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markb markb
 
M$1 January 22, 2009 05:42 PM

How long after quitting smoking should cravings stop?

Obviously this varies, but about how long? I've heard stuff all over the map, from three days to two weeks. Is there anything documented somewhere from a doctor that gives a ballpark figure?
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drmatt drmatt
 
 January 22, 2009 06:02 PM
Never... cravings are connected both physically and psychologically.

You will be years into "recovery" and something will trigger the craving again. This is one of the difficulties in sobriety from any drug. This is the problem with quick-fix methods like cold-turkey,  patches, pills, etc. They don't give you tools to deal with the pull to go back to your drug of choice.

Now... on the more positive side, it takes about three days for the toxins to leave the body (hence, the emphasis to drink lots of water) and to get beyond nicotine withdrawal symtpoms. WebMD says:

"Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are worst within the first few days after you quit. They may last a few weeks. Some people crave cigarettes for months."

This is one of my specialties, so feel free to ask more questions...
Source(s):
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/quitting-smoking-coping-with-craving...



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fjpoblam fjpoblam
 
January 22, 2009 05:47 PM
On NPR this morning the Doc said about 3 months on average.

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spacemonky... spacemonky...
 
January 22, 2009 05:59 PM
Physical cravings can last for months, and psychological cravings can last for years.

Source(s):
http://ezinearticles.com/?Cigarette-Cravings---How-Long-Before-Cravings-Sto...

http://www.stop-smoking-tips.com/stop-smoking-withdrawal-symptoms.html


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kyle h kyle h
 
January 22, 2009 06:03 PM
There's a lot of variation that's caused by how long the individual has been a smoker - a person who's been a smoker for longer will have to deal with cravings longer than someone who has only smoked for a short period of time. It has to do with the brain's nicotine receptors - unless they are triggered by some event, such as standing near someone who is smoking, cravings usually begin to diminish within the first week or two.

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djscram djscram
 
January 22, 2009 06:46 PM
I had strong cravings for about a week, followed by months of psychological associations that had to be dealt with. While that mostly faded, I still get the occasional association trigger, many years later.

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alfy alfy
 
January 23, 2009 03:21 AM
Personally it stopped in less than 2 weeks, after that i can hardly remember thinking of having one.
Sometimes the idea still pops in my mind but i can dismiss it very easily.

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mritty mritty
 
January 23, 2009 08:19 PM
My mother quit more than 25 years ago. But she tells me that to this day, she still occasionally - once or twice a year maybe - has a craving for a cigarette.

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jennhollow... jennhollow...
 
January 25, 2009 04:32 PM
I can answer this question best based on my personal experience. I quit in 1997, and while I don't miss smoking the way I thought I would, the cravings are still there. I have strong cravings when I'm really stressed, or when I'm around a lot of smokers. I've also noticed that my cravings for food, particularly junk food, has increased quite a bit over the years. While I haven't indulged in either of these cravings, I've had to figure out a way to consistently manage them. I don't want to be a smoker, and I don't want to be an over-eater. Neither would be beneficial to the lifestyle I want to lead, which is hopefully a healthy one, so I resist. I didn't realize these cravings would be with me on a long-term basis, but once I accepted that fact I was able to move on easier.

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