# I quit smoking, and I can't stop coughing! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721 "2011-09-18T16:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/1 "2011-09-18T16:32:17Z")
So I’m using the patch, and it works just fine, (I’m not even sure I need the patch). I just can’t stand the hacking and coughing. I woke up three times last night. I’m afraid the people in my apartment building are getting annoyed too. They don’t warn people about this before they stop smoking!! Forget about telling me about the crazy dreams I’ll have while wearing this thing; That’s a COOL side-effect! Try warning me that I’ll be coughing until my head is killing me and my lungs will be worn out. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/2 "2011-09-18T17:39:02Z")
Congrats. This is a sign that your lungs are recovering from the damage that smoking was doing to them. > [@](#): > > Although it’s not common, some people find that they seem to cough more than normal soon after they stop smoking. The cough is usually temporary and may actually be a sign that your body is healing. > > Why some people seem to cough more soon after quitting smoking isn’t clear. One explanation is that as the lungs heal, the microscopic hairs lining them — called cilia — begin working again. As the cilia attempt to clear out the inhaled particles, it can lead to coughing. This coughing may last as long as a couple of months, until the cilia are fully recovered. To relieve coughing in the meantime, try sipping water or sucking on cough drops. > > If coughing persists for more than eight weeks or if coughing brings up sputum or blood or disturbs your sleep, see your doctor to check for a more serious cause of your coughing. From [Coughing more after quitting smoking: What's the deal? - Mayo Clinic](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/quit-smoking/AN01787) ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/3 "2011-09-18T17:43:31Z")
Yep…that’s the smoker’s cough…telling you it’s time to have another cig! Congrats, take meds to get over it; you WILL get over it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/4 "2011-09-18T17:46:32Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Yep…that’s the smoker’s cough…telling you it’s time to have another cig! > Congrats, take meds to get over it; you WILL get over it. 🙂 Thanks! I can’t take most meds to help the cough because of the other meds I’m on. Don’t worry, I’ll stick to no smoking. 🙂 Ugh, it’s really bad though… ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/5 "2011-09-18T17:49:48Z")
Allergies. Or Cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/6 "2011-09-18T17:52:01Z")
It goes away soon. OTOH, keep smoking and you’ll delay the non-stop cough but when it comes it’ll be permanent. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/7 "2011-09-18T18:01:53Z")
Would this call for a cough suppressant? If the cilia theory is accurate then it sounds like the coughing is “productive” and needs to be done. But if I were you, I’d probably take a suppressant at least at night time, because lack of sleep causes the most horrid grumpiness and urges to backslide might increase. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/8 "2011-09-18T18:11:46Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Would this call for a cough suppressant? If the cilia theory is accurate then it sounds like the coughing is “productive” and needs to be done. But if I were you, I’d probably take a suppressant at least at night time, because lack of sleep causes the most horrid grumpiness and urges to backslide might increase. I really love you SN. I can only take weak cough suppressants because of the meds that I’m on. 😕 I won’t start smoking again. No matter how grumpy I get. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/9 "2011-09-18T20:24:02Z")
Think of each cough as bringing you one step closer to sparkly-clean lungs, and in the meantime, try drinking tea sweetened with honey and spiked with one or two teaspoons of lemon juice. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/10 "2011-09-18T22:31:37Z")
A humidifier might help…perhaps? For at night, anyway. Or Vicks on your chest? (Note: I’ve never understood how Vicks on your chest can help ANYthing but some people swear by it.) ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/11 "2011-09-18T22:45:40Z")
Congrats ! I quit using the patch. The coughing will go away eventually. The only coughing I experienced when I quit was in the morning for a couple of days to evacuate that crap lying in my lungs. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/12 "2011-09-18T23:32:07Z")
I coughed for weeks after I quit…which was, by the way, three years, eight months and two days ago today! 🙂 Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/13 "2011-09-19T00:48:16Z")
My rule on cough suppressants when I have a cold is not to use them during the day, but to take them before bed - I need to sleep more than I need to clear crap out at night. 🙂 ETA: Congrats on quitting smoking! ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/14 "2011-09-19T02:04:49Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Forget about telling me about the crazy dreams I’ll have while wearing this thing; That’s a COOL side-effect! Are you wearing patches while you sleep? Wow, the nutty dreams and lack of good sleep I had when I occasionally forgot to remove a patch would have me batty before long. Also, that can’t be good for dealing with nicotine dependence, can it? You’re now continuing to feed your body nicotine during a time when previously it got a break. That seems counterproductive. ETA: Here’s another thing they don’t tell you: Your sense of smell will shortly come back, and until you become used to that, you will be amazed at how much grocery stores stink.. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/15 "2011-09-19T09:28:46Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > ETA: Here’s another thing they don’t tell you: Your sense of smell will shortly come back, and until you become used to that, you will be amazed at how much grocery stores stink.. That’s the most surprising thing, even if you are aware that it will happen, the kickback you get from your senses of smell and taste, and that smoking dulled. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/16 "2011-09-19T15:20:47Z")
I quit before too. It was **stupid** getting back into it. I had a cough like this, but I thought I just had a cold. I can’t wait to be done with this cough. I woke up a few times last night. No matter what, I feel flem in my throat, even right after clearing it. I just have to ignore it unless I get too congested. Otherwise there would be no stop to my coughing. I can’t wait to taste and smell like I use to. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/17 "2011-09-19T16:23:59Z")
I have a friend who ended up in the ER after he quit smoking because he was drowning in the stuff he was hacking up. (He’s fine now, and has stayed quit!) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/18 "2011-09-19T16:37:55Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I can’t wait to taste and smell like I use to. You’ll never smell quite liked you used to. Time has irrevocably changed your body chemistry, and the odor molecules you emit will never be exactly the same. As for taste, your tissues are older, and wouldn’t taste the same way they did when you were young and more recently milk-fed either. That _is_ what you meant, right? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/19 "2011-09-19T17:16:39Z")
I felt like crap for a couple weeks after I quit. Lungs felt worse than ever. Coughing, hacking up a lung - the whole works. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721/20 "2011-09-19T18:27:39Z")
In some past thread about this same subject, a Doper posted that his post-stop-smoking coughing came to a head while he was out riding his bicycle. He had to stop and cough and cough for several minutes and coughed up a nasty wad of gook. As soon as he had rid himself of that, the coughing ended. After reading that, I firmly believe in the theory that your cilia are trying to catch up with years of accumulated crud in your lungs that they haven’t been able to clear until now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-quit-smoking-and-i-cant-stop-coughing/596721.md?page=2)