The Original and Clear NicoDerm CQ patches can be worn while in the sun or tanning bed. However, the patches have not been demonstrated to be effective protection against sun exposure. Use of sunscreens with the patch is not recommended because it may affect the adhesion. Therefore, if you are planning on using the patch while tanning, you may want to place it in area that will not be exposed.

NicoDerm CQ is a stop-smoking quit aid in the form of a nicotine patch. It helps calm the cravings that make quitting smoking so hard. It's helped hundreds of thousands of smokers quit, and is the best-selling patch in history.

Yes. The adhesive, the nicotine amounts, and the way you use the products are exactly the same. The only difference is the color.

Each NicoDerm CQ patch contains a special nicotine rate-controlling membrane that controls the release of nicotine into your bloodstream through your skin. The level of nicotine uptake is lower than that of cigarettes, and allows your body to gradually adjust to having less nicotine until you don't need any.

Any questions about drug interactions between medications should be answered by your physician or other healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor if you take other medications. The active ingredient in NicoDerm CQ is nicotine, which is already in your system if you are a smoker. However, withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking and the absence of smoke in your lungs may affect how your body handles medications.

Water will not harm the NicoDerm CQ patch. You can bathe, swim or shower for short periods of time while wearing the NicoDerm CQ patch. If you're concerned that it could loosen on your skin, you can secure it with two pieces of medical or sports tape, placed in an "X" over the patch.

No, this is not recommended. If the rate controlling membrane that delivers nicotine is altered in any way, the nicotine delivery will be very unpredictable.

Step 1: Do not remove the NicoDerm CQ patch from its sealed protective pouch until you are ready to use it. NicoDerm CQ patches will lose nicotine to the air if you store them out of the pouch. Step 2: Choose a non-hairy, clean, dry area of skin. Make sure your skin is free of lotion or soap. Do not put a NicoDerm CQ patch on skin that is burned, broken out, cut or irritated in any way.

We suggest wearing the patch on a part of your body that is not tattooed. It is unknown whether the tattoo would affect how the patch would work, or if the tattoo coloring would change.

No. The whole reason is to quit smoking. If you slip and start smoking again, a lapse of one or two or even a few cigarettes need not spoil your efforts. Throw away your cigarettes, forgive yourself and continue with the program. Don't consider yourself a failure or punish yourself. In fact, people who have already tried to quit are more likely to be successful the next time.

No problem. Forgive yourself, discard your cigarette, and then get back on track. Try to recognize what made you slip and, this time, try harder to stay on track. If you feel like you're slipping and want some extra help to stop smoking, use our cool quitting tools to get over the temptation. Also, give some thought to joining Committed Quitters.

If you are concerned, your doctor or pharmacist is the best person to advise you based on your medical history and present state of health. We specifically recommend you speak with your physician if you have: Taking prescription medicine for depression or asthma. Your prescription dose may need to be adjusted.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, only use this medicine on the advice of your health care provider. Smoking can seriously harm your child. Try to stop smoking without using any nicotine replacement medicine. This medicine is believed to be safer than smoking. However, the risks to your child from this medicine are not fully known.

You can safely drink in moderation. But to reduce the risk of a smoking relapse, you may want to avoid drinking alcohol if you associate it with smoking.

ThinFlex is a replacement for the previous NicoDerm CQ patches. It makes the patch itself thinner, and thus more flexible. No. All the components (ingredients) are the same. One component of the patch is HDPE, a type of plastic. ThinFlex uses an improved grade of HDPE, which performs just as well as the previous HDPE, but is thinner and more flexible.

Absolutely! The SPF levels of the suit will tend to be lower due to UV rays coming from multiple light sources (tanning lamps) rather thanfrom a single source (the sun) as it does during outdoor tanning. SPF levels will therefore range from 2 to 6 depending on the type of tanning bed used.

We recommend choosing a start date for your quit attempt and beginning the use of the NicoDerm CQ patch first thing that day, before having any cigarettes. However, if you choose to wait and start your quit attempt later in the day, you must wait 30 minutes or longer after smoking your last cigarette before using the NicoDerm CQ patch. No, NicoDerm CQ can be placed anywhere on the body that is clean and dry at the time of application.

Regardless of the type of cigarette you smoke, you should use NicoDerm CQ according to label instructions. If you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, you should follow the 10-week plan. If you smoke 10 or fewer cigarettes a day, follow the 8-week plan. Click here to find more about which strength is right for you. Quitting smoking isn't easy. But you'll feel a lot better than you would if you quit "cold turkey.

No. NicoDerm CQ has not been evaluated for treating chewing tobacco, cigar or pipe smoking dependence. Talk with your doctor to find a product that is right for your circumstance.

Nicoderm CQ is a waterproof patch. You can swim, shower or have a bath for short periods while wearing a nicotine patch. Note: If you plan on swimming for an extended period of time, we would advise using a band-aid, sticky plaster, medical tape or similar to secure the patch in place.