A few months ago I tried to quit smoking using a generic version of the nicotine patch that I purchased at a local CVS. I used the patch for a few days and some minor side effects such as dizziness, problems sleeping, cold sweats in the middle of the night, and minor stomach pain. I would smoke half a cigarette almost every night after removing the patch ( I realized that was not smart now, after reading post online about it =\ ). Anyways, I decided 4-5 days after using it that I wasn't going to quit smoking, so I took off the patch and stuck some chew in my mouth. I started driving and had a panic attack. I spit the chew out, pulled over and hyperventilated for awhile before continuing on my way to college. Ever since that night 4 months ago I have had anxiety problems, I visited a doctor and he prescribed me (Clonazepam). Taking this pill every night seems to relieve my anxiety by a fair amount, and I keep one with me just in case I have a anxiety attack as it seems to provide immediate relief. After 3 months of taking this pill once a day the doctor told me to cut my dosage by 1/2. The problem is I feel like all the pill did was hold my anxiety at bay and without it I will surely have anxiety attacks daily, it hinders my ability to do anything social for the fear of having a anxiety attack. Im constantly worried about having one. My question is " Can the nicotine patch that I took, that seems to have caused the anxiety, be the source of my anxiety? and if so what can I do about it?" I have no doubt in my mind that I had a nicotine overdose that resulted in this anxiety issues I now have. The doctors I have seen don't seem empathetic to anxiety at all and just brush it off as if it isn't a huge deal ( and trust me it is ) Has anyone else had these seemingly long-term effects from Nicotine patches? What can I do about it :(?