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Stopping smoking can cause constipation.

Peter Hajek1, Fiona Gillison, Hayden McRobbie

  • 1Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK. p.hajek@qmul.ac.uk

Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|November 18, 2003
PubMed
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Constipation is a common tobacco withdrawal symptom, affecting about one in six smokers who quit. For some, this symptom can be severe, highlighting the need for clinical awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Addiction Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Constipation is an infrequently reported symptom associated with tobacco withdrawal.
  • Limited systematic data exists regarding the prevalence and severity of constipation post-smoking cessation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically investigate the incidence and time course of constipation in individuals attempting to quit smoking.
  • To compare the impact of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) versus bupropion on constipation during smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 1067 smokers attending a clinic were assessed for constipation severity at baseline and weekly post-cessation.
  • Data from participants with at least one week of continuous abstinence were analyzed.
  • Subgroup analysis was performed on 514 participants with four weeks of complete data, comparing NRT and bupropion users.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Constipation ratings significantly increased after smoking cessation (P < 0.01).
  • Among participants abstinent for four weeks, constipation peaked at two weeks and remained elevated.
  • Overall, 17% of quitters experienced constipation, with 9% developing severe symptoms; NRT users reported less severe constipation than bupropion users.

Conclusions:

  • Constipation is a significant and prevalent tobacco withdrawal symptom, affecting approximately 17% of quitters.
  • Clinicians should anticipate and manage constipation in smokers undergoing cessation, as it can be severe in up to 9% of cases.
  • The tobacco withdrawal syndrome should be updated to include constipation as a key symptom.