Quit smoking, it may change the way your body handles medicines

[jennbear]

I take several medicines for arthritis, pain, restless leg and fibromyalgia. I need to know if anyone has had to have their doseages of medication changed when they have quit. I have been sick or just going thru withdrawls IDK. I stopped using gum on Thursday my day 6 because my IBS seemed really bad. Headaches are hell and I have an upset stomach now for 4 days.

Just wondering if anyone else experienced withdrawls of runny nose (not often) but headaches and upset tummy. I went to American Cancer Society website at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp?from=fast  to see what the withdrawl symptons are and it talked about medicines. So just anyone can give me some advice it would help. My hubby and I are on day 8 and only thing he feels is sore throat and little congestion.

Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:

  
• dizziness (which may only last 1 to 2 days after quitting)
  
• depression
  
• feelings of frustration, impatience, and anger
  
• anxiety
  
• irritability
  
• sleep disturbances, including having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams or even nightmares
  
• trouble concentrating
  
• restlessness or boredom
  
• headaches
  
• tiredness
  
• increased appetite
  
• weight gain
  
• constipation and gas
  
• cough, dry mouth, sore throat, and nasal drip
  
• chest tightness

Thanks Jenn

[hwc]

Stopping the use of nicotine very frequently will require changing the dose of medications. In one area, nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure while constricting circulation, so any medications for those areas might need to be adjusted.

Nicotine also has an impact on metabolism and blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels may fall after quitting nicotiine, so any kind of diabetes medication may need to be adjusted.

And, of course, nicotine hijacks a primary receptor system in the brain that has far reaching impact on virtually all brain funcion and many psychological factors, so anti-depressants and other drugs might well need to be adjusted over time as well.

[snowwhite]

YES, there are medications that need to be adjusted when you quit. Your pharmacist should be able to tell you which ones. You can also look up your meds online and look under the interactions section of the scriptl Your caffiene intake will need to be adjusted also because it is not elimated as fast when you are not smoking.

Someone told me about a very imformative web-site also. WHYQUIT.COM

I thought I knew it all about this subject, but I didn't. Try out the online video clips he has. They really help me.