[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/12\/handle-nicotine-withdrawal-symptoms\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/12\/handle-nicotine-withdrawal-symptoms\/","headline":"How to Handle Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms","name":"How to Handle Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms","description":"Because nicotine is an addictive drug, you can expect to deal with some withdrawal symptoms. Learn how to cope and treat these issues during recovery.","datePublished":"2014-12-16","dateModified":"2023-04-05","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/breaking-cigarette.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/breaking-cigarette.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/12\/handle-nicotine-withdrawal-symptoms\/","about":["Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":459,"keywords":["cigarettes","Coughing","emotional changes","headaches","Journey to a Smoke-Free Life","mood swings","nicotine","nicotine withdrawal","recovery","sleep deprivation","sleep disturbances","smoking cessation","smoking withdrawal","withdrawal symptoms"],"articleBody":"Because nicotine is an addictive drug, certain feelings often are experienced when the drug is stopped. These feelings are called withdrawal symptoms or “symptoms of recovery.” This means that your body is healing and getting back to when it was nicotine free.Symptoms may start within hours of quitting and may peak in the first 2 to 4 days. Everyone reacts differently to them.Smoking Withdrawal SymptomsThe most common symptoms include:Sleep disturbancesSome people experience difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early, or frequent awakenings. This is a result of an increase of oxygen to the brain, which is cutting off your body’s supply of nicotine. Some tips to manage sleep disturbances are increasing your activity when you are awake. Try some deep breathing, and do not eat or drink anything with caffeine after 6 p.m.HeadachesHeadaches are another common symptom that is caused by the removal of nicotine and increased blood flow and oxygen to the brain. You can treat headaches as you normally would by resting quietly and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, especially water.Difficulty concentratingYou may find you have a harder time concentrating, which is a sign of withdrawal from the stimulant effect of nicotine. Increasing activity and breaking up work into small blocks of time are good strategies. Remember to keep ignoring the feeling and try not to consume too much caffeine.CoughingCoughing is your body’s way of getting rid of the tar and chemicals in your lungs. You may cough up extra mucus. It is important that you do not use medicine to stop your cough.To help with coughing spells, keep liquids nearby — especially water.\u00a0Drinking liquids thins and loosens the mucus. Also, cough drops are great for soothing a dry throat.Emotional changesBecause smoking causes physical addiction and psychological dependence, it is only natural to notice changes in your mood. You may experience feelings of:ImpatienceIrritabilityAnxietyNervousnessAngerSadnessThese feelings are normal. Talking about your feelings can be very beneficial. Ask your family and friends for support and remind them to be patient with you. Most importantly, do something fun that makes you happy.Remember that these symptoms are temporary and the best way to get rid of them is to stay smoke-free!If any of these symptoms persist or cause you concern, see your health care provider. You should never feel major discomfort or pain during the process of giving up cigarettes.For a full list of symptoms of recovery, check out our Journey to a Smoke Free Life booklet online. You can also enroll in a Smoking Cessation program at many of our UPMC facilities.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 16, 2014, and was last reviewed on April 5, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Handle Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/12\/handle-nicotine-withdrawal-symptoms\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]