Are you thinking about quitting—or recently just quit—and wondering what the withdrawal from quitting dip feels like? You’re in the right place, we can help.

What’s The Suck?

You have seen it all over this website and you are probably asking yourself—what is “the suck”? The suck is the withdrawal symptoms that you experience in the early stages of your chewing tobacco quit. We call it this because well—it sucks.

The following symptoms make up what we consider the suck. When you first quit chewing tobacco, they come on strong within the first few hours and days. They can last for up to two weeks, but usually become much more manageable and begin to ease after 7-10 days of quitting cold turkey. You will still feel some of these symptoms later on in your quit, but they will not be as strong as they were the initial first few days.

The Withdrawal Symptoms

  • Severe Nicotine Cravings
  • Being Unable to Concentrate
  • A ‘foggy’ head
  • Issues with Anxiety
  • Intense Irritability
  • Stomach Problems
  • Insomnia
  • Bouts of Depression
  • A feeling of Chest Tightness
Want to know what you dipping withdrawal symptoms are? Here ya go...

These are the chewing tobacco withdrawal symptoms.

What Nicotine Does to You

Before we can understand why quitters experience the suck, we must understand what nicotine does in our brains. When you throw in a dip or smoke a cigarette, the nicotine immediately enters the blood stream, making its way all throughout the body and brain. The nicotine stimulates glands in your body that release adrenaline, This adrenaline in turn raises both your heart rate and blood pressure, and gives you a rush. This flood of adrenaline also tells cells throughout your body to dump their glucose stores straight into your blood stream, giving you energy and killing your appetite. This is what you feel when you use chewing tobacco.

You have to realize that your brain and body are addicted to how nicotine alters your natural brain chemistry. Your body is withdrawing from this nicotine induced chemical rush, because it has grown accustomed to it and is now dependent. Your brain chemistry has been abnormal for however many years you have been using that poison. These quitting chewing tobacco withdrawal symptoms are your brain resetting itself back to a normal state.

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20 Responses to Chewing Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms

  1. john van says:

    CAn you experience fever/ headache chills and much more in with first few days of quitting dip

    • dipp says:

      John,

      We know you can experience what is called a “Quitters Flu” that sometimes manifests itself in the form of headache and chills, but we are not sure about the fever. If your thinking about quitting, or need help with your current quit, head on over to our quitting forum. There are people there who can help. http://www.thequit.org/boards

  2. Brandon says:

    What about slightly blurred vision? Could that be a side effect as well?

    • dipp says:

      Brandon,

      Quitting chewing tobacco can cause all kinds of symptoms. But you should check with a doctor or medical professional on that one.

    • benjamin says:

      Yes you can. I Just had it happen to me as well. It lasted for about 10 minutes and then returned to normal.

  3. Jonathan says:

    My first four days of quitting smokeless tobacco went by without a hitch. Day 5 has been horrible with cravings. Also once I made it official by telling my wife, the process has become much harder. Any suggestions?

  4. Laura Winkler says:

    My husband quit chewing, going on 5weeks now, but he is still having bad headaches? What can I do to help?

  5. Ally says:

    My boyfriend is trying to quit the dip. He’s so sick it breaks my heart to watch him. He goes from hot to cold and always feels like he’s ready to throw up. I hate watching him like this, anything I can do to help?

  6. Chris says:

    Breathe! I quit cold turkey after chewing Cope for 30+ years @ up to 2 cans/day. Whenever you feel the craving, take three deep cleansing and calming breaths. It helps more than you can imagine. I’m only 2 weeks Cope free, but I’ve had none of the side effects apart from insomnia…..You have the power to empower yourself! Free Yourself!

  7. David says:

    I quit cold turkey 5 days ago. First 3 days were hell both physically and mentally. I guess I was lucky because day 4 and 5 have been much better and I no longer feel like my body needs the nicotine. I have dipped Cope for the last 9 years and basically felt I couldn’t function without it. After five days I already feel like a new man. Long way to go but I feel free from this addiction.

  8. Chris says:

    Im going on 5 days now Dip free! Quit Cold Turkey After 10 years. If i was awake and not eating i had a dip in. After the death of Tony Gwynn Monday, I felt it was time to quit cold turkey.

    Ive been showing all the symptoms reported here with the exception of insomnia. The hardest part for me was the first 24hours. Once i made it past the 24 hour mark the constant cravings didnt hurt so bad.

    If i could offer you one tip for increasing your chances of quitting successfully, Sunfower Seeds would be it.

  9. loyd says:

    hi im a betelnut chewer combined with half a stick cigarette or redman for likem19 yrs and to tell you the truth it was hard and i been getting urges and watery mouth when i see people chewing.its hard but you gotta have will power.i quit tobacco chewing for 3weeks now and its better and safer to avoid oral cancer

  10. Fred says:

    I quit 2-3 months ago, have been chewing non tobacco. Still have side effects.

  11. wes says:

    I stopped chewing 5 days ago I had no side effects from quit chewing all I know that im feeling a lot better

  12. brice says:

    i quit cope after 20 years for two weeks now, and it is very hard for me . The first couple of days i had depression,sick stomach,anxiety,and foggy head but i am going to keep trying!

  13. PARVIN INDIA says:

    i quit cope after 20 years for two weeks now, and it is very hard for me . The first couple of days i had depression,sick stomach,anxiety,and foggy head but i am going to keep trying!

  14. jim says:

    Quit Skoal 5 Days ago. Sucks real bad. But after 31 years of chewing well worth tthe suck part knowing that I can do this and saving myself from cancer.

  15. Virash Gupta says:

    My third day of quitting CT. It is difficult and hard, but not immpossible. Every thing depends upon your willingness, commitment to yourself and feeling stronglythat you have a definite control on your body and brain. You are training your body back to a normal process. First 3-5 days can be bad but your will power will defenitely let you win your craving. In no circumstance, take even a single suck of smoking, stand near any person who is smoking or take even a single partocle of CT during the process. This can restart the same habits and your failure this time can depress you with unrespe tful attitude from your family members including wife and childern. Use this family love power to quit bad habits

  16. ken says:

    I am quitting after 38 years of chewing redman original tobacco. I am in the 5th day and I am miserable. Can’t sleep, aches and pains are worse than normal. I hope this won’t last too many more days. I am determined to quit and I will keep fighting. I don’t want to go through this again

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