Smoker for 5 years. Set my quit date. Started a week ago. Just started getting massive migraine type headaches. Should I see a doctor. Is this withdrawal. Will it go away. I want to smoke to make it go away. Any help? Thx!!!

Benjamin, first let me congratulate you on one week smoke free!! The second day, the second week and second month were hardest for me, so you’ve already bridged a great milestone.

Headaches are a typical nicotine withdrawal symptom; others include increased appetite, nervousness, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness and an intense craving for nicotine. Your headache might be a sign that your body is now able to detoxify itself. If you smoke to make it go away, you won’t be back at square one, but you might not want to start again after a whole week without.

You should most definitely see your doctor. Tell him you quit smoking a week ago and ask him about how to handle the withdrawal symptoms. He may tell you to try to wait it out or he may offer nicotine replacement or withdrawal management drugs or herbs. He also will want to rule out a more serious cause for your headache.

Withdrawal management drugs like Zyban help you manage the withdrawal symptoms while nicotine replacement is designed to wean you off nicotine. If you can hang on, it will get better; it may take a week or a few weeks, but it will get better.