Getting the dosage right on your nicotine patches is important. As with other medications, you should not use nicotine patches that have passed their expiration date.

Expired patches may lose their potency, making them less effective. Some may also produce toxins that can harm your health, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

This article describes the purpose of nicotine patches and outlines the typical dosages for people who are quitting smoking. We also consider whether it’s safe to use an expired nicotine patch and highlight the possible risks of doing so.

Finally, we outline some free resources that can help people quit smoking.

No, it’s not safe. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t recommend using any drug that has surpassed its expiration date, due to possible concerns over the drug’s safety and efficacy.

Nicotine is a “readily volatile” chemical compound, which means that it breaks down quickly — especially when exposed to light and air.

While no studies have been done to see what happens with expired nicotine patches, they are unlikely to produce results for you past the expiration date.

According to the FDA, expired medications may lose their strength or potency, making them less effective. If you’re using an expired nicotine patch, this means that you may not be receiving the amount of nicotine you require to prevent nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

In theory, this could cause you to start smoking again.

As the FDA explains, expired medications may also produce harmful toxins that have negative health effects, especially in people with a weakened immune system.

The question of how long it takes for nicotine patches to expire depends on the manufacturer and brand.

However, all manufacturers must include the expiration date on the drug label or packaging. Make sure to check these dates before purchasing any patches to ensure that you have time to use them before they expire.

If the medication has surpassed its expiration date, dispose of it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

A 2023 review notes that nicotine patches and other forms of nicotine replacement therapy increase your odds of quitting smoking by about 50% to 70%. However, nicotine patches aren’t the only effective smoking cessation tool.

Some free resources that can also help you quit smoking include:

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) smoking quitline: Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to speak confidentially with a trained quit coach who can:
    • help you to create a tailored quit plan
    • offer encouragement, support, and helpful tips
    • provide access to medications to help you quit smoking, and even provide the first 2 weeks’ worth of medications for free, in some cases
    • provide access to other useful smoking cessation resources
  • The American Lung Association smoking cessation quitline: Call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872), or you can submit a question on live chat, when available.
  • The American Cancer Society (ACS) email-based smoking cessation program “Empowered to Quit”: An online smoking cessation program that allows you to set your own “quit day”. You will then receive emails from the ACS, with tailored information and tools that can help you quit.
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) personalized Quit Plan: A free service that can help you identify your smoking triggers, and set up personalized tools and strategies to help you quit.

You can also talk with a doctor or pharmacist for further information on free or low cost smoking cessation methods.

Nicotine patches are a form of nicotine replacement therapy that can help reduce nicotine cravings and counteract the effects of nicotine withdrawal in those who are quitting smoking.

These adhesive patches gradually absorb into the skin, delivering a steady dose of nicotine into the bloodstream throughout the day.

The problem with using expired medications is that they may lose their potency and effectiveness. This means that if you use an expired nicotine patch, you may not be receiving the dose of nicotine you require to counteract your nicotine withdrawal symptoms and tobacco cravings.

Some expired medications can also produce toxins that are harmful to your health, especially if you already have a weakened immune system.

If you’re seeking low cost or free smoking cessation treatments, consider calling a smoking quitline, or talking with a doctor or pharmacist for further advice.