# Quitting smoking = No sleep?!?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 26, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299 "2011-05-26T15:17:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299/1 "2011-05-26T15:17:33Z")

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My wife and I (both former 1-2 pack a day smokers) have just quit smoking 6 days ago (Yay us!). We feel better already in many ways - we can breathe easier, our sinuses feel better, no more sore throat, less heartburn. But, we can’t sleep! We have a hell of a time falling asleep, and once we do, it’s very light, non-restful sleep. Is this from the nicotine withdrawal? How long will it last, because I’m starting to climb the walls from lack of sleep here. Did this happen to anyone else who quit, and how did you deal with it?

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**Author:** ![skylyn12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@skylyn12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylyn12)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299/2 "2011-05-26T15:25:59Z")

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In the first couple weeks after I quit, I went back and forth, from being extremely sleepy (and finally able to sleep in because I wasn’t getting up for a smoke) to not being able to sleep and feeling antsy at night.

The things that helped my poor sleep were increased exercise and a couple glasses of wine…

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**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299/3 "2011-05-26T15:45:47Z")

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ah, yes, been there, done that, guys. sleeplessness is one of the side-effects of nicotine withdrawal. you might trya dietary supplement called melatonin, which promotes sleep without resorting to tylenol pm or other similar sleep inducers. and that glass of wine. 🙂

failing that, i’d recommend exercising - jogging walking or aerobics - to help tire you out. the sleeplessness will pass, i promise.

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**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299/4 "2011-05-26T15:49:23Z")

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I’ll probably get knocked for suggesting this product - but I LOVE Calms Forte. My husband says its all in my head, and all I say is “ZZZZZZ”. Man, do I get a good nights sleep with that stuff. No hangover in the morning, not addictive at all.

The packaging does call it homeopathic, but its my understanding that the term is used to refer to the dilution process they use on the ingredients. Obviously, its not homeopathic in the “like cures like” sense.

Plus, its very helpful for calming my nerves when I’m feeling antsy/anxious.

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-smoking-no-sleep/583299/5 "2011-05-27T00:40:03Z")

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Did you smoke before bed? It’s likely a break in your routine that caused it. I suggest a nice brisk walk before bedtime. If that fails, get a book and read in bed.