Insomnia
Sleep patterns are often affected by nicotine withdrawal. The good news is they don’t last forever.
Sleep patterns are often affected by nicotine withdrawal. The good news is they don’t last forever.
While your sleep may be disturbed after you have quit using tobacco, you may actually spend more time sleeping. Sleep disturbances may occur during the first 48 hours after quitting, but your sleep will improve after the first week.
What To Expect
- You may wake up more often during the night.
- You may have trouble falling asleep.
- You may dream about smoking.
- While sleep may be disturbed, you may actually spend more time sleeping.
- Withdrawal from nicotine may further disrupt an already disrupted sleep pattern but, in the long run, being tobacco-free will help you sleep better.
Frequency
- Sleep disturbances may occur during the first 48 hours of quitting, but your sleep will improve after the first week.
- If sleep disturbance occurs, it will usually begin within the first 24 hours, remain strong for the first 1-2 weeks, then disappear within the first month.
Self-Management Tips
- Don’t drink coffee, tea, or soda with caffeine after 6:00 pm.
- Drink herbal tea, decaffeinated coffee, fruit juices, and water.
- Read up on relaxation or meditation techniques and try one for yourself.
- Do not change your sleeping routine. Try to go to bed at the same time in the evening and get up at the same time every morning.
- Prepare for sleep; before going to bed allow for 15-30 minutes of quiet time.
- If you can’t sleep, it may help to get up! Make productive use of your time instead of tossing and turning - you will probably sleep better the next night.
Nicotine: Your Mind and Body
Nicotine is a stimulant and may delay the onset of sleep and decrease total sleep time. Nicotine has also been found to both increase and decrease the amount of time you spend dreaming, negatively affecting your waking performance.
Nicotine is a stimulant and may delay the onset of sleep and decrease total sleep time. Nicotine has also been found to both increase and decrease the amount of time you spend dreaming, negatively affecting your waking performance.
Related Notes
Sleep disturbance is normal, but if you experience severe, prolonged disturbance you should contact your physician. Learn more about medications to help you quit and remember to call your quit coach at 1-800-55-66-222 or use WebQuit for 24/7 support.
Sleep disturbance is normal, but if you experience severe, prolonged disturbance you should contact your physician. Learn more about medications to help you quit and remember to call your quit coach at 1-800-55-66-222 or use WebQuit for 24/7 support.