned to my cigarettes after a few days.

You must feel like quitting for the patch to work. It's not a silver bullet that takes away all desire for tobacco. It simply takes the big edge off your nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which is a huge boost. You then take care of the motivational "triggers" yourself -- and believe me, it's far easier than you think, once the nicotine cravings are gone. If I can do it, you certainly can, too.

I did not suffer any kind of rash, and the only side effects I had were vivid dreams (nice) and a sort of occasional, pleasant drowsiness.

Within six days of dropping the habit and using the patch, my blood pressure dropped to normal. I had more patience. I breathed deeply and without coughing. My sense of taste and smell improved. My circulation was better (no more cold feet or hands on a chilly night), and I had noticeably more energy. Even my skin improved. And my sex life certainly did, also. There were other, less obvious differences, but ones which I definitely felt. These were evidence of a body beginning to heal itself after 29 years of poisoning.

After two weeks my urges were barely noticeable. After four weeks, I didn't think about cigarettes anymore, and couldn't stand smelling one burning from across the street.

And I gave myself back about 21 hours a week that I would have wasted smoking.

Please, if you have had trouble quitting before, get the patch and follow the schedule. Make the commitment. It's not scary, nor is it torture to say goodbye to those coffin nails. It's an adventure. Within just a few weeks, you'll be looking at smokers with pity (and feeling great while you do). I came through it, and you can too.

I like most others have tried repeatedly to quit smoking. I have failed many, many, many times. I will not say that Nicroderm CQ is what made me stop because that is NOT true. I failed many, many, many times even with the use of Nicroderm CQ. What I will say about Nicroderm CQ is that I truly believe that it gave me the help that I needed to stop smoking when I WAS READY!

Nicroderm CQ does not take away ALL of your cravings but it really does make a lot of them managable. I do not think that I could have done it with out the help of a nicotine patch.

I have also tried other "cheaper" patches and I found that Nicroderm CQ was worth the extra few dollars for a lot of different reasons. The most important reasons are that they stick better. You would think that is not a huge deal but let me tell you when your patch is always falling off then you are not getting the "help" or nicotine from the patch that need. Nicroderm CQ sticks really good. Another reason I would choose Nicroderm CQ is that there is a great support program that comes with the patches. I believe that you really can not quit smoking alone (it would be difficult) and with these patches you don't have to. There is a pamphlet inside the box with phone numbers and a`website. You answer some questions and they do the rest. There is a lot of information, you can call 24 hours a day to talk to someone, and the website is very informational. Support is not only there for you when you are suceeding but support is also there for you if you slip up or even if you fail completely. They do not judge you, instead they provide resources and information about trying again when YOU are ready.

If you are reading my review then I am assuming that either you or someone you know is looking to quit smoking...and no matter what route you or the person who is quitting takes I wish you (or them) the best of luck! :)

The patch helped my nicotine cravings. The first few days were the most challenging, as all my habits and smoking places had to be avoided. But the physical nicotine craving was taken care of by the patch. The patch helped minimize my intense cravings for nicotine. I would never have been able to quit smoking without this patch. It's been four weeks now and I'm still not smoking--and I'm still wearing the patch, but wearing the Step 3 with less nicotine. What has changed is that some days I forget to put on the patch until after lunch or later...my early morning nicotine cravings have sort of dwindled away. I won't lie to you--I still have moments of heavy cravings, but they're temporary and have been fairly easy to overcome. And they are getting less frequent. If you want to quit smoking, try the patch.

Update as of August 27, 2008:
Still not smoking. I highly recommend the patch.

Update as of October 24, 2010:
Still not smoking. No urge to smoke. No relapses since quitting. As I said, I couldn't have quit on my own. The patch really helped. I wanted to add that when I was using the patch, I would sometimes cut it in half with scissors so that I could control how much nicotine I got. They don't recommend it on the instructions, but if you find that when you're using these that you are feeling a little too pumped up with nicotine or kind of lightheaded, maybe you only need half. Cut the patch and wear half of it and therefore you'll get a lesser amount if needed. Just a tip I thought of. But definitely ask your doctor about doing this to make sure he or she agrees. What works for one person may not work for someone else.

was a smoker for over 10 years. I purchased this when I wanted to quit smoking and it worked so well. I have now been a non smoker for 2 years. I followed the plan and set a date.I told as many people as I could so that every time I wanted to cave in to a craving I would know I would have to face all those people and tell them I had failed. I also bought cinniman sticks. You can suck on them and they are the shape of a ciggarette and the taste of the cinniman is soothing and gets you through those tough cravings. One thing to remind yourself is that by giving in your cravings you go back to the startline , So wether you have one hr or two weeks under your belt try to tough it out keep that time under your belt its very dicouraging to have to start from scratch. If it does happen though just pick yourself up and start again. It feels really good to be a nosmoker, I never want to be smoker again.

Simply put...the patch works if you are really ready to give up the cigarettes. I've been a smoker for 30+ years and it's now been three months since I've I had one and about a month since I have been off the patch. (I started with stage 2)I did have a bit of a rash now and then at the patch site but it was a small price to pay for the results. I'm now trying to convince my husband to give it a try...he still smokes but is finally coming around to the realization that he needs to quit. (His brother died last year from lung cancer at age 48)Let's face it...it's a stupid and nasty habit that we all need to break if we want to live! Give it a try for your self and for the ones that would like to have you around for awhile.

I smoked, 14 years, about a pack every two days, sometimes more, and I started with this, the lower-dose program. It really helps. Using the patch separates two aspects of quitting, the physical addiction, and the habit/lifestyle of smoking. I highly recommend this route--by the time you step down the nicotine level, you're completely used to not smoking--not going out for smokes at work, after meals, at bars....
I had very close support (supervision) which was also really helpful. Had I been alone, especially at the crucial points--day one, two and three, and all the step-downs in dose--I would have smoked.
I did smoke once at about week seven, total waste, increased my cravings for a few days. Other than that, I've been smoke free for 12 weeks. Feel great, can taste and smell, get a ton of work done....I still miss it, still think about smoking, wish I could smoke one or two when out, maybe in a few years....
I did not keep the patch on overnight, did once by mistake, caused nicotine OD, felt horrible for a day.
Based on some info from friends, you have to buy the name brand here, not the generic. The important part of the patch is the delivery system and adhesive, and the generics don't measure up (I use all generics unless there's a good reason not to).
Find good reasons to quit (health, social limitations, long flights, expense) and use the patch to supplement your own will power. Got to quit sooner or later, might as well spend the dollars and do the patch and quit now, before it's (seriously) too late.
P.S. The patch can cause a bruise, like a vaccination, try different areas til you find one that doesn't get irritated.

I started my smoke free journey almost 3 months ago. I wasn't too sure if this would work because i started smoking when i was 13. I am now 24 married, my wife and i are having our first kid. I wanted to quit because i didn't want to be controlled by an addiction anymore. I could've cared less about the price,health risk, or the smoking bans. I pretty much smoked a pack a day and decided for to start with step 2 because reviews i saw that said step 3 was very strong. I recommend if you can go 2 hours without smoking then try step 2. I have tried to quit before using hypnosis, electric cigarettes, and just quitting cold turkey. Nothing has ever worked but i also wasn't quitting for the right reasons i was quitting for other people. You have to truly want to quit to quit successfully. I was very surprised that it does knock down the cravings. You still have them they are just a lot weaker and can be ignored. I was doing so good the first week(I even threw a full pack away)then the last day of the week came. I couldn't concentrate, I was over stressed at work(I am the boss by the way), and my employees were testing my patience. I had a weak point and smoked a cigarette. At first it felt good, then i realized i just screwed myself over by giving in. I was so depressed that day i tried my hardest not to smoke, but I broke down and had one anyway. I thought the whole process had to halt just because i smoked. The next day i decided to stick with it mostly because cigarettes tasted like crap after a week without smoking(you wouldn't think it would only take a week, but it did). I smoked two more times(a week between each time). I realized the three things that were going to help me quit 1.) THE TASTE for a smoker i loved the taste of a cigarette especially with a beer. After a week it tasted like someone poured an ashtray in my mouth. 2.) IGNORE IT find a new hobby trust me you can find one real easy when trying to keep your mind off smoking. 3.) I hated this one DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL trust me(I even went without drinking beer on the super bowl, i drank liquor though. I crave a cigarette the most when i drink beer i could smoke three packs in a night when drank a lot of beer. I only drink heavy like maybe twice a month because of work. The point is figure out what your weaknesses are avoid them, then gradually come back to them. Trust me i celebrated two days after my last patch with a lot of beer. Cravings do not go away after i finished the patch i started to realize that they never go away you were just building your mental resistance to them. The BIGGEST thing to remember is THEY GO AWAY if YOU IGNORE them. I have an addicting personality so if i can do it anybody can do it. Alright i am done writing my novel.