Nicotine addiction is very insidious. A smoker experiences a daily craving for nicotine-containing products. What happens to the body when quitting addiction? How long does nicotine withdrawal symptoms last and in what way? What drug and alternative methods of therapy make it possible to eliminate a negative state? Everything related to withdrawal symptoms of the smoker will be described in this publication.
The essence of the syndrome
Among heavy smokers, not the most positive reviews about nicotine withdrawal are noted. The condition makes them feel pronounced psychological and physical discomfort. This is explained by the fact that nicotine during the formation of persistent dependence becomes an integral part of the biochemical processes that occur in the body.
Abrupt smoking cessation causes the body to rebuild. Organs and systems that experience nicotine starvation suffer. For this reason, during the course of withdrawal, disorders of the functioning of the digestive system and the cardiovascular system can be observed, and delayed brain reactions to stimuli are noted. Discomfort at the physical level will be felt until a complete reconstruction of metabolic processes occurs.
Psychological inconveniences arise against the background of habit formation. The hand of a former heavy smoker automatically reaches for a cigarette at the mere sight of a tobacco product. A positive role is played by positive associations. For example, with nicotine withdrawal, a person may feel a desire to return to a bad habit again, assuring himself that this decision will calm the nerves in a stressful situation. Another point is the belief in gaining a more confident look while holding a cigarette in his teeth.
In fact, nicotine has only a carcinogenic and toxic effect, absolutely not calming the nervous system. Why, then, during another puff, aggression and a feeling of increased irritability disappear? The fact is that the smoker's body perceives nicotine as an indispensable substance. An ordinary sense of self-preservation comes into play.
Mechanism of the effect
During smoking, the blood composition is saturated with an impressive amount of adrenaline. In parallel, nicotine provokes the production of endorphin (the so-called pleasure hormone). The subsequent sensation of joy is nothing more than a hoax of consciousness. However, the body is no longer able to do without tonic stimulation. Body tissues feel an increasing need for doping.
Smoking excites nerve cells. With nicotine withdrawal, a disorientation of the conductive fibers of the electrical impulses occurs. Receptors begin to show inadequate responses to stimuli. A person has to constantly deal with psycho-emotional discomfort. The brain instinctively seeks to revive a blessed state when a tonic substance unhindered saturates the body tissues. Attempts by the body to compensate for the lack of nicotine cause disorders at the physical level.
Characteristic symptoms
Among the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, the following should be noted:
- Abundant blood flow to the face and limbs, which is caused by a change in blood pressure.
- Headache, tingling in the heart.
- Attacks of nausea, diarrhea, difficulty with bowel movements.
- Violation of orientation in space and coordination of movements, dizziness.
As for the psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, their typical manifestations are lethargy and unwillingness to do important things. Against the background of the need to quit smoking, depressive states may form and anxiety may develop. A person who is experiencing severe nicotine starvation is beset by insomnia. There are jumps in mood - from positive to extremely negative, alternating with bouts of unwarranted aggression. Prolonged mental work causes drowsiness. People around suffer from the moodiness of a smoker with withdrawal symptoms.
On the duration of the withdrawal syndrome
How long does withdrawal symptoms of a smoker last? Breaking is felt by the person who decided to get rid of addiction, already in the first hours. Discomfort is usually observed 30 minutes after the absorption of the tonic. At first, there is a completely unobtrusive desire to take another puff or sniff a tobacco product. Truly unpleasant sensations occur after 6-8 hours. A former smoker begins to suffer from increased irritability, unreasonable anxiety, loss of concentration.
Nicotine withdrawal reaches its climax the next morning. After awakening a person, thoughts of several puffs of a cigarette prevail. Desire enters into a dissonance with the need to get rid of a bad habit. Conflicting feelings cause sharp, aggressive reactions to the slightest troubles.
How long does nicotine withdrawal last? The above discomfort with variable success haunts a person for a month. Then, pretty quickly, relief comes on the physical and emotional level. However, the desire to smoke does not leave consciousness.
The duration of nicotine withdrawal in most people is about 2-2.5 months. During this time, the body manages to almost completely clear itself of stockpiles of toxic substances and restore tissue from the effects of toxin use.
How to relieve discomfort?
At first, during the treatment of withdrawal symptoms at home, doctors advise occupying yourself with exciting things. Among these can be noted video games, sports, walks in the fresh air in an interesting company. Repair and cleaning will help to forget about the desire to smoke.
With special torment during the elimination of withdrawal symptoms at home, it is recommended to use this solution:
- Wait about 5 minutes after a strong craving for cigarettes.
- Get away in a comfortable position, and then perform a series of measured inhalations and exhalations.
- Take a sip of a cup of cold water.
- Go outside, walking alone away from retail outlets where you can buy another pack of cigarettes.
It will help to overcome withdrawal symptoms and the use of products that contain nicotinic acid. We are talking about eggplant, cucumbers, walnuts. Some herbs will come to the rescue. Among them can be noted St. John's wort, angelica, licorice, meadowsweet. Based on these plants should prepare decoctions for oral administration.
Oddly enough, one of the best "methods" of combating nicotine withdrawal symptoms is a cold. This opinion is shared by numerous doctors. At this time, the body spends the bulk of energy to eliminate the ailment, so there is simply no strength left for craving for tobacco products. With general ill health, due to the development of a cold, nicotine withdrawal will be mild or will not at all make you feel additional discomfort.
Switching to an electronic cigarette
According to the observations of narcologists, the use of electronic vaporizers potentially gives an addicted person the opportunity to completely disengage from traditional tobacco products during the rehabilitation period. Absorption of a suspension of aromatic fluids saturates the body with a moderate norm of nicotine and makes it easier to survive withdrawal symptoms.
It is advisable to quit tobacco using an electronic cigarette according to the scheme:
- During the first two weeks, it is reasonable to use a liquid with a rather high concentration of a tonic. At the same time, contact with regular cigarettes must be completely avoided.
- Use the device should be within a month. During this time, it is important to rid the house of empty packs of cigarettes, cigarette butts, ashtrays, lighters, and other items that can remind you of a former addiction to smoking.
- The second month of rehabilitation should begin with a decrease in the concentration of nicotine in the aromatic liquid.
- In the future, it is necessary to weekly reduce the amount of substance in its composition. Preference should be given to the use of products with rich odors that cause the most positive experience.
Following the described scheme contributes to the gradual, almost painless refusal of cigarettes. The absolute transition to nicotine-free liquids will significantly reduce health damage and will no longer make you crave for tobacco products.
Drugs for withdrawal symptoms
To overcome the characteristic withdrawal when refusing cigarettes allows the drug "Cortexin". The tool stimulates brain activity, increases concentration, makes the nervous system more resistant to stressful effects. The medication is intended for administration into the body by intramuscular injection. The norm of the substance is dissolved in approximately 2 milliliters of water. In the treatment of nicotine withdrawal symptoms "Cortexin" the drug is used once a day for 10 mg. The course of therapy is one and a half weeks. If necessary, treatment is repeated after 3 months.
A good solution to facilitate rehabilitation in case of abandonment of addiction is the use of the drug “Ziban”. The drug does not contain nicotine. The medicine acts as an effective antidepressant. The tool provides the active production of dopamine by the body - a substance that is responsible for the feeling of pleasure. Thus, withdrawal symptoms no longer cause a person to experience physical and emotional suffering. The standard dosage involves taking one tablet of the drug per day. When severe discomfort returns, the rate is increased to 2 pills per day. The course of therapy lasts about six months.
Another highly effective drug that helps to overcome withdrawal symptoms is “Citizin”. The medicine contains a plant alkaloid. The substance changes for the worse during puffs of smoke. Therefore, once again the addicted person will once again think about how unpleasant the effect of smoking is. The medicine is taken 6 pills per day with a frequency of several hours. Gradually, the intervals between use increase, up to the independent overcoming of craving for tobacco without unnecessary help.
Nicotinic acid for alcohol withdrawal
During the fight against alcohol addiction, a person can not take alcohol in any form. Reduce the level of suffering allows the saturation of the body with nicotinic acid. It is about the use of special drugs, but not about the use of nicotine in a pure form. Such drugs are prescribed for alcohol-dependent individuals for preventive purposes, for example, to restore metabolism, relieve aggression and nervousness.
After drinking alcohol, an increase in vascular tone is noted. If you take a medicine containing nicotinic acid, approximately the same mechanism comes into play. Therefore, it becomes easier for a person to overcome the period of refusal of alcohol.
Traditional methods of dealing with withdrawal symptoms
A good solution to treatment for nicotine addiction at home is the use of medicinal infusions and decoctions based on herbs. There are many recipes that stop the desire to drag on a cigarette and relieve the feeling of discomfort. Consider the most effective options.
Traditional healers recommend the use of so-called anti-nicotine tea. In order to prepare the product, take ordinary black tea. A tablespoon of the product is brewed with boiled water (400 milliliters). Then add 5 grams of chicory, valerian, dried nettle and mint. The composition is boiled over moderate heat, brought to a boil. Medicinal tea is insisted for 30-40 minutes. Take a healing broth of 100 milliliters each time there is a craving for smoking.
Help in the fight against nicotine withdrawal and decoction of oats. Cereal contains in its composition a whole range of substances that have a calming effect on the body and contribute to tissue intoxication. The tool eliminates nervous irritability, improves sleep. To prepare the medicine, take 50 grams of oats, which are ground in a coffee grinder. The raw materials are brewed with a glass of boiling water, put the pan on a small fire and cook for 5-10 minutes. Liquids give a good brew. They use a medicine of 70 milliliters before each meal.
A generally strengthening effect on the body is a folk remedy based on aloe. It restores the immune system, normalizes the work of the respiratory system. Prepare the medicine as follows. Aloe leaves twist in a meat grinder. The pulp is squeezed through cheesecloth. You need to get 75 milliliters of plant juice. Then it is combined with butter in an amount of 100 grams. A similar mass of cocoa powder is added. The components are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. The tool is consumed daily, shortly before breakfast, washed down with warm milk.
Finally
When planning to quit smoking, it is important to understand that it is simply impossible to avoid the development of withdrawal symptoms. The prognosis of overcoming this condition is far from always positive. To avoid suffering and return to addiction, as a rule, it is not enough just to follow the recommendations of the narcologist, as well as apply medication and alternative methods of treatment. The decisive role is played by the firm decision to quit smoking completely and irrevocably.
In the end, it is necessary to realize that the fight against nicotine withdrawal syndrome is not much different from the protracted treatment of any disease. This means that with a competent approach to the task and a certain willpower, an unpleasant state can be endured. The main thing is to focus on the idea that overcoming nicotine withdrawal will allow you to return to a healthy lifestyle and significantly improve well-being.