Getting off NRT for good
I have been addicted to the NRT longer then I actually smoked for. For me, I needed to set a date, have a plan to deal with withdrawals and just go for it cold turkey while my willpower is fresh and strong. I tried several times slowly reducing the patch strength overtime, but found the whole withdrawal process was exhausting and I just went back to my old nicotine gum habit as it made me feel good.
Sadly, I worked up to chewing close to 40-50 pieces of the 2mg gum everyday :(
It’s only been 5 days now being nicotine free, the withdrawals have been pretty harsh, but I’m determined to succeed and quit for good.
Fingers crossed
I say great work going without any Nicotine Replacement Products, and 5 days without smoking nicotine?
Actually, when did you have your last cigarette? Its important to know. Are you still addicted to smoking nicotine or nicotine products?
Thats alot of nicotine in any language.
I'll keep an eye on your progress while hoping you can get some advice from members here!
Surely with patches and excessive gum use the side-effects like hiccups mouth ulcers, tummy upsets and runny stools must have featured greatly? How are you feeling now?
Ill pop in tomorrow.
Hi well done for your 5 days of no smoking keep it up and you will feel much better for it.
The last time I had a cigarette was about 7 years ago. Ever since then, I have been on and off the NRT and found the gum was particularly hard for me to self regulate and usually chewed way more then recommended. I guess you could say I have been addicted to the gum for 7 years now :(
As for the side effects from the gum, I would have to say hiccups, upset stomach, sore jaw, lack of taste and occasionally high blood pressure from chewing too much at once.
I’m heading into day 6 today of zero nicotine. The crazy headaches have passed, but the sweats, irritability, insomnia, blocked nose and the occasional run of anxiety are present. I’m just taking it a day at a time at the moment
Hi AtlasPark. You are doing great. Congratulations The nicotine from smoking is 93% gone in the morning. It takes about 72 hours to pass out of your system (for the most part) There will be residual traces in the hair for weeks. So the good news is that the addiction to nicotine should be done, but 80% of quitting smoking is the psychological part of filling the void and feeling that you are missing something. Any habit is broken and made in 21 days they say. The habit of biting your nails does not result in physical ailment when you quit. Fill the act of chewing with another good habit, just as we do with quitting smoking cigarettes. While chewing regular spearmint gum in replacing the nrt variety seems harmless, it may hamper the psychological healing. I doubt that it will be as difficult as the quitting the act of smoking.
You will survive and conquer this addiction. Thanks for informing the newcomers of the addictiveness to Nrt's.
Welcome Atlas Park I do not know why it is recommended to use any NRT really because eventually you need to get off it. The time period of staying on any NRT is roughly around 3 months and is designed to get your habits and routines into a different mode of thinking and doing.
You will need to use this time for listing alternatives to your routine, keep reading and learning and posting. Sugar free lollies might be useful for a while, but the brain still needs to be satisfied without anything. Eating cake was my downfall now I don't eat cake but this was still better for my body than Smoking or NRT
Congratulations on 5 days without the NRT Gum.
Thank you for all the positive encouragement with giving up :). 100% right about the NRT. I just replaced one form of nicotine for another form and while the NRT is probably less dangerous, chewing 40-50 pieces a day is not super safe to say the least 🤣
Tomorrow will be day 7 of no nicotine. I’ve been feeling a little more anxious today and my sleep last night was very ordinary, but I’m guessing this is to be expected while I adjust to the new nicotine free life?
I guess most expect so and so it is. I had no cravings after the 72 hours. You have not smoked for years so I would expect it to be a lot easier. Just think that you have not had nicotine in days. Would you miss it if it were an antibiotic? Your jaws must be thankful for the rest. Think positive. What will you spend all that saved money on? NRT's are not cheap.
Hi all, I just wanted to give you an update on how I’m progressing. I’ve been 9 days nicotine free now, sleeping better, anxiety is much less and eating a lot better too.
I still have my days where I think about nicotine, have a few flat spots during the day, but all in all I feel pretty damn good. I tend to feel flat in the morning, but euphoric in the evenings which is weird.
I’m pretty comfortable in saying the addiction has passed, now I’m just re adjusting my life to be nicotine free forever