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Having Throat Irritation And Coughing After Quitting Smoking. What Is Wrong?
Question: Hi There,
I recently quit smoking by cutting down over the past few weeks. I went from smoking 1/2 pack a day to 1-2 a day to none. Now I am experiencing throat irritation,a little bit of coughing which brings up mucus from my throat as well as mild nausea,dizziness/lightheadedness. I was just wondering if these are some of the effects of nicotine withdrawal,as I notice I can breathe better than I remember. What can I do to help the throat irritation as well?
I recently quit smoking by cutting down over the past few weeks. I went from smoking 1/2 pack a day to 1-2 a day to none. Now I am experiencing throat irritation,a little bit of coughing which brings up mucus from my throat as well as mild nausea,dizziness/lightheadedness. I was just wondering if these are some of the effects of nicotine withdrawal,as I notice I can breathe better than I remember. What can I do to help the throat irritation as well?
Hello,
Thanks for your question.
I am happy to know that you have quit smoking. The active ingredient in tobacco is nicotine which is highly addictive and affects the portion of brain that is associated with pleasurable feeling.
The usual symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are:
Craving for smoking
Irritable
Insomnia
Fatigue
Inability to concentrate
Sore throat
Postnasal drip
Cough
Headache
Constipation, stomach pain
Sore tongue and/or gum
All symptoms you have mentioned are due to nicotine withdrawal. You are right in assessing that your symptoms are due to nicotine withdrawal.
Improvement in your breathing is also due to cessation of smoking, as nicotine produce vasoconstriction of bronchial smooth muscle. Once you stop smoking, there is no nicotine, to cause bronchial smooth muscle constriction.
Management of nicotine withdrawal symptoms:
It can be divided into 3 categories:
No1. Avoiding the triggers for smoking
No2 Developing skills to overcome nicotine withdrawal symptoms
No3.Drugs
Triggers for smoking are:
Being around smokers
Feeling stressed
Being in car
Drinking coffee or tea
Drinking an alcoholic beverage
Enjoying a meal
Feeling bored
All the factors mentioned above cannot be avoided altogether, but one has to develop special skills, to overcome crave for smoking, when these factors are around.
The special skill can be summarized by five D pneumonic:
Delay until urge passes, usually within 3 to 5 minutes
Distract yourself, call a friend or go for a walk
Drink water to fight off craving
XXXXXXX Breath, relax close your eyes and take 10 slow, XXXXXXX breaths
Discuss your feeling with someone close to you
Medicine used for withdrawal symptoms
Antidepressant Bupropion seems to reduce the craving for nicotine and curb appetite
Varenicline works by blocking the pleasant effects on the brain of nicotine from smoking.
Nicotine replacement products are also available like nasal spray and patch.
The other ways are:
Exercise
Get more rest
Take multivitamin
Relax and reward yourself
Bottom-line
Most withdrawal symptoms peak 48 hours after you quit and are completely gone in 6 months
The symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine are unpleasant, stressful, but only temporary. All these symptoms will eventually pass as long as you refrain from cigarette smoking. If you give in to the urge to have a cigarette you will back at ground zero.
Hope I answered your question. If you have any more query, do post you follow up I will be happy to reply.
Regards
Thanks for your question.
I am happy to know that you have quit smoking. The active ingredient in tobacco is nicotine which is highly addictive and affects the portion of brain that is associated with pleasurable feeling.
The usual symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are:
Craving for smoking
Irritable
Insomnia
Fatigue
Inability to concentrate
Sore throat
Postnasal drip
Cough
Headache
Constipation, stomach pain
Sore tongue and/or gum
All symptoms you have mentioned are due to nicotine withdrawal. You are right in assessing that your symptoms are due to nicotine withdrawal.
Improvement in your breathing is also due to cessation of smoking, as nicotine produce vasoconstriction of bronchial smooth muscle. Once you stop smoking, there is no nicotine, to cause bronchial smooth muscle constriction.
Management of nicotine withdrawal symptoms:
It can be divided into 3 categories:
No1. Avoiding the triggers for smoking
No2 Developing skills to overcome nicotine withdrawal symptoms
No3.Drugs
Triggers for smoking are:
Being around smokers
Feeling stressed
Being in car
Drinking coffee or tea
Drinking an alcoholic beverage
Enjoying a meal
Feeling bored
All the factors mentioned above cannot be avoided altogether, but one has to develop special skills, to overcome crave for smoking, when these factors are around.
The special skill can be summarized by five D pneumonic:
Delay until urge passes, usually within 3 to 5 minutes
Distract yourself, call a friend or go for a walk
Drink water to fight off craving
XXXXXXX Breath, relax close your eyes and take 10 slow, XXXXXXX breaths
Discuss your feeling with someone close to you
Medicine used for withdrawal symptoms
Antidepressant Bupropion seems to reduce the craving for nicotine and curb appetite
Varenicline works by blocking the pleasant effects on the brain of nicotine from smoking.
Nicotine replacement products are also available like nasal spray and patch.
The other ways are:
Exercise
Get more rest
Take multivitamin
Relax and reward yourself
Bottom-line
Most withdrawal symptoms peak 48 hours after you quit and are completely gone in 6 months
The symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine are unpleasant, stressful, but only temporary. All these symptoms will eventually pass as long as you refrain from cigarette smoking. If you give in to the urge to have a cigarette you will back at ground zero.
Hope I answered your question. If you have any more query, do post you follow up I will be happy to reply.
Regards
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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