<s>[INST] I am on the last step of nicotine patches to quite smoking, and the last 5 days I have been experience a dull-moderate ache in my back (kidney area). I have increased my water intake the past 3 days thinking I was maybe dehydrated, but the ache has only gotten worse. Could this pain be due to the nicotine patches? [/INST] Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Pain in the lower part of back is not associated with nicotine patch,this pain is either muscular or renal, i would recommend you to get your ultrasound kidney ureters and bladder done to rule out any renal stone that might be causing the pain. If everything comes out to be fine on ultrasound then it would most probably be due to muscular pain in which situation i would recommend you to take muscle relaxant and NSAIDs. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. </s>