Nicotine withdrawal peaks between 48-96 hours. There is conflicting information about whether nicotine actually is cleared from the body during that time or if peak clearance just occurs during that time. I have to admit that I think peak clearance occurs during that time, because I generally had a tendency to trip at day five. I felt like I was still withdrawing five days into it. (I was a very heavy smoker.) Plus, I actually believe that there is a lot of propaganda on both sides of the smoking struggle, or whatever you want to call it. Those who want us to quit smoking also wants us to believe that the pain diminishes in just 48-96 hours. That can backfire. I know when cravings... all lasted longer than I was prepared for, I always failed. I wasn't psyched for a longer battle. I think because I have "quit" and started so often now I know not to have much in the way of expectations. This time I expected to still have chemically based cravings for at least a month this time. It was only after I had been off the nicotine gum for 42 days did I feel like I was free from the chemicals. (Some of that may have been psychological, but not all of it.)
Cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, which is used to measure the grade of tobacco smoking, is typically detectable for several days to up to 10 days after the use of tobacco. The level of cotinine in the blood is proportionate to the amount of exposure to tobacco smoke, so it is a valuable indicator of tobacco smoke exposure, including secondary (passive) smoke. People who smoke menthol cigarettes may retain cotinine in the blood for a longer period because menthol can compete with cotinine enzymatic metabolism.[1] Gender and race seems to also play a role in how long cotinine stays in the body.
But even after the nicotine clears, your body still clearing the other thousand poisons from your body for quit a while. Besides the nicotine, the other chemical that I feel the withdrawal effects from is carbon monoxide. (I probably feel others that I'm not aware, too.) I get bad vertigo. Carbon monoxide, and the other chemicals, aren't directly responsible for cigarette cravings, but the stress of the withdrawals can contribute to people smoking again.
We just have to tell ourselves that we are quitters and, therefore, we have all the time in the world to quit. Doesn't matter how long withdrawing takes.
(I used experience and a number of Web sites to write this post.)
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 123
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,444
Amount Saved: $1,334.55
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 10 Mins: 9 Seconds: 40