What You Can Expect During Withdrawal

As much as you have to look forward to when you stop smoking, the road to success is filled with potholes, bumps and blocks.  Without diminishing your enthusiasm for quitting, you have to be realistic that this isn’t an easy process for anyone.

 First, you have to go through withdrawal, which is perhaps the worst part of your journey to becoming smoke-free.  Over the years that you smoked, your body chemistry adjusted to the nicotine input.

Your system is literally addicted to the nicotine and won’t give it up without a fight.  That’s where your commitment comes in handy.  Withdrawal is both a physical and emotional process.

Your body has to re-adjust to the reduced nicotine levels and you’re going to notice the signs it gives as it tries to talk you into meeting the usual demand.  At the same time, you have to make an emotional adjustment so that you don’t rely on smoking as a coping mechanism.

            The most common withdrawal symptoms that you can experience when you stop smoking include irritability, anxiety, headaches, inability to concentrate, increased hunger and of course – an overwhelming craving for nicotine.

If you ever tried to quit by changing from regular to reduced nicotine cigarettes, you may have felt some of these withdrawal symptoms.  You need to keep in mind that to stop smoking is to battle your body to regain control over what nicotine has captured from you.

As the smoke gets inhaled, nicotine rushes to the lungs, where it’s rapidly absorbed.  From there, nicotine goes to the heart, liver, spleen and brain.  Nicotine is so invasive that it’s easily detected in breast milk and even in the umbilical cord blood of a newborn.

That’s why smoking while pregnant is so dangerous to the health of an unborn child.  Nicotine is tough for the body to get rid of.  Even after you stop smoking, it stays in your body for up to three days.

With each cigarette you smoked, your body built up a higher tolerance for this toxic substance.  Brain-based studies show that smoking increases as the smoker tries to get the same level of satisfaction. 

That’s because nicotine stimulated the mesolimbic system, which is what kicks up intense cravings.  Over time, it takes more and more nicotine for the brain to signal the same pleasure reaction.

But at the same time, the lungs, heart and liver are getting slammed with the harmful impact of nicotine.  As with any lifestyle change, the first few days are going to be hard, so don’t start this on Monday morning when you have a busy week at work or school to contend with.

If possible, take a day off on Friday and start that morning.  Then you have three uninterrupted days to be obnoxious with fewer people subjected to it (yes, you may be a bit grumpy during this time).

Also, you can clear the smoking stuff (ashtrays, lighters, cigarettes) out of the house and not be around the same smoking cues that you’ll have at work or in a social setting.

The early days of withdrawal aren’t easy - on you or on those around you.  Make sure you talk to those you love and let them know what you’re doing so that they can provide a support system when you need to vent.       

           

Gum, Patches, Prescriptions and More

            After years of smoking, you have to gradually get your body back to full operating potential without nicotine overload.  That’s why your withdrawal will be eased somewhat using some of the popular options such as gum, patches or prescription medications to help your body reduce its nicotine dependence.

Going “cold turkey” is another option, but some say it’s rarely successful and can be harmful to your body. However, others have found it’s the only way to go, so we’ll discuss all of your options here and let you do the choosing!

            As a smoker, you’re used to the oral gratification smoking delivers, so it makes sense that you miss that stimulation.  Nicotine gum gives your mouth something to do in place of smoking and provides just enough nicotine to help your withdrawal symptoms.

Nicotine gum is available in various strengths - from one to four milligrams. You’ll start with the higher strength of nicotine, and then decrease the potency until you no longer need it.

At that point, just buy ordinary sugarless gum and you can enjoy the chewing without the nicotine.  If chewing gum isn’t appealing to you, consider using the nicotine patch.

It’s so easy to use - just put the patch on your upper arm in the morning while you’re getting dressed.  That’s all you have to do to be covered for the full day.  The patch is designed to slowly release just the right amount of nicotine through your skin and into your bloodstream as you go about your daily activities.

As a result, the patch can be more consistent in managing the nicotine levels than chewing gum.  As with the gum, you start with a higher nicotine patch and then reduce the amount needed to get you through the day.

The nicotine patch is also effective in helping people who are trying to stop using smokeless tobacco, too.  While gum and patches are popular for smoking cessation, there are other options as well.

Nicotine nasal spray is available only by prescription.  The spray delivers a powerful punch of nicotine rapidly into the bloodstream.  Nicotine inhalers give some of the satisfaction of inhaling that’s familiar from smoking.

You can also get nicotine in lip balms or lozenges.  One option, the nicotine lollipop, isn’t available in the United States, since it was banned by the FDA.  In choosing a product, think of how you relate to smoking.

Nicotine gums, or lozenges give you a replacement for the oral gratification of smoking, which may further help curb the drive.  To substitute the action of smoking, an inhaler gives the motions that are familiar.

If any of these alternatives are inconvenient for you - or your schedule is erratic and you worry that you might forget to use them, then the nicotine patch is ideal for you because it is the least intrusive, “set and forget” option available. 

There are prescription medicines doctors will sometimes provide to you that help curb cravings.  Some are potentially harmful, such as the FDA’s warning about Chantix, a drug that was once approved as a smoking cessation tool.

After being approved, it was found to possibly pose a connection to suicidal thoughts in those taking the drug.  It’s also been reported to cause drowsiness and mood changes, so if you’re thinking of using this drug, be cautious about its effect on you.

Volunteers are testing a new vaccine where you would quit smoking because the nicotine wouldn’t be effective in your body.  While only 16% were able to quit smoking, those who couldn’t quit completely were able to reduce their habit significantly.

Next article 23rd June 2012 on "Alternative Approaches to Smoking Cessation"

Stay tuned,

Bobby Wan