Use of the nicotine patch

[Phillygryl, LPN]

Is there a required time lag between smoking and application of a nicotine patch? For example, can a patient smoke cigarettes all day then come in the nurses station and say, I don't want to smoke anymore please give me my nicotine patch? The dosage of the patch is 14 mg. The client has a history of heart disease and COPD. It is an assisted living facility and the staff has advised the clt not to smoke!! Is there a required non smoking period required before the use of the nicotine patch? Does anyone know?

[TiredMD]

Is there a required time lag between smoking and application of a nicotine patch? For example, can a patient smoke cigarettes all day then come in the nurses station and say, I don't want to smoke anymore please give me my nicotine patch? The dosage of the patch is 14 mg. The client has a history of heart disease and COPD. It is an assisted living facility and the staff has advised the clt not to smoke!! Is there a required non smoking period required before the use of the nicotine patch? Does anyone know?

I have never used a time-delay, and I've never read/heard that one was necessary.

Remember that the nicotine transdermal patch is a time-released dose. So once you put the patch on, you're not blasting them with a big nicotine dose, you're starting the process where nicotine begins slowly diffusing through the skin.

Also, 14mg is the lowest available dose.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I've even seen Dr.'s orders that allow the pt. to continue to smoke a small amount (i.e. 2-3 cigs/day) while wearing the patch.

[sweetieann]

i called our pharmacy about this awhile back. They advised the patient not to smoke while wearing the patch (although it wouldn't really be that harmful), but said no big deal if the patch is applied and they just snmoked prior.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

No time lag needed, actually 7 mg is the lowest dose, if the pt is a pack-a-dayer or more they should really be on 21 mg or they will still crave