Quitting Smoking and Constipation

by Alison
(Delaware)

I have quit smoking 4 times in my life, for long periods of time, (years) only to fall off the wagon for a few months to a year before quitting again. Needless to say, I have gotten pretty good at knowing how to quit and what to expect. Constipation is probably the most difficult side effect of quitting for those who have it. It even trumps the crankiness/inability to focus, because it lasts so much longer, and causes many more total hours of misery.

I have for no other reason than to relieve the constipation gone back to smoking in the first couple months after quitting, and I have also put off quitting longer than I should have to avoid this symptom. Its a pain in the rear. Literally.

So, here are a few tips for those of you suffering, so you don't have to grab that cigarette out of desperation.

1) Use laxatives. Don't worry about becoming dependent. You are already dependent. You became dependent on something in the cigarette, and now you don't have that. Sort out one problem at a time. Get over the other withdrawal symptoms from cigarettes before trying to kick your dependence on laxatives. There are several good ones on the market, and for me, for the first couple weeks, I have to double up, with Miralax and a senna tea product. Sometimes it takes several cups of senna tea along with the recommended dose of Miralax. Use a gentle senna tea such as "Get Regular" by Yogi teas for less cramping.

2) Drink a LOT of water. A lot. And cut down on your eating as much as you can. You only increase your discomfort if you put more in than you can get out. If you can substitute a juice meal or a liquid meal once a day, do so. It may even be helpful to plan a whole day of nothing but liquids in the beginning. If you need to have something in your mouth try gum.


3) Do some exercise. Even if it is just walking around the block once a day. Do something every day to get the blood and other stuff moving. It really does help though it is not dramatic and instant relief.

4) Plan for this to take a while. On average, it takes me between 6 months to a year to get my body back to a regular and entirely comfortable routine after giving up smoking. I have no idea why, but commit yourself to the long haul. This is not something that clears up easily or quickly. This is one of the worst side effects of giving up smoking and one of the least discussed. My doctor was utterly and totally clueless about how common and how uncomfortable this side effect can be.

The interesting thing is that for me, I dont have to really try to stop using the laxatives, the problem gradually clears up and you begin tapering off on your own. Whatever is in that cigarette is some serious stuff, and it takes a good long while for your body to adjust to doing its thing without it.

Good luck. You can do it. Don't let the side effects win. In a couple months you will feel MUCH better, and in a year, you wont know why you didn't do this much sooner.