# Tobbaco-How do I get my body rid of it **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511 "2000-10-11T06:03:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/1 "2000-10-11T06:03:25Z")
While I am a non smoker, my friend is a smoker and he wants to know the best way to get tobacco out of his system? ---
**Author:** ![ChromiumGrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChromiumGrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChromiumGrin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/2 "2000-10-11T06:15:52Z")
Stop using it and let nature take it’s course. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/3 "2000-10-11T14:07:02Z")
Lots and lots and lots of water… ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/4 "2000-10-11T14:18:24Z")
Well, the tobacco is very much a short-term thing. It is out ofyour body when you exhale (or remove the chaw, if that’s his thing). What I think you mean is how long it takes for nicotine to be washed from the body. If that is the case, it depends on how much tobacco one uses - the levels in a person who smokes a few cigarettes a day are sustained lower than the guy smoking two packs a day. Generally, though, it takes 3-5 days for nitotine to go away entirely. The body craving nicotine, however, takes several months to get rid of. * * * Yer pal, Satan - Commissioner, [The Teeming Minions](http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/full/show?lid=39428&page=leaguehome) _I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Six months, two days, 12 hours, 23 minutes and 0 seconds. 7420 cigarettes not smoked, saving $927.58. Extra life with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 18 hours, 20 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![LazarusLong42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/5 "2000-10-11T15:10:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Satan \* > \*\*The body craving nicotine, however, takes several months to get rid of. > \*\* Um… According to my mother (now smoke-free for 2 years, 9 months and change), that craving will never fully go away. Just like an alcoholic’s cravings. Sorry, Satan. But, I know _I_ couldn’t do it. LL ---
**Author:** ![writefetus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9de053/32.png) [@writefetus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/writefetus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/6 "2000-10-11T15:28:25Z")
Try Zyban, but beware the standard dosage! it made me PSYCHOTIC! at 300 mg/day but then I cut back to 150/day and the results have exceeded my wildest hopes! it has all but TOTALLY quashed the nico-jones…and it also increase energy, ups your metabolism, suppresses appetite and elevates mood…on the down side it can upset yr. stomach,keep you awake at night,seizures,death…yadda,yadda …this is a 25 yr. enthusiastic smoker speaking here…good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Enos\_Strate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aca169/32.png) [@Enos\_Strate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enos_Strate)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/7 "2000-10-11T15:39:11Z")
Lazarus is right, the cravings never go fully away. They get fewer and farther between, but every once in a while you get into a situation where all you can think about is the sweet bliss that is the first drag off of a cigarette.(like now. I had to respond to this, didn’t I. **dammit!** ) If one would care to draw the distinction, I think that it is a mental effect because in my experience it is situation based as opposed to a bodily effect (like a heroin addict having nausea or convulsions when in withdrawl). I’ve been smoke free for 2 years and 9 months and still want one when I go out drinking with friends or hang around places that I used to smoke. In response to the OP, the tobacco by products should be out of his system within a week. The rest of it is just willpower (you have to go off of the patch, gum, or Zyban sometime) and support from others around you. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/8 "2000-10-11T23:06:57Z")
Let me clarify something. My friend was at a nutrition store that had a herb that would get all traces of marajuna out of your system for a drug test. I know we had a thread about that and I’m not going to revist it. My friend was wondering if there is something like that for tobbacco? I don’t think there is and I know some things will never come out of a ex-smokers lungs. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tobbaco-how-do-i-get-my-body-rid-of-it/36511/9 "2000-10-12T00:59:35Z")
Yes, the cravings never go away entirely. I meant to say that they become so rare and controllable that it’s not an issue after several months for most people. My bad. * * * Yer pal, Satan - Commissioner, [The Teeming Minions](http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/full/show?lid=39428&page=leaguehome) _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Six months, two days, 23 hours, 0 minutes and 10 seconds. 7438 cigarettes not smoked, saving $929.79. Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 50 minutes._