Nicotine absorbtion from vaping research

[Kate]

I've been in touch with:

Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies
Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr Eissenberg sent me a message today after his return from a conference in Ireland. As he is conducting research on blood nicotine levels with vaping I had asked him for some results. He doesn't have any himself yet but said Ruyan's team came up with this:

"... Bullen, Glover, Laugesen, Lin, McRobbie, and Thornley report that after 9 participants used the Ruyan device (16 mg cartridge) for 5 minutes, peak plasma nicotine concentration was 1.3 ng/ml (95% confidence interval = 0.0 to 2.6). In contrast, for those same participants, a cigarette produced a peak plasma nicotine concentration of 13.4 ng/ml (95% CI = 6.5-20)."

Then he went on to say:

"These data, if they are valid and can be replicated, provide little support to the manufacturers' claim that the devices can do what they are marketed to do: deliver a physiologically active nicotine dose to the lung."

I am glad that we now have the first statistics on actual absorption of nicotine from vaping. This result is surprising to me though, it appears that 16mg nicotine eliquid gives a tenth of the nicotine to the bloodstream after five minutes vaping as a cigarette.

[Caesarea]

Hi Kate,

I am glad that we now have the first statistics on actual absorption of nicotine from vaping. This result is surprising to me though, it appears that 16mg nicotine eliquid gives a tenth of the nicotine to the bloodstream after five minutes vaping as a cigarette

Are you able to say how this might affect our ideas on estimating equivalency of dose when switching over to vaping from smoking?

C.

[blueeyekelly]

Again who said it is the nicotine that us smokers are actully after?

[Kate]

This throws all our current comparisons off track C., I don't know what we can say about this for swappers.

I don't even know how it's possible that many of us have been able to overdose if these figures are reliable.

[Caesarea]

This throws all our current comparisons off track C., I don't know what we can say about this for swappers.

I don't even know how it's possible that many of us have been able to overdose if these figures are reliable.

There may be significant differences between absorption via lung tissue and absorption via the mouth - I suggest that because I certainly do not draw in vapor as deep as I used to draw in smoke. Perhaps the route travelled by nicotine or other chemicals is longer via the lungs.

I guess this means that paying close attention to one's reactions is more important than arithmetical calculations to determine input, especially where input varies so much depending on how the vaper inhales.

I think I read somewhere that Yale are also engaged on this type of research for Next Safety. I don't suppose they will be disclosing their findings, though.

Adding the source in edit;

http://www.nextsafety.com/

extract:
Start quote:
Next Safety has particularly shown that its pulmonary devices deliver nicotine with a far greater efficacy than other nicotine replacement products. While previous nicotine replacement products, such as nicotine gum and patches (a $1.6 billion global market), have helped millions of smokers worldwide, they cannot equal the power of nicotine that is delivered through an actual smoked cigarette. The result is that most smokers succumb to the need for a ‘nicotine hit’ by smoking again.

The ultimate solution in nicotine replacement treatment would therefore be the rapid delivery of nicotine directly to the lungs and brain in the same manner as a cigarette, but without the 4,000 harmful chemicals that exist in tobacco particles.

Cigarette sales in 2006 exceeded $200 billion in developed countries where strong trends to eliminate smoking inside work establishments and all public areas are firmly entrenched. Moreover, Next Safety projects that the cost of nicotine delivered by its pulmonary devices will be between 5% to 10% of the price currently paid by smokers in the United States for an equivalent blood nicotine dose.

Next Safety’s ongoing applied research program is currently focused on the pulmonary delivery of nicotine, albuterol and tobramycin. Yale University and the Company’s tobacco addiction/cessation expert, Matthew Bars (MS, CTTS), director of Smoking Cessation for the New York Fire Department, are currently engaged in the development of a research protocol aimed at demonstrating the lung and brain uptake of nicotine from Next Safety’s pulmonary drug delivery platform. In addition, the Veterans Administration has asked Next Safety to participate in a study that includes the evaluation of inhaled nicotine utilizing the Company’s devices. This research will use various analytical techniques including certain brain imaging technology to study the effects of “clean” nicotine delivery via the Company’s pulmonary drug delivery platform.

Next Safety believes the sale of the business to a leading pharmaceutical company will accelerate the deployment of this new technology. Large pharmaceutical firms possess the necessary expertise and development, manufacturing and distribution capabilities required to optimize current present value of Next Safety technology, while bringing lifesaving technology to market in a rapid and worldwide manner. End quote.

Seems like a similar aim for the research...perhaps a different outcome though..

C

[Skad]

I think it's possible, because I don't think very many people vape the way they smoke. I certainly don't. I take many more drags off my ecigs then I ever took off of my regular cigs per day. I think you'd have to find a way to measure this over a longer stretch of time in order to get valid data.

[TropicalBob]

This correlates well with my personal experience. I still get nothing remotely resembling a cigarette nic hit when vaping 36mg liquid. Dr. Loi wrote me in an email that he uses 40mg liquid. I calculated I'd need at least 80mg to be satisfied -- but the liquid would be too dangerous to even handle!

Many thanks for your efforts, Kate. I know they were unexpected by you, based on prior posts. For me, I do know that when I combine heavy nicotine snus with e-smoking, I do just fine. I like the feel and visuals of e-smoking too much to want to give it up. But I get more nic from the snus.

[Caesarea]

I think it's possible, because I don't think very many people vape the way they smoke. I certainly don't. I take many more drags off my ecigs then I ever took off of my regular cigs per day. I think you'd have to find a way to measure this over a longer stretch of time in order to get valid data.

Hi Skad,
Do you inhale the vapor as deeply as when you were smoking?
When I vape, the vapor is circulating mainly around the soft palate and the nasal passages, and often reminds me of how I used to smoke a pipe when I was a student. Much puffing and sucking but really quite little deep inhalation.

C.

[TropicalBob]

One more thought, based on this quote:

"These data, if they are valid and can be replicated, provide little support to the manufacturers' claim that the devices can do what they are marketed to do: deliver a physiologically active nicotine dose to the lung."

One of the FDA's definitions of a drug, which they claim e-liquid is, is that it produces a psychological and physiological effect. Ha. I get neither -- and these tests bring into question whether the effect is any greater than a placebo or pure PG would provide. Some manufacturer might turn this to their advantage, claiming e-liquid does NOT meet the definition of a drug as presently constituted.

[Skad]

Hi Skad,
Do you inhale the vapor as deeply as when you were smoking?
When I vape, the vapor is circulating mainly around the soft palate and the nasal passages, and often reminds me of how I used to smoke a pipe when I was a student. Much puffing and sucking but really quite little deep inhalation.

C.

Indeed, I use more of a pipe/cigar style inhale as opposed to a cig inhale.