Quitting smoking? Easier said than done. But when you know what to expect, it can help to remove some of the fear of the unknown. Make the unknown known with our informative guide. Knowledge is power; use it to help you to quit for good.
Check out our article on why do people smoke.
Understanding nicotine withdrawal
Nicotine is an addictive substance found in tobacco. Your body can experience withdrawal when you stop smoking. You may notice yourself feeling irritable, restless, and having difficulty concentrating, as well as facing major cravings for just a few more puffs when you haven’t smoked for a while or when you try to quit. These are all completely normal, but can be difficult to manage. Knowing what they are helps you identify them if they happen.
Understanding the why of something is powerful and may help you to manage cravings in knowing that it’s normal if it happens to you. Check out some common myths about quitting smoking.
Nicorette® Lozenges are a form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) that can help ease cravings when you stop smoking to boost your chances of quitting. Try Nicorette Cools Icy White Lozenge today.
What are common smoking withdrawal symptoms you may experience?
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms is completely normal if you’re quitting smoking. The good news is they’re temporary and won’t last forever. Your body is used to nicotine, so when you stop consuming it, its reaction is “where is it?”. But sympoms fade with time. If you notice them reducing, it’s a positive sign of progress.
In the early stages of quitting smoking, you may experience some nicotine withdrawal symptoms (Link) such as:
Cravings
Difficulty concentrating and/or sleeping
Tiredness
Frustration
Irritability
Restlessness
Anxiety
Increased appetite
Low mood
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), like NICORETTE®, can help relieve these withdrawal symptoms.
When do withdrawal symptoms peak?
Withdrawal symptoms can reach their peak in the first week, but the first three days tend to be the hardest (Link). They can last up to three or four weeks in most cases. For some, even up to a couple of months.
Read our detailed article on how long it takes to quit smoking.
How long do smoking withdrawal symptoms last?
Your nicotine cravings should start to lessen after the first three days, and on average last three to four weeks after quitting, as your body gradually adapts to life without smoking. While withdrawal symptoms might be uncomfortable, they show that your body is recovering from the effects of smoking. You can also use NRT to relieve your withdrawal symptoms.
NRT products contain nicotine and act by substituting some of the nicotine you would get from a cigarette to help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cigarette cravings.
What to do when experiencing withdrawal symptoms
Exercise or try to distract yourself.
Remember, it’s temporary.
Avoid triggers (such as being around smokers).
Occupy mouth (chew gum, have small snacks, melt ice cubes in your mouth).
Mindful breathing (Link).
Remind yourself of quitting benefits.
Try Nicrorette Quickmist Mouthspray to relieve cravings fast.
What to do if you‘re craving a cigarette
Physically, you’ve stopped, but mentally there’s an internal battle going on – a true test of willpower when the cravings kick in. Phrases like “stay strong” or “keep your head up” are nice, but may not be enough on their own. The cravings will naturally reduce over time, but when they hit, you can help conquer them by doing the following things:
Help relieve the craving with a NICORETTE® product. If the craving hits when you’re out socialising with friends, why not try one of our flexible formats: NICORETTE® Gum, NICORETTE® Lozenge or NICORETTE® QuickMist Mouthspray.
Consider Dual therapy.* Nicorette® dual support combines a daily NRT patch with a flexible NRT option like QuickMist, Gum, or Lozenges for on-demand relief. Together, they help to provide complete craving control by using a nicotine patch to tackle background cravings and a flexible option to use if cravings strike. A dual approach can boost your chances of quitting successfully vs using one NRT format alone.
Get moving. Movement can help to distract the mind and get you out of your head and into your body.
Avoid triggers. Stay away from people who smoke or anything that reminds you of smoking. For the first 28 days, avoid places or situations that make you want to smoke (Link).
Read our top tips for how to help conquer cravings.
*Dual therapy must include patch plus one other flexible NRT format
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