I used patches occasionally. They release the nicotine slowly, so if you only put on one once you have started craving they won't get you through the craving, particularly. It is more of a... Preventative thing.

I had best luck with the gum. It made me want to barf, as you say. The key is to stop thinking of it as gum. Try cutting a piece into 4 or even 6. You only want to chomp down on it about 3 or 4 times and then you want to park it into your cheek and forget about it. It tastes kinda metallic... A little like a dirty cigarette butt... It was a reminder to me that I did want to quit. I saved the gum for when the cravings were very persistent... LIke.... You get through one by being like 'I just need to get through the next 30 seconds and it will pass'... And 'Just give it 2 minutes'... And the cravings did pass... But would come back every couple minutes... Driving me nuts... I found the gum would help the urge pass / not come back so often.

Anyway... Gum is an acquired taste, for sure.

Electronic cigarettes were still in their ugly infancy when I was quitting... They have become a much bigger thing now... I think I would have tried those if I were quitting today.