How long do nicotine cravings last?

Key takeaways

• A single craving usually passes within a few minutes; the NHS says up to 15 minutes.
• Cravings can begin within an hour or two after your last cigarette.
• Cravings are most frequent early on, and the NHS says the first 28 days are the hardest.
• Cravings get farther apart and less intense over time, but occasional mild ones can appear months or years later.
• Having a distraction ready helps you get through the few minutes a craving lasts.

How long does a single nicotine craving last?

Not long. The NHS says cravings usually only last a few minutes, and its quit-smoking timeline says cravings last up to 15 minutes. While a craving is happening, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) notes that your mood may change and your heart rate and blood pressure may go up.

The NHS's practical advice follows from that: have a distraction ready. The CDC puts it simply: you never have to give in to a craving, and it will always pass.

When do cravings start after your last cigarette?

According to the NCI, cravings can start within an hour or two after your last use of tobacco. Cravings are one of the common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, which the NCI lists alongside irritability, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and hunger or increased appetite.

The NCI describes the urge to smoke as something that will come and go, rather than a constant state.

How many weeks do nicotine cravings keep coming back?

Cravings are most frequent early on. The NCI says you may have them frequently for the next few days or weeks after quitting. MedlinePlus says to expect cravings for a few weeks, with the first 3 days probably the worst. The NHS says cravings are hardest in the first 28 days as your body adjusts to no nicotine, and that they often start to get easier after that.

Over time, cravings get farther apart and less intense, and Smokefree.gov says cravings and other symptoms fade as long as you stay smoke-free. Still, the NCI notes that you may have occasional mild cravings months or even years after you quit. Knowing that ahead of time can make a late craving less alarming.

• Minutes: a single craving usually passes within a few minutes, and up to 15 minutes per the NHS.
• First 3 days: cravings will probably be at their worst (MedlinePlus).
• First 28 days: the hardest stretch for cravings (NHS).
• Weeks to months: cravings come farther apart and get less intense (NCI, MedlinePlus).
• Months or years later: occasional mild cravings can still happen (NCI).

What helps you get through a nicotine craving?

Because each craving is short, the goal is to get through the next few minutes, and the NHS recommends having a distraction ready.

Medication can help too. The NCI says nicotine replacement products are effective treatments that increase the likelihood of quitting successfully, and that nicotine replacement therapy works better when combined with advice or counseling from a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or other health care provider. In the U.S., the CDC points people to a quitline coach at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.