Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal
This is a list compiled from both on line sources and the aggregate experience of many many quitters over the past 9 years.
Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
Usually appear within 20 - 30 minutes after last cigarette
- muscle tension
- changes in breathing, usually shallow
- lack of concentration / difficulty thinking
- anxiety
- irritability
Some of the following may appear within 4 - 6 hours and continue past the 3 day detox on into recovery. Others may take days or weeks to appear or may never be experienced at all.
- head ache
- sweating
- sore or bleeding gums
- coughing
- runny nose
- sinus and/on respiratory flu or cold like symptoms
- decreased ability to tolerate stress
- increased appetite
- constipation or diarrhea
- nausea
- hypersensitivity to physical stimuli
- sleep disturbances
- weight gain
- aggressive thoughts and behavior
- depression decreased sexual drive
- impaired work performance
Recovery is a period of time, usually several months, during which a smokers body recovers from many of the effects of nicotine use. Both withdrawal and recovery are most uncomfortable in the early days/weeks and rapidly ease in intensity.