Nicotine Withdrawal: Symptoms, Duration, Treatment, and More
Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical compound found in cigarettes, other tobacco products, and vapes. Because most smokers inhale nicotine on multiple occasions over the span of a day, the body and brain become accustomed to it. So when people try to stop smoking or vaping, the lack of nicotine almost always causes withdrawal symptoms like irritability, trouble concentrating, and a strong craving for more nicotine.
For many people, nicotine withdrawal symptoms are strongest for the first days after quitting tobacco. As time passes, cravings and other symptoms begin to subside, and it gets easier to live without it. With some preparation and strategy, nicotine withdrawal symptoms shouldn’t stand in the way of living a tobacco-free life.
Every time you inhale cigarette smoke or vapor, nicotine travels from your lungs to your heart, blood vessels, brain, and every other part of your body. Because nicotine is so addictive, with regular use your body gets used to having it in your system.
When nicotine isn’t available, the brain has to adjust to its absence. Many smokers experience some level of withdrawal symptoms after going just several hours without having a puff.
Nicotine withdrawal is a collection of distracting and unpleasant symptoms that happen when you stop using nicotine. Nicotine withdrawal is different for everyone, but the worst of it usually only lasts for a few weeks.
When you stop using tobacco, you’ll likely experience the effects of nicotine withdrawal within 24 hours. Some of the symptoms are physical, while others are mental or emotional.
How often you smoke and how many years you’ve been using nicotine usually dictate how intense your withdrawal symptoms will be. The most common symptoms are:
Other withdrawal symptoms stem from nicotine’s effects on the brain. The mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms include:
Nicotine cravings
Irritability or anger
Restlessness or jitteriness
Sadness or depression
Trouble sleeping
Difficulty concentrating
Increased hunger
Nicotine attaches to receptors in your brain. When those are activated, they trigger your brain to release dopamine — a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) that makes you feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. When you stop using products that contain nicotine, the dopamine levels in your brain drop. The lack of this feel-good chemical is what causes withdrawal symptoms. Cravings are your brain and body’s way of telling you that they want more dopamine.
If you’re a regular tobacco user, withdrawal symptoms typically start within 4 to 24 hours after your last dose. Symptoms may peak around the third day, but the nicotine withdrawal timeline is different for each person who quits. Some people stop feeling the effects of withdrawal within a few days or weeks.
The first few days after you quit nicotine can be challenging, but withdrawal symptoms will ease in time. In the meantime, there are many products and techniques you can try to reduce cravings and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment options for managing nicotine withdrawal include:
Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies, such as the patch, gum, and lozenges, and nicotine replacement nasal sprays (available with a prescription)
Prescription medicines like varenicline (Chantix) or bupropion (Wellbutrin XL)
Online or in-person tobacco cessation programs
Therapy and support groups
Management Tips
Distraction techniques can help take the edge off of unpleasant symptoms while waiting for cravings to pass.
How to manage physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal:
Suck on a lozenge or hard candy to relieve a sore throat and dry mouth.
Go for a walk or eat healthy snacks like carrot sticks or sliced apples when you get hungry.
Drink extra water and add more fiber to your diet to prevent constipation.
How to manage mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of nicotine withdrawal:
Call 800-QUIT-NOW to talk to a free quit-smoking coach.
Add more physical activity to your day. Go for a walk, take an aerobics class, or go on a bike ride.
Schedule activities throughout the day to keep your mind off smoking or vaping.
Spend time with a friend, particularly if they have successfully quit smoking.
Avoid situations where you used to smoke, such as going to bars or while drinking coffee.
Cut back on caffeine, which can make you more jittery.
Talk to a doctor or therapist.
You can’t entirely prevent nicotine withdrawal. But for some, tapering off nicotine slowly may lessen withdrawal symptoms and make them more bearable. Others find that stopping smoking entirely is a more effective quitting strategy for them.
If quitting tobacco cold turkey proves too difficult, consider gradually reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day. And while you’re reducing your tobacco use, try nicotine replacement therapy to lessen the withdrawal symptoms and smooth the transition off nicotine.
Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in tobacco products. Quitting it can lead to withdrawal symptoms like cravings, irritability, and increased appetite.
Medications, nicotine replacement therapy, and smoking cessation programs can lessen some of these unpleasant symptoms. But nicotine withdrawal can’t be entirely prevented, and the quitting timeline is different for every smoker.
Managing your feelings with meditation, exercise, or speaking to a therapist or smoking cessation coach can help you cope with the changes in your daily routine.
