Techniques for dealing with the eventual OD

[Bellinghamster]

With the super-strength liquids, inexperienced users, and lack of precise dosing equipment, we as e-smokers run a risk of nicotine overdose not typically faced by the average smoker.

Obviously, severe overdose must be addressed immediately and professionally. But for those who just have the shakes, jitters, palpitations, etc from going "just over the line", are there any effective at-home treatments? 7-up for nausea? TUMS for heartburn? Does anything stop my heart from feeling like it's going to jump outta my chest? Or is the only effective treatment to suffer through the [reportedly] 2 hour half-life of nicotine?

I know I'm probably inviting some criticism about personal responsibility here, but I think many of us have gone a little too far even while trying to be responsible...

[Bertrand]

Half-life of nicotine in the body is 2 hours. You just need to wait it out.

I honestly don't understand how you would overdose (assuming you are already a smoker.) It gets into your system so quickly that you would notice symptoms early on. Unless you ignore these, and keep on puffing away.

[Monroe]

As long as you dont drink it, or spill large quantities on your skin, you should be okay.
The splitting headache from vaping too much nicotine will let you know when you're at the OD point.

If you do drink it somehow, contact poison control ASAP.

If you spill it on your skin, wash off with soap and water ASAP

[Bellinghamster]

OD has a lotsa levels for me... starting with "I feel weird" ranging to "burst into flame". I'm not suggesting that severe OD not be treated by a hospital, or that only an idiot might get too much liquid. An overfilled cart can lead to a mouthful of liquid, which can lead to "discomfort"... A purchase of high power liquid for a low power smoker can lead to much the same... Overuse of an extremely "cool" device can lead to ingestion of more nicotine than strictly required to keep withdrawal at bay... Just trying to see if anyone has found ways to cope with that very personal [if short-lived] tribulation.

[Bellinghamster]

...and it's quite possible I'm confusing the effects of PG/VG (over-)ingestion with nicotine OD... Seems I can vape 6mg all day long and get palpitations or 6 drops of 36mg during a 10 hour shift and get palpitations... Maybe yours truly has a weak heart or something, but as much as I love [most of] my e-cigs, I still seem to find a way to feel yukkier than I did with analog smoking quite a few days recently [though I smell better!]

I think I'm just dialing in my appropriate doses, but back to topic, what to do when I miss?

[Bellinghamster]

My apologies for the "tri-post", but a 2-hour half-life of nicotine seems somewhat unlikely as when I get these "OD"-type symptoms they can last 6-8 hours easily. I can clearly correlate them to e-cig overusage, so I don't suspect some other health issue...

Though the 2-hour half-life does explain the compulsion to smoke [at least!] every 1-2 hours...

...And every time I argue with Science I seem to lose...

Chances are I confusing one thing with another, but the advice of this forum is always valued...

[Bertrand]

Yeah, I doubt you were 8 or 16 times past the threshold of overdose. It may take some time for you to feel better even once the nicotine has subsided. Or as you say, it may be something else in the eliquid that's doing it.

[Kate]

There isn't a lot you can do after taking a nic overdose apart from stay off nic and wait it out. If you get serious symptoms seek professional medical attention, preventing heart and respiratory failure is the main aim.

Overdose can cause symptoms for a day or two, nicotine metabolises and causes chemical reactions in your body which last longer than blood nicotine levels suggest.

Here are some personal experiences from forum members who ended up in hospital -

Worst Headache of my life!!

Newb questions

I noticed you've posted on this thread but I'll link it anyway - Nicotine safety

[dc2k08]

would popping a couple of aspirin help in widening your arteries and letting that blood flow ?

[Bertrand]

Yeah (but won't help get rid of the nicotine).