Nicotine patches are used to help people stop smoking. Nicotine is one of the most addicting substances available, so stopping can be very difficult. The nicotine patch is designed to provide a continuous but small amount of nicotine to the bloodstream. The amount of nicotine delivered over 24 hours depends on the size of the patch used. The theory is that by taking in a small amount of nicotine, you can prevent the craving for a cigarette that is usually seen when someone stops smoking abruptly.
Some of the nicotine patches sold come in different strengths. One company, for example, sells three different strengths (21 mg, 14 mg and 7 mg) to allow users to slowly reduce the amount of nicotine. Other companies sell only one strength. The amount of nicotine a smoker actually inhales depends on the kind of cigarette and the way in which the person smokes. On average, a cigarette smoker gets about 1 milligram of nicotine per cigarette smoked. That means that a one-pack-a-day smoker would get about 20 milligrams of nicotine a day. So, the 21 mg patch is about the right amount for replacement. If a person only smokes 10 cigarettes a day (half-pack-a-day), the 21 mg patch would actual increase the amount of nicotine he or she is used to. The symptoms of too much nicotine include nausea, headaches, fast heart rate, high blood pressure and nervousness. These symptoms are very close to the symptoms seen with someone with an overactive thyroid gland (called hyperthyroidism). Although the symptoms are close, there are ways to tell the difference. Blood tests are usually used by physicians to diagnose thyroid problems. These tests are not changed by nicotine. So, although nicotine can cause some of the same symptoms, it does not cause excessive thyroid function.
