Diving and The Patch.

[RobbieTheHun]

I recently quit smoking, it’s been nearly three weeks now and I am using the Nicoderm CQ patch. I asked my physician if there could be any possible side effects from diving while wearing the patch and he couldn't give me an answer. I also called the company that manufactures the product and they said there had been no studies done, and "weren’t disposed to giving an answer at that time". I have been on a couple of dives since starting on the patch and I can't say that I feel any different. Anyone out there got any information on what may be the physiological effects, if any, while diving on the patch.

Many thanks.

RTH

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Robbie,

You might find the following informative:

Nicotine Replacement & Diving
http://www.awoosh.com/Doc Vikingo's Resource Page/Nicotine Replacement.htm

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[ntt]

I liked it! I dont smoke and never will (and I give you credit for quiting)
but it was a good read!

If you choose to dive while on the patch, inform your dive buddy and the boat captin if your on a boat. Maybe play it safe and let any other divers that might be with your trip or dive know. Cant hurt right?

I think I say this alot. Your call, be safe!

 

[RobbieTheHun]

Thank you both,

Great site Doc, I've bookmarked it for future reference. I just signed up for my DIR (F) course and I noticed, while completing the registration form, they actually warn you about diving and using the nicotine patch. I guess the safe thing is to get of it as soon as I can or at least in the interim not use 24hrs prior to diving.

Thanks again,

RTH

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

My only experience is with the scopolamine patch. At depth, the pressures (my theory) began forcing a higher dosage of the medication through the patch. I ended up feeling nauseous, had a headache, and felt an all around malaise. I'm not a doctor, and I don't even play one on TV, but my suggestion would be to remove the patch as you're gearing up and replace it, or apply a new one, after you've dried off. Congratulations on quitting! Way to go!

 

[Dive-aholic]

I know someone who has done a couple of deep dives with a nicotine patch on. He described the symptoms in Doc's article. And they were bad enough to make it dangerous. Fortunately he realized enough to call the dive. The 2nd time he realized it must be the patch doing it. The best thing to do is to remove it the day before.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Robbie,

So as to prevent possible confusion from other posts, obviously patches are not patches are not patches.

It makes no more sense to compare the possible implications of nicotine and scopolamine patches for scuba than to do so for nitroglycerine and estrogen patches. They're all quite different. Nicotine and scopolamine patches are used for completely different purposes and have different methods of action, half-lives, side effect profiles and risks for diving.

One thing they do share, however, is that there is no compelling reason, theoretical or otherwise, to suspect that the pressure at depth forces a higher dosage of the medication through the patch.

DIR often imposes practices that appear based more on the personal preferences of its gurus or tenuous theorizing than on medicine or science. There is no compelling reason why a diver not experiencing worrisome topside adverse reactions to nicotine replacement should manifest them during recreational scuba.

As is stated in the article, with very deep scuba on air or with nitrox diving, nicotine replacement raises the theoretical concern of increased oxygen toxicity risk due to the stimulant effects of the drug. While this very likely is an insignificant risk at best, at the least nicotine replacement would not appear to pose any greater risk than would the regular use of cigarettes during a dive trip. Smoking divers generally do not temporarily cease tobacco use 24-hours prior to scuba.

In any event, understanding the real issues and applying good common sense should be of much assistance in making the decision regarding diving while on nicotine replacement.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo