Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant respirologist and smoking cessation therapy specialist at Hinduja Hospital, spells out 10 nicotine withdrawal symptoms and offers solutions to deal with them effectively.
The first step in dealing with symptoms related to smoking withdrawal is recognising these symptoms and acknowledging them, and it is very important that both the patient, and their loved ones recognise these symptoms. Recognizing these symptoms allows one to step back, accept these symptoms as part of the withdrawal (and not genuine behavioural reactions to true triggers) and allows the family to be supportive rather than critical and hostile.
The most common nicotine withdrawal symptoms are:
- Irritability
- Inability to focus/concentrate
- Hunger (this is often the reason those who quit smoking tend to gain weight)
- Headaches
- Tremulousness
- A sense of lethargy
- A lack of motivation
- A constant yearning for cigarettes
- Depressive symptoms
- Anger
Behavioural interventions
Behavioural interventions such as distracting oneself from these feelings, engaging in pleasurable activities, focusing on the positive feelings (ability to breathe better, improvement in the taste and smell of food, cost savings, being able to spend uninterrupted time with family) help in weaning individuals off cigarettes comfortably.
Breaking known associations (switch to coffee if one is a tea-drinker and vice-versa, switch to a different type of alcohol, switch to a different place to meet friends) help, if these are circumstances under which one would normally smoke.
Medicines
The most useful, and under-utilised tool to prevent withdrawals and to deal with them is the use of medicines/pharmacotherapy. These work on the principle of stimulating the brain centers on which nicotine act, thereby preventing withdrawals. Drugs such as Varenicline, Buproprion, and Nicotine patches are employed with this strategy. In the event that one does have a craving or a withdrawal symptom while on such controller therapy, the liberal use of nicotine replacement therapy (gums/lozenges/inhalers/pastilles) can abort withdrawal symptoms.
PatientsEngage Community Tip:
Exercise is an important intervention. It helps counter hunger, irritability, emotions like anger and depressive symptoms and more. Pick an exercise you enjoy - running, walking, swimming
