Medication Overview
Medication Overview
Last activity on November 30, 2025
Nicotine Patch
What it is
- 16-hour skin patches: 25mg, 15mg & 10mg
- 24-hour skin patches: 21mg, 14mg & 7mg
How it works
- Delivers a steady dose of nicotine to the bloodstream via skin.
- Peak levels reached in 2 – 6 hours.
- Average amount of nicotine absorbed: 0.6 to 1.6 mg/hour.
- Step-down approach: strength adjusted at 6-8 weeks, then as appropriate.
How it is used
- Apply to clean, dry, non-hairy area.
- Ensure sticks well to skin
- Replace every 24 hours & rotate site daily.
- Rash from adhesive is common (nicotine is an irritant); topical creams may be applied.
Pregnant Women
-16hr patch recommended (remove at night)
-May experience increased skin sensitivity/rash
-Metabolise nicotine faster- careful not to underdose
Possible side effects
headache, dizziness, nausea, trouble sleeping
(in this case, use 16hr patch or remove 24hr at bedtime).
Listen Here
It’s worth noting that different brands of patch have varying adhesiveness, and some clients get on with different brands of patches better than others. In certain circumstances, clients can choose to use two different short acting products instead.
It’s also important for clients to be given realistic expectations on potential side effects – if they are not told that the patch may cause skin irritation, they may stop using it.