
Research has found that using NRT can increase the chance of quitting by 50 to 60 percent. Combining different types of NRT could have a stronger effect than a single method alone. There is no research to suggest that one method is more effective than another. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is where a person stops using tobacco and uses one of the following substances that contain smaller amounts of nicotine instead: Treatments for nicotine withdrawal include: Nicotine replacement therapy Many people benefit from various kinds of support during the period of nicotine withdrawal. Quitting nicotine can be difficult because the addiction is both physical and psychological. These can be improvements in their sense of smell and taste, less coughing, and easier breathing, particularly when exercising. The levels of nicotine continue to drop for the next few days until it no longer affects the body.Īlongside the withdrawal symptoms, people will also begin to notice positive changes. Two hours after the last cigarette, the body will have already removed around half of the nicotine. The symptoms peak around day 3 of quitting and then gradually subside over the following 3 to 4 weeks.įor some, the cravings can last longer than other symptoms, and familiar places, people, or situations where someone used to smoke can trigger them. Withdrawal symptoms set in between 4 and 24 hours after a person smokes their last cigarette.

Some will experience mild symptoms for a few days, whereas others may have intense cravings and symptoms that last several weeks.

Some people may feel the physical side effects more strongly than others. Share on Pinterest A person may experience easier breathing while exercising after they quit smoking.Įach person has a different experience of nicotine withdrawal. When a person stops using nicotine quickly, they disrupt this chemical balance and experience physical and psychological side effects, such as cravings and low mood.Įxperts describe this disruption of brain chemicals as nicotine addiction, and it is part of the reason why people find it so difficult to reduce or quit smoking. When people use nicotine for an extended period, it leads to changes in the balance of chemical messengers in their brain. Nicotine also affects areas in the brain related to: When nicotine reaches the brain, it activates areas concerned with feelings of pleasure and reward and boosts levels of a chemical called dopamine. From these locations, it enters the bloodstream. When someone uses a nicotine product, such as a cigarette, they absorb the nicotine through the lining of their nose, mouth, and lungs. Nicotine has a number of different effects on a person’s body. Share on Pinterest Nicotine withdrawal may cause low mood and anxiety.
