Withdrawal or Quit Symptoms

The following list includes many of the normal symptoms of withdrawal, or symptoms you may have when quitting smoking or tobacco use. Nicotine is one of the chemicals that your body is craving and withdrawing from, but there may be other chemicals as well.

Most people experience some of these symptoms of withdrawal, but rarely all of them. Each person's body responds a little differently when healing itself from tobacco use. But for most people, these discomforts are short-lived. Check with your doctor if you're concerned about a physical reaction you're having to smoking or tobacco cessation, or if your symptoms continue for a long time. There are medications that help to ease withdrawal symptoms so that quitting is more manageable.

Remember, the longer you are quit, the better the withdrawal symptoms get! Within several weeks, your body is free of nicotine and healing itself from the effects of tobacco use.

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
  • Urges to smoke
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability, mood changes
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Inability to Concentrate
  • Impatience
  • Headache
  • Restlessness
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Mucus in lungs or during coughing
  • Constipation, gas, stomach pain
  • Dry mouth
  • Sore tongue and/or gums
  • Postnasal drip
  • Tightness in the chest

References
  1. Fiore MC, Jaén CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. May 2008.