Quit smoking side effects

Giving up smoking is never easy and this is why so many people fail to stop smoking even after numerous repeated attempts. It’s not just the habitual desire to smoke that makes people go back to smoking, but the stressful withdrawal symptoms that makes even the most determined person abandon their plan to quit smoking.

The quit smoking side effects are mainly due to nicotine as it is one of the most addictive substances you put into the body. Nicotine is so addictive that when you deny your body its daily dose, your brain begins to demand it. It harasses you by causing headaches, anxiety, depression, and irritability, so you feel like you have to smoke again. These effects are known as nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

What are the most commonly reported quit smoking side effects?

The quit smoking side effects will vary with each individual as they depend on your level of addiction, your body type and your determination to quit. Here are some of the quit smoking side effects that are most commonly reported by people who are attempting to quit smoking:

• Cravings to smoke
• Extreme anxiety, irritability, mood swings
• Dry mouth
• Nausea, vomiting
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Loss of concentration
• Headache
• Constipation, gas, stomach pain
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Sore tongue and/or gums
• Increased appetite, weight gain

Why do we experience quit smoking side effects?

You experience side effects whilst trying to quit smoking because of the massive drop in blood sugar levels that your body experiences when you try to break your nicotine addiction. Due to this rapid decrease in blood sugar, people go through "quit smoking side effects" such as throbbing headaches, dizziness, fogginess, and in some rare cases, your perception of time may even change. For the same reason many people report cravings for anything sweet as the body tries to make up for the sudden loss of blood sugar. Such side effects usually continue for the first 3 days of your quitting and eventually stabilise by the end of the first week.

How to cope with quit smoking side effects?

Coping with the side effects of quit smoking is one of the most difficult aspects to overcome. In particular the first few weeks of quitting are the most difficult of all. During this period you will experience the most intense side effects of giving up smoking and will feel compelled to take up smoking again. While coping with the quit smoking side effects you will need to keep reminding yourself that it is just a few days of suffering that will enable you to enjoy a long and healthy life. In addition to this, you can rely on the support of your friends, family members or even a professional counsellor to keep your motivation strong.

Alternatively, you can get help from quit smoking medications like Chantix Varenicline to relieve you of the quit smoking side effects. Chantix relieves you of the painful nicotine withdrawal symptoms by mimicking the effect of nicotine in your body and duping your brain into believing that it has received its dose of nicotine. The intensity of your quit smoking side effects is therefore significantly reduced after taking the Chantix treatment. Chantix also makes smoking less pleasurable for you so your cravings for smoking are considerably reduced.