Am I vaping with not enough nicotine?

[capeyson]

A brief intro, as this is my first posting here: I'm 32, been smoking for about 14 years, and have been at around a pack a day for about ten years.

I finally decided to try ecigs, and after some perfunctory research I went with V2 (though after reading some threads here I also ordered Apollo eGos, which have not arrived yet). I started on the V2s about four days ago.

Here's my problem. I did not smoke reds; my brand was Parliament lights. So I thought my strength should either be low (8mg) or medium (14 mg). The first day I tried mostly the 8mg, and while everything was fine, I felt no satisfaction whatsoever and if anything I craved an "analog" even more. And I was vaping the V2 pretty much nonstop.

Alright, so then I moved up to the 14mg. Much stronger, but still - nothing. I vaped that constantly too, but still felt a strong desire for an analog. I thought it was strange that I ran through a cartridge and a half in one day and got no nicotine headache, no nausea, no buzz - seems to me like that equates to about a pack and a half, and I hardly ever smoked that much.

Can it really be that I need the full 18mg cartridges? I confess I got kind of discouraged reading the threads here, with all of these amazing success stories ("40 year smoker of lucky strikes, never picked up another cig after my first vape," etc.). It's been very hard to cut my analog smoking down to around 5 a day, and I crave much more than that. I vape constantly - I mean constantly - and the craving does not go away. Moreover, when I do smoke an analog, it is AMAZING (I also got discouraged when so many people here said their analogs tasted like crap after they started vaping).

Am I just an odd case? O is it just that I'm not using enough nicotine? Anyone who has had an experience like mine, when they started out, let me know how you got through it and worked it out.

Thanks!

 

[FACE MEAT]

We have a lot in common. I'm 32, I smoked Parliament Lights, smoked for about 15 years.

When I started vaping, I used 18mg liquids. After running out of my favorite, I went to my local B&M to buy another bottle. They were out of 18mg so I got a bottle of 24 instead. Ever since, I've been buying 24mg.

Don't stress about needing a higher nicotine level. Nicotine isn't bad for you, it's the tar and carcinogens in cigarette smoke that are harmful.

Whatever level keeps you off the real thing is the right level for you.

 

[capeyson]

Interesting - so the 18s and 24s worked well for you? (I just put in an order for some 18s from V2 - for some reason it doesn't look like the go up to 24, but I could be wrong...).

 

[Hawise]

18mg isn't really all that high. About the Parliament Lights - how much nicotine you get from a cigarette depends as much on how you smoke it as on its strength, so 18 mg may not be unreasonable. Anyway, the possible issues that come to mind are that some juice makers aren't entirely reliable, so your cartridges may not have the nicotine they claim to. Alternately the cartridges could be fine and you might be missing/craving something else about the analogs - many people are just as addicted to the process and feel of smoking as the nicotine. Not everyone drops the analogs as soon as they start vaping, and even the people who do sometimes struggle with cravings.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Hi and welcome to ECF. Most new vapers begin @ 18 or 24 mg. Myself I started @ 36 mg. Vaping is a far less efficient means of delivering nicotine than smoking cuz the vape particles are too large to be absorbed via the lungs. Most is absorbed via the mouth and nasal ares. Try exhaling through your nose for extra nic.
Best of Luck

Edit:

Can it really be that I need the full 18mg cartridges? I confess I got kind of discouraged reading the threads here, with all of these amazing success stories ("40 year smoker of lucky strikes, never picked up another cig after my first vape," etc.). It's been very hard to cut my analog smoking down to around 5 a day, and I crave much more than that. I vape constantly - I mean constantly - and the craving does not go away.

It really does sound like you need to up your nicotine. I wouldn't worry about chain vaping except you're still craving analogs. "Success stories".....just focus first on getting the right nicotine level and don't worry about "perfection" or how others are faring.
Lastly ANY cutback in analogs is success and you need to give yourself credit for that accomplishment

 

[Elantis]

Welcome to ECF capeyson...It is most probable that you need a higher nic level. From my experience and reading here on the forum - most vapors start at a higher nic level in their liquids than they considered they smoked in their analogs.

I am by no means an expert, many others here will chime in with more information I am sure...but since the nicotine isn't delivered to your system in the same manner as smoking analogs - most start out higher then lighten the load a little after a while. I smoked a generic light cigarette in my smoking days and started with 18mg and vaped non-stop...that tapered off after a while and then I found 18mg to be to high for me personally and after six months have stepped down to 12mg. Since I began mixing my own liquids I know that my juices range from 8mg to 12mg.

In time you will find the range that satisfies you...don't worry...and vape on.

 

[Lessifer]

First, a cartridge and a half most likely doesn't equate to 1.5 packs of cigs, there are many claims about 1 disposable e-cig is like 2 packs of regular cigs, that's BS. If your cartridges hold about 1ml, which I think most do, most people vape between 2-5ml a day. Of course that all depends on the individual. You may also want to check out this if you haven't already http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

And then of course there are other things in cigs that you could be missing out on too. Just stick with it, and if you feel you need to chain vape, just go for it. Good luck!

 

[yzer]

I smoked a pack and a half of Camel Blues (aka Camel Lights) for most of my 35 years of smoking. I found that 24 mg juice was a good match for me when I first quit smoking.

Review your vaping technique to make sure you are getting the most from the nicotine you have.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...9-inhalation-technique-ecig-vs-cigarette.html

And good luck. Once you dial it in to what you want, vaping is huge.

 

[capeyson]

Great info here, and if anyone else wants to chime in, keep it coming.

I'm a stubborn SOB so I'm going to make this work; I already enjoy the vaping process and I know I'll like it more over time. It was just the weird feeling of not really getting any nicotine "fix" that troubled me. It appears that I severely lowballed the amount I should be using (and I severely overesteemed the claims of equivalency between cartridges and number of smokes).

Once I get the 24mg cartridges I'll let everyone know how it has turned out.

 

[Talyon]

Someone made a graph chart just about this subject, and I'd love to find it again as its a real good starting point for any beginner. If anyone finds it please re post and pm the link for me thanks.

Welcome mate to a great adventure, please feel free to try 24 as that appears to be where many start at, also there's many small yet huge to each individual parts of Vapeing as compared to smoking that people yearn for. Myself I gotta have the good reistance of the initial Draw, then I want that THroat Hit, then the Flavor, ewwww it's so exciting.

So hopefully u well find your sweet spots.

 

[Hawise]

First, a cartridge and a half most likely doesn't equate to 1.5 packs of cigs, there are many claims about 1 disposable e-cig is like 2 packs of regular cigs, that's BS. If your cartridges hold about 1ml, which I think most do, most people vape between 2-5ml a day. Of course that all depends on the individual. You may also want to check out this if you haven't already http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

And that would explain a number of the problems I've been having with e-cigs. I saw the link when I signed up, but I brushed it off - who needs help learning to inhale?

Me, it turns out.

 

[skoot]

I needed 36mg to get off analogs. I've tapered down to 24 now, but those first two weeks required some rocket fuel.

 

[Lessifer]

And that would explain a number of the problems I've been having with e-cigs. I saw the link when I signed up, but I brushed it off - who needs help learning to inhale?

Me, it turns out.

It's definitely an easy one to overlook, but it's fairly important, and it gets missed so much that they made it a sticky There's a bit of learning to be done but you'll be happily vaping away in no time.

 

[Hawise]

It's definitely an easy one to overlook, but it's fairly important, and it gets missed so much that they made it a sticky There's a bit of learning to be done but you'll be happily vaping away in no time.

An hour after reading it and it's made a world of difference. I wasn't too impressed with vaping but I was hoping it would grow on me. Now the flavour's great, and I've figured out how the nicotine is working. I think I'd better do a bit more reading - who knows what else I'll find out?

 

[VapingRulz]

I was a Parliament Lights smoker and I had to use 36mg for nearly a year before cutting down to 24mg. Now I'm between 12-18mg.

Use whatever nic level you need to stay off the smokes.

 

[Elantis]

Great info here, and if anyone else wants to chime in, keep it coming.

I'm a stubborn SOB so I'm going to make this work; I already enjoy the vaping process and I know I'll like it more over time. It was just the weird feeling of not really getting any nicotine "fix" that troubled me. It appears that I severely lowballed the amount I should be using (and I severely overesteemed the claims of equivalency between cartridges and number of smokes).

Once I get the 24mg cartridges I'll let everyone know how it has turned out.

Something else you should consider is getting some eliquid and refill your own cartridges...you can get different mg of Nicotine and it would save an enormous amount of money over buying prefilled cartidges (aka cartos)

 

[razor4432]

Good to hear you're figuring things out with the world of vaping. What helped me a lot in my first week was chain vaping whenever possible to keep my mind of cigs and nicotine satisfied. When I'm at home and in front of my computer, I vape non-stop. The first week was a little rough as was the second but it started getting a lot easier for me the third week and now I rarely think of cigarettes. Another tip is to remind yourself that the liquid has nicotine in it, just takes a little longer for you to feel the effects.

Best piece of advice is to hang in there, it will become your new "smoke".

I was a PAD smoker for 6 years and found 24mg to strong for me (made me feel sick) so dropped it to 18mg and was perfect. 18-24 seems to be the best starting point for newbies

 

[KraKsX]

Started at 24mg, dropped to 18, dropped to 12 oops not enough, back to 18... I vape the 12 at night now.
Tried 36, to much for ME! But I now know what a nic rush is.

I'd say pre-filled are NOT the way to go.
Maybe try a clearo? Maybe try LR carto.
The device can change how it hits you.
Try changing where you get you juice from.

Just some things to give it more of a shot

 

[DDark4eva]

Started at 24mg, dropped to 18, dropped to 12 oops not enough, back to 18... I vape the 12 at night now.
Tried 36, to much for ME! But I now know what a nic rush is.

ahh man same here when I had sum 36mg juice...vaped for like 5mins "oh god WHAT IS HAPPENING!?"...good times lol

 

[Grimwald]

A buzz is too high, cravings too low. I was a much heavier smoker, and started at 24mg and 3-4 cartos per day. That worked for about 2 months, then I started getting the buzz...anxiety, sleeplessness, etc...so started to cut back. Dropped in steps so that, after 7 months, 9mg of 3-4 mil per day is now my balance between buzz and cravings. Just find your sweet spot and you'll be fine.