The smoker trying to quit smoking experiences withdrawal symptoms in the first days of living cigarette-free. The main reason he goes through withdrawal is due to the addictiveness of nicotine, which is a major component in tobacco. Before the smoker actually quits, he needs to know what symptoms he might experience and how nicotine worked to addict him after he began smoking.
Considerations
When the smoker first starts smoking, her body reacts to the main substance in cigarettes--nicotine. Smokers experience a suppressed appetite. Nicotine causes the smoker to feel more alert just after she has smoked a cigarette, which works to pull her deeper into a psychological and physical dependency. She may begin to rely on this effect when she has to complete tasks. Physical symptoms include an increase in blood sugar level, extra salivation and an increase in bowel activity, according to MedlinePlus. Negative side effects can include diarrhea, nausea and excess sweating after smoking.
Significance
Because nicotine affects the brain's neurotransmitters, helping to build the physical dependence on cigarettes, according to the Quitters Guide website. The more a smoker smokes, the more his brain and body get accustomed to the stimulation nicotine gives him. When he doesn't smoke a cigarette, his brain fires signals indicating it craves the nicotine stimulation. Nicotine is as addictive as cocaine and morphine; heroin addicts are twice as likely to be heroin-free after 12 months as smokers are to be nicotine-free, says the Quitters Guide website.
Types
The smoker's withdrawal symptoms start within hours of smoking her last cigarette. She experiences difficulty in concentrating and feels tense, restless, anxious, impatient and frustrated. She may feel drowsy or have trouble sleeping; she may experience nightmares. She may experience depression, an increase in appetite and a resulting weight gain, according to MedlinePlus.
Warning
The smoker who suffers from psychological or emotional problems can experience an aggravation of his disorder, such as depression, writes Drugs.com. Symptoms of smoking withdrawal can also mimic symptoms of depression or other mental illnesses in the quitting smoker; he may mistake his psychiatric symptoms for withdrawal symptoms, according to Drugs.com.
Time Frame
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms begin within two to three hours of smoking the last cigarette and peak approximately three days later, according to MedlinePlus. The craving for a cigarette is most intense during this time frame, and begins to slowly decrease about a week later. The intensity of withdrawal can make the smoker feel ill, interfering with the ability to function and work. If she has smoked for a long time or if she smokes more cigarettes during the day, the intensity of her withdrawal symptoms may be stronger than someone who has smoked for a shorter time or who smokes less frequently, writes Drugs.com. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are normally short-lived, with the worst of the symptoms lasting approximately one week, says MedlinePlus. The smoker's real challenge is to remain cigarette-free.
