10 Best Nicotine Patches 2024 in the United States

Nicotine is the ingredient in cigarette smoke that makes cigarettes so addictive. As soon as you inhale smoke from a cigarette, it takes 10 seconds for the nicotine to reach the brain. This brings about a release of adrenaline, which gives you that "buzz" that people find so pleasurable. But that goes away quickly--leaving you with a craving for more nicotine.

If you have decided to quit smoking, nicotine patches are designed for supplying you with the nicotine that your body craves. If you're a heavy smoker, you'll put on a patch with a higher concentration of nicotine; a more casual smoker will put on a less concentrated patch. The nicotine is slowly released from the patch through your skin. After some time, you put on a patch with a progressively lower concentration, until you can wean yourself of nicotine addiction altogether. A number of drug companies have made nicotine patches, with separate tracks for heavy and light smokers wanting to quit.

We've put together this guide to help you select the best nicotine patch that answer to your needs. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of nicotine patch,

• See useful tips about that type of nicotine patch,    

• Read reviews of different brands of nicotine patch, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of nicotine patch, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

Drug companies have devised three major methods of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which are designed to get people to stop smoking: there are nicotine lozenges, nicotine gum, and nicotine patches.

Habitrol makes three levels of nicotine patches:

• Step 1:  This is a patch that supplies your body with 21 mg of nicotine over a 24 hour period.

• Step 2: This is a patch that supplies your body with 14 mg of nicotine per day.

• Step 3: This is a patch that supplies your body with 7 mg of nicotine/24 hours.

The recommended method of using the patches is as follows:

• If you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day: Start with the Step 1 patch, applying a new patch every day for 4 weeks. Then apply the Step 2 patch for the next two weeks. And finally, for weeks 7 and 8, apply the Step 3 patch.
• If you smoke less than 10 cigarettes a day: Start with the Step 2 patch, applying a new patch every day for 6 weeks. Then for weeks 7 and 8, apply the Step 3 patch.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• How to apply the patch: Choose an area of your body without a lot of hair, so that the patch will adhere better. Wash the area where you apply the patch with soap. Do not apply any lotion--it will leave a film that impedes the nicotine from entering through your skin. When you adhere the patch to your skin, keep the patch in place for 10 seconds, to make sure that it sticks properly. Apply a new patch in a different location on your skin for the next seven days--don’t apply a patch to the same spot within a 7-day period.

• Skin irritation: It is expected that you’ll experience a tingling sensation at first when applying the patch, and the area where you applied the patch will be somewhat red. But if you experience a rash that doesn’t go away, or nausea, dizziness or diarrhea, you may be allergic to the patch. You should discontinue use of the patch, and consult a doctor.

• Clear or Skin-colored patches: Habitrol makes patches that are tan colored, while GlaxoSmithKline makes clear patches. If you apply the patch where no one sees it, the color shouldn't matter.

• Habits are hard to die: Users say that the habit of smoking is more addictive than the actual nicotine. So just as important as the patch, a person also has to have resolve that they want to stop smoking.

• Prefer circular patches: A circular patch will adhere better than a square patch to areas of your body that move all the time. That may be a consideration for people who are exercising. 

• Keep out of reach of children: Nicotine is absorbed by inhalation, through the skin, or by mouth. When you have finished using a nicotine patch for that day, dispose of it properly, out of the reach of children or pets. Exposing a non-smoker to nicotine can cause rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea, and could even lead to seizures.

• Timed release: The patches are designed to release the nicotine through your skin slowly, so that they are not used up too soon. Unlike gum or lozenges, you don’t have to be reminded to take another dose. You just apply a patch--ideally at the same time every day--and you can forget about it for the next 24 hours.

• 16-hour dosage: If you notice any sleep disturbances (inability to fall asleep, or vivid dreams) Habitrol suggests removing the patch before going to sleep, and putting on a new one the next morning. That way, you’ll only have a 16-hour dosage instead of 24 hours.

Habitrol--is a product of Novartis Consumer Health Inc., but they are presently produced by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, in Princeton, New Jersey. Their treatment allows for people to slowly eliminate their nicotine addiction within 8 weeks, depending on how much they smoke before starting the treatment.

Rugby Laboratories--is located in Livonia, Michigan. They are providers of over-the-counter remedies, vitamins, and nutritional supplements. They were founded in 1976. Among other products, they sell nicotine transdermal patches, lozenges and gum, to help people stop smoking.

Glaxo Smith Klein--is a British pharmaceutical company located in London, England. It was founded in the year 2000. It makes pharmaceuticals, vaccines, healthcare products, nutritional products, and over-the-counter remedies. Nicoderm CQ is their nicotine patch, which is part of their line of products, including nicotine lozenges and gum, to get people to wean themselves from smoking.