Handling Withdrawal Symptoms 

Know what to expect and how to cope.

Withdrawal symptoms start almost as soon as you give up, but usually lessen over the first couple of weeks. Here are a few tips on how to deal with the most common ones.

For extra help, use NiQuitin products in combination with the Click2Quit Plan. NiQuitin provides a dose of therapeutic nicotine that’s gradually lowered over a period of a few weeks to break your dependency, while the Click2Quit Plan will provide support and advice throughout your quitting journey.

Concerns over weight gain

To handle hunger, start by drinking plenty of water. It’s good for you, and calorie-free! When you crave sweets, eat healthy fruits and vegetables or sugar-free boiled sweets or gum. Or rather than put food in your mouth when you want to smoke, distract yourself by going for a walk, reading or playing with a pet instead.

Click here for more tips on how to avoid weight gain.

Anxiety and irritability

Let people know that you might be a bit irritable after you’ve stopped smoking. Your friends and loved ones are likely to be understanding. Take a deep breath and remind yourself of your reasons for quitting.

Anxiety and irritability are symptoms of your body being deprived of nicotine. But NiQuitin provides enough therapeutic nicotine, in a controlled way, to help reduce these effects.

Click here to find out more about NiQuitin products.

Dizziness

Not everyone experiences this but, if you do, it should only be for the first day or two after you quit until your system gets used to normal, healthy levels of oxygen again. Although it’s unpleasant it’s another sign that your body is becoming healthier almost immediately.

Coughing, dry throat, and mucus

You might be alarmed by the mucus you’re coughing up, but it’s actually a positive sign that your lungs are clearing of tar and toxins. This stage shouldn’t last long. To soothe the symptoms, drink plenty of water and sugar-free boiled sweets to keep your throat moist.

Insomnia

This rarely lasts more than a week or so. It’s another physiological symptom of your brain being without nicotine. Develop a new bedtime routine that doesn’t include cigarettes. Do some deep breathing before bed, take a hot bath and drink de-caffeinated herbal tea or hot milk.

Fatigue

Since nicotine is a stimulant, when you quit smoking you might feel very tired. And because therapeutic nicotine delivers less nicotine than cigarettes, you may still suffer a bit from tiredness even though you’re taking NiQuitin. Try to make healthy eating choices and avoid too many refined, sugary foods. Also, eat a healthy breakfast to boost your energy and help you through the day.

Constipation

Cigarettes stimulate your system, and without them your intestinal movement may slow down for a week or so. To get things moving, add fibre in the form of whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your diet – and drink plenty of water.

Difficulty concentrating

Your brain is adjusting to the sudden lack of nicotine in your system, and cravings can impede concentration. Difficulty concentrating should only last a week or two – and the therapeutic nicotine in NiQuitin products can help.

Feeling depressed

You might feel down once you stop smoking, not only because of withdrawal symptoms but because so much of your life used to revolve around cigarettes. These feelings will pass – and remember, giving in to a cigarette will make you feel worse.

Find out about Managing the Cravings