You want to stop smoking. But your body and your brain are used to having a steady supply of nicotine. When you quit, nicotine withdrawal symptoms will set in, causing intense cravings. And no wonder. Smoking stimulates chemicals in your brain that improve mood, artificially enhancing awareness and concentration. It even increases the level of some hormones, including adrenaline. NicoDerm CQ is a nicotine patch that's a form of Therapeutic Nicotine, which means it provides nicotine to your system.