Updated April 03, 2015.

Do you feel like you are addicted to cigarettes?

The fast uptake of nicotine by the blood stream and its easy passage into the brain coupled with the resulting pleasurable response, all contribute to smoking as a very addictive behavior.

If you answer any of the following scenarios apply to you then there is a good chance you are addicted to nicotine:

• I have a cigarette in my hand first thing in the morning.

• It is hard for me to go places that prevent me from lighting up.
• If I run out of cigarettes it is unbearable until I am able to get some.
• When I have not smoked for a period of time, I crave a cigarette.
  

Signs Of Nicotine Withdrawal

Nicotine eventually leads to both dependence, your body responds negatively when it does not receive a drug, and tolerance, a state where the body needs increasing doses of a drug to achieve the same effect.

Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased appetite
• Poor sleep
• Restless or fidgety

In addition to the physical signs described, many patients describe a significant sense of loss when they quit smoking. Some patients describe the sense of loss one experience with that of the longing you feel at the end of a relationship.

Tobacco cessation is not easy, but many people do succeed— often taking multiple attempts. Once you are tobacco free, you are in control and won’t have to beat smoking again. The strategies in this section will help you get through withdrawal and kick the habit for good.

Tips To Help Beat Nicotine Withdrawal

The following will help you manage or prevent problems when you quit smoking:

• Nicotine replacement. Ask your physician if you are a candidate for nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine gum and patches are now available over the counter and there are a number of other nicotine products available by prescription. Most work fairly well if you have a desire to quit smoking, but the products can be tailored to when you think you would be most likely to relapse.
  
• Over smoke the days before you quit. This is what my grandmother used to do if she found one of her kids smoking. She would say come on, I am going to let you smoke and force he kids to smoke until they got sick. If you smoke more than you want to on the days before you quit, you may not associate the pleasure with cigarettes that smoking previously had.
  
• Cold turkey. I do not recommend this because I find that patients often never get to off and it makes it to easy to smoke when you get into the situations that trigger smoking. Having said that I also do not discourage anyone who is decreasing their tobacco intake. I usually just explain my concerns and why I think there are better options. If my patient still wants to go the cutback route I do not try to discourage them otherwise.
  
• Get family and friends involved. If you have someone that you could quit with that will increase your chances of success all the more. They can provide you support and assistance as needed, but you also need be willing to ask. There is also just the benefit to tell people publicly that you are committing to quitting smoking. You will have much more internal motivation if others know you have committed to quitting.
  
• Get rid of all your cigarettes. Throw all of your cigarettes away. Don’t just hide them away. This includes any of the places where you used to stash them such as the kitchen drawer or the glove box in your car.
  
• Avoid smokers if possible. The first two weeks of quitting are a time period where many people relapse. If possible avoid people who smoke. If you are concerned send them a note and tell them why. I have had some patients do this and the person decided to make a quit attempt with them. The current smoker has never not understood unless it was a boss or someone my patient had to work with directly. Also, avoiding places where you used to smoke like the break area outside work, bars and restaurants that allow smoking will be beneficial if you are having withdrawal symptoms or cravings.
  
• Think of yourself as a non-smoker. Tell people you will no longer allow them to smoke in your car and house or that you would rather not go to lunch some place where smoking is still allowed.
  

Hopefully these tips will help you get started if you have physical addiction to nicotine. The great part about quitting smoking is that the withdrawal symptoms only last for a couple of weeks. The cravings that you have after that are more psychological or a function of habit.

Sources

1. National Cancer Institute. Clearing The Air: Quit Smoking Today. NIH Publication No. 08–1647.
2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Help For Smokers and Other Tobacco Users. Accessed April 5, 2014.