Nicotine addiction is very insidious. A smoker experiences daily sustained cravings for nicotine-containing products. What happens to the body when you quit a bad habit? How long does nicotine withdrawal last and how does it manifest itself? What medical and alternative methods of therapy make it possible to eliminate the negative condition? Everything related to the abstinence syndrome of a smoker will be discussed in this publication.
The essence of the syndrome
Among heavy smokers, there are not the most positive reviews about nicotine withdrawal. The condition causes them to experience severe psychological and physical discomfort. This is explained by the fact that nicotine, in the formation of persistent dependence, becomes an integral part of the biochemical processes that occur in the body.
Sharply quitting makes the bodyreadjust. Organs and systems that experience nicotine starvation suffer. For this reason, in the course of abstinence, disorders of the functioning of the digestive organs, the cardiovascular system, and slow reactions of the brain to stimuli can be observed. Discomfort on the physical level will be felt until there is a complete reconstruction of the metabolic processes.
Psychological discomfort occurs 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. Positive associations play a certain role. For example, during nicotine withdrawal, a person may feel the desire to re-introduce a bad habit, reassuring themselves that this decision will calm the nerves in a stressful situation. Another point is the belief in gaining a more confident appearance when holding a cigarette in the mouth.
In fact, nicotine has only a carcinogenic and toxic effect, absolutely not calming the nervous system. Why, then, during the next puff, aggression and a feeling of increased irritability disappear? The fact is that the body of a smoker perceives nicotine as an indispensable substance. A simple sense of self-preservation kicks in.
Mechanism of occurrence of the effect
During smoking, the blood composition is saturated with an impressive amount of adrenaline. In parallel, nicotine provokes the production of endorphins (the so-called pleasure hormone). The subsequent feeling of joy is notmore than a trick of the mind. However, the body is no longer able to do without tonic stimulation. The tissues of the body feel an increasing need for doping.
Smoking excites nerve cells. With nicotine withdrawal, the effect of disorientation of the fibers that conduct electrical impulses occurs. Receptors begin to show inadequate responses to stimuli. A person has to constantly struggle with psycho-emotional discomfort. The brain instinctively seeks to revive the blissful state, when the tonic substance freely saturates the tissues of the body. The body's attempts to compensate for the lack of nicotine cause disorders at the physical level.
Characteristic symptoms
Among the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are the following:
- Excessive blood flow to the face and limbs due to changes in blood pressure levels.
- The development of a headache, the occurrence of tingling in the heart.
- Nausea, diarrhea, difficulty defecation.
- Violation of orientation in space and coordination of movements, dizziness.
As for the psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, their typical manifestations are lethargy and unwillingness to do important things. Against the background of the need to quit smoking, depression and anxiety can develop. A person who experiences severe nicotine starvation is plagued by insomnia. There are mood swingspositive to extremely negative, alternating with bouts of unreasonable aggression. Prolonged mental work causes drowsiness. Others suffer from the capriciousness of a smoker with withdrawal symptoms.
About duration of withdrawal
How long does a smoker's withdrawal syndrome last? Breaking is felt by a person who has decided to get rid of addiction, already in the first hours. Usually, discomfort is observed 30 minutes after the absorption of the tonic. Initially, there is a completely unobtrusive desire to take another puff or sniff a tobacco product. Really unpleasant sensations occur after 6-8 hours. A former smoker begins to suffer from increased irritability, unreasonable anxiety, loss of concentration.
Nicotine withdrawal peaks the next morning. After waking up, a person is overwhelmed by thoughts of several puffs on a cigarette. Desire enters into dissonance with the need to get rid of a bad habit. Conflicting feelings cause sharp, aggressive reactions to the slightest trouble.
How long does nicotine withdrawal last? The above discomfort with varying degrees of success haunts a person for a month. Then, quite quickly comes relief on a physical and emotional level. However, the desire to smoke does not leave consciousness.
Duration of nicotine withdrawal in most people is about 2-2.5 months. During this time, the body has time to almost completely cleanse itself of reserves.poisonous substance and restore tissue from the effects of toxin consumption.
How to relieve discomfort?
At first, during the treatment of withdrawal symptoms at home, doctors advise you to take yourself to exciting things. Among these are video games, sports, outdoor walks in an interesting company. Repair and cleaning will help to forget about the desire to smoke.
In case of special torment during the elimination of withdrawal symptoms at home, it is recommended to use this solution:
- Wait about 5 minutes from the moment you have a strong craving for cigarettes.
- Lie down in a comfortable position, then perform a series of measured breaths and exhalations.
- Sip a cup of cold water.
- Go outside walking alone away from the shops where you can buy another pack of cigarettes.
It will help to overcome the withdrawal syndrome and the use of products that contain nicotinic acid. We are talking about eggplant, cucumbers, walnuts. Some herbs will help. Among them are St. John's wort, angelica, licorice, meadowsweet. On the basis of these plants, decoctions for oral administration should be prepared.
Oddly enough, one of the best "methods" to combat nicotine withdrawal is a cold. This opinion is shared by many doctors. At this time, the body spends most of its energy on eliminating the disease, so there is simply no strength left for cravings for tobacco products. If you feel generally unwell, due to the development of a cold, nicotine withdrawal will be mild or will not cause additional discomfort at all.
Switching to an electronic cigarette
According to the observations of narcologists, the use of electronic vaporizers potentially allows an addicted person to completely move away from traditional tobacco products during the rehabilitation period. Absorption of a suspension of aromatic liquids saturates the body with a moderate rate of nicotine and makes it easier to survive the withdrawal syndrome.
It is advisable to quit tobacco using an electronic cigarette according to the scheme:
- During the first two weeks, it is wise to use a liquid with a fairly high concentration of 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 your 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 reduce the amount of the substance in its composition weekly. It is necessary to give preference to the use of products with rich odors that cause the most positive impressions.
Following the described scheme contributes to a gradual, almost painless rejection of cigarettes. Absoluteswitching to nicotine-free e-liquids will significantly reduce the harm to he alth and will no longer cause cravings for tobacco products.
Drugs for withdrawal symptoms
Cortexin medicine allows to overcome the characteristic withdrawal symptoms when quitting cigarettes. The tool stimulates brain activity, increases concentration, makes the nervous system more resistant to stress. The drug is intended for introduction into the body by intramuscular injection. The norm of the substance is dissolved in about 2 milliliters of water. In the treatment of nicotine withdrawal with Cortexin, the drug is used once a day, 10 mg. The course of therapy is one and a half weeks. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after 3 months.
A good solution to facilitate rehabilitation in case of giving up addiction is the use of the Zyban medication. The composition of the drug does not contain nicotine. The drug is an effective antidepressant. The tool ensures the active production of dopamine by the body - a substance that is responsible for the feeling of pleasure. Thus, the withdrawal syndrome no longer causes a person to experience physical and emotional suffering. The standard dosage involves taking one tablet per day. With the return of severe discomfort, the rate is increased to 2 pills per day. The course of therapy lasts about six months.
Another highly effective drug that helps overcome withdrawal symptoms is Cytisine. The medicine contains an alkaloidvegetable origin. The substance changes for the worse the sensations during puffs with smoke. Therefore, once again, an 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 overcoming the craving for tobacco on their own without any help.
Nicotinic acid for alcohol withdrawal
During the struggle with alcohol addiction, a person cannot take alcohol in any form. To reduce the level of suffering allows the saturation of the body with nicotinic acid. We are talking about the use of special preparations, but not about the use of nicotine in its 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, there is an increase in vascular tone. 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 withdrawal from alcohol.
Folk methods of dealing with withdrawal symptoms
A good solution for treating nicotine addiction at home is the use of medicinal tinctures 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 using the so-called anti-nicotine tea. In order to prepare the product, they 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 infused for 30-40 minutes. Take a healing decoction of 100 milliliters each time there is a craving for smoking.
Helps in the fight against nicotine withdrawal and decoction of oats. The cereal contains in its composition a whole set 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 material is brewed with a glass of boiling water, the pan is placed on a small fire and boiled for 5-10 minutes. Liquids are allowed to brew well. Take 70 milliliters of medicine before each meal.
A folk remedy based on aloe differs in a general strengthening effect on the body. It restores the immune system, normalizes the functioning of the respiratory system. Prepare the medicine as follows. Aloe leaves are twisted in a meat grinder. The pulp is squeezed through gauze. It is necessary to obtain 75 milliliters of plant juice. Then it is combined with butter in the amount of 100 grams. Add a similar mass of cocoa powder. The components are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. The product is consumed daily, shortly before breakfast, washed down with warm milk.
In closing
When planning to quit smoking, it is importantunderstand that it is simply impossible to avoid the development of withdrawal symptoms. The prognosis for overcoming this state is far from always positive. To avoid suffering and a return to addiction, as a rule, it is not enough just to follow the recommendations of a narcologist, as well as to use medication and alternative methods of treatment. A decisive role is played by a firm decision to quit smoking completely and irrevocably.
Ultimately, it is necessary to realize that the fight against nicotine withdrawal syndrome differs little 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 he althy lifestyle and noticeably improve your well-being.
