Electronic Cigarettes effect on Cigarette Cravings

[m4sterch3f]

Yea smoking is cool. But today is my first vape. I purchased an e cab and the sdkeyring. If i knew i could get the same sensation from an ecig as you can from a hookah analog or hand rolled i would have tried it long time ago. Maybe i will chime in again in a week or two but right now i am loving the thought of extending my years ahead i am only 25 but im sure i have smoked enough for 10 men. Thsnks ecigs and ecigs forum saved me.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Kytrix]

Disclaimer: I am a baby vaper. Just about a week or so doing it seriously.

I had the most surprising experience with PVs. I bought one just to try it out. Within 24 hours I was already down to 2-3 analogs from being a PAD smoker, and I wasn't even trying. I quit smoking entirely 2 days ago, and have yet to have a single craving. By now I usually start again. However, after smoking a PV, my final cigarette tasted disgusting.

I tried patches, and they irritated my skin and gave me an itchy rash. There was also zero nicotine rush like I would have after smoking. I tried the gums - and promptly spat them out because I thought they tasted disgusting. I tried Chantix - on the recommendations of coworkers and my doctor, where I experienced vivid nightmares like I'd never had before and rage to the point of physical violence. I actually hit someone, which I don't ever do. Once off the Chantix, life was good again, but I was still smoking.

These methods have little success across the board. vaping has helped me quit without being afraid of suffering in the process. In fact, I quit smoking in lieu of vaping because it's more enjoyable to me. It's not expensive. I don't stick. They don't taste horrible. They don't irritate my body. They don't mess with my brain chemistry. I get the "hand to mouth" feeling and all the things I actually enjoyed about smoking without the deadly effects. They are effective, and without them, I doubt I would have ever tried to quit again.

 

[nchamber68]

I smoked for 32 years, and for the last 10 years I was a 2+ PAD (Marlboro red 100's) smoker. I have quit smoking several times over the years, for a few months each time, but I always ended up going right back to smoking and I smoked more than I did before I quit. It was like yo-yo dieting for me...the more I tried not to smoke the more I actually ended up smoking.

I tried: quitting cold turkey, patches, gums, lozenges, wellbutrin, zyban, chantix, hypnosis, aromatherapy, accupuncture, accupressure, smokeless cigarettes (those powdered ones you sucked air through that were available back in the '90's), and even valium and ativan. The only thing I didn't try was the "stop smoking shot", and that was only because I couldn't find anyplace that did it close to where I lived. No matter what smoking cessation aid(s) I tried though, none of them worked well and none of them worked long term. Also, every single time I quit smoking in the past my blood pressure would skyrocket from a low normal level to dangerously high within a week...and it would stay that way until I started smoking again. One time I averaged 200/125 for six months even with the BP lowering medication. I know it sounds like a load of bull when I say smoking lowers my BP, but it's absolutely true; I appear to be a medical anomaly because when I smoke my BP is beautiful at 117/68.

I bought a disposable e-cig almost two months ago hoping that it would help me cut back on how much I was smoking. The disposable helped a little, so I decided to try a better e-cig and ordered an ego-c and several flavors of e-liquid a little over a month ago. On the day I got my ego-c I only smoked 5 cigarettes, and each day after that smoking cigarettes got progressively less attractive. For the first time in 32 years, in less than a week, I found myself reaching for something other than a cigarette whenever I had a craving. On several occasions I actually caught myself taking a cigarette out of the pack and stopping before I lit it because I was thinking, "Eww, those are nasty, I'd rather vape on the ego-c".

I honestly believe that for the first time since I started smoking I have kicked the smoking habit permanently, and that I will be able to stay off the cigarettes for as long as I have access to a decent PV and e-juice. I haven't had a cigarette in over three weeks, my blood pressure is still normal, and I feel great. So far I've had no severe withdrawal symptoms, no BP problems, no constant irritation or anger, no feelings of deprivation, no desire to constantly eat, and no insatiable desire to smoke. I am hoping to slowly lower the amount of nicotine I'm vaping over the next few months, but I doubt I will ever quit vaping entirely. I have a sweet tooth and now I can use vaping to satiate my cravings for sweets as well. I have even lost weight since I stopped smoking and started vaping.

"Willpower" or a "true desire to quit" had nothing to do with how much vaping helped me...I didn't want to quit when I got my PV, I just wanted to smoke a little less. I had entirely given up on ever trying to quit again, because every time I quit in the past I ended up worse off than if I hadn't quit in the first place. I was absolutely not willing to go through the misery of quitting again in the hopes that it might actually work 'this time'.

I have always enjoyed the habitual/ritualistic aspects of smoking, and I really love the taste and smell of vaping. Now it's like I get to keep all of the aspects of smoking I love without destroying my health, plus a lot of the calorie free e-liquids taste like desserts, and it is actually much cheaper to vape than to smoke...it's a win/win/win scenario. I know that there are questions about whether or not vaping will be safe over the long term but, compared with going back to smoking, I honestly believe vaping is worth the possible risks.

 

[Kable]

First of all, I quit analogs within 5 hours of using my first vaping device. Not sure why it worked so quickly for me, but it did. I had tried patches, lozenges, pharmaceuticals, hypnosis, homeopathic cures....nothing worked. I'm not going to enter the debate of placebos and what is addictive when it comes to nicotine.

HOWEVER, and feel free to disagree with me if you like and this is my opinion on the subject. We use the words addiction and illness/sickness/disease hand-in-hand; this is where I disagree with ANYONE who argues the point that addiction, be it to any drug (nicotine, narcotics, alcohol even food ..whatever) ADDICTION IS NOT AN ILLNESS,SICKNESS or DISEASE IT IS A WEAKNESS!!!! Addiction to any substance can be stopped if the addict wants it to. Yes there may be physical and mental withdrawal symptoms, but if the addict wants to quit, they can seek the assistance they need, whether it be medical, spiritual, psychological...whatever. Addiction doesn't make you "sick" per se, it just makes you want more of the substance you are addicted to. I look at it this way; we are not born "addicted" to anything. But if we start using a substance that has addictive qualities, ipso facto, we become addicted, not sick or ill. Nor can we "catch" an addiction. (Yes I know some babies are born drug addicted, but you know what I mean).

DSM-IV Symptoms of Substance Dependence (another word for weakness)
The criteria for substance dependence include the following:

The individual has developed a tolerance for the substance. This means that they have to use more in order to get the same effect.
The user continues to abuse these substances despite obvious evidence that it is causing them harm.
The individual experiences withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the substance
The user finds it difficult to cut down on the amount they are using
Lack of control over the amount they consume.
Loss of interest in other activities that they once enjoyed.
Devoting increasing amounts of time to the substance abuse. This includes time spent obtaining the substance, time spent using it and time spent recovering from the effects.
If the individual experiences three or more of the above symptoms within a 12-month period then it indicates that they have become dependent.

( DSM-IV Substance Abuse Disorders )

Please excuse this rant, but I am rather passionate on this subject (as you can probably tell ) Sorry if I belabored my point.

Addiction may be a weakness, if you want to look at it that way, but that doesn't mean it's not an illness or a sickness, and calling it a weakness is qualitative and doesn't really serve any purpose except to insult the people that have it. It is condescending. It implies that having an addiction makes people inferior to those who don't. This seems like a rather arbitrary measure of someone's value to me. It's like me saying that I'm better than you because I can do more pull-ups than you. I'd rather think of what values people do have than the ones they don't.

Could addicts quit if they wanted to? Well, that's a silly question, because when you have a serious addiction, you don't really want to. That's the point. Your brain is actually altered so that feeding the addiction overrides primal instincts and the capacity for reason seen in healthy brains. Your mind and your thoughts are products of physiological processes, not the other way around.

 

[slowman87]

I have no cravings for an analog anymore. It's great.

 

[DoctorJ]

Addiction may be a weakness, if you want to look at it that way, but that doesn't mean it's not an illness or a sickness, and calling it a weakness is qualitative and doesn't really serve any purpose except to insult the people that have it. It is condescending. It implies that having an addiction makes people inferior to those who don't. This seems like a rather arbitrary measure of someone's value to me. It's like me saying that I'm better than you because I can do more pull-ups than you. I'd rather think of what values people do have than the ones they don't.

Could addicts quit if they wanted to? Well, that's a silly question, because when you have a serious addiction, you don't really want to. That's the point. Your brain is actually altered so that feeding the addiction overrides primal instincts and the capacity for reason seen in healthy brains. Your mind and your thoughts are products of physiological processes, not the other way around.

Yes, my opinion is qualitative as you put it. But it's my opinion. And you are reading your opinion into mine. I never said that an addiction makes anyone less of a person or a person without an addiction superior to someone who does. I don't mean to insult anyone with my opinion or belittle them. Basically what the problem is here that people are offended by my use of the word "weakness". OK, what would be a more politically correct term to use? Lack of will power? I stand by my opinion and what I stated in my post as you may stand by yours. Let's just agree to disagree my friend

Lastly, I have the nicotine addiction and consider myself to be weak not to have the will power to stop using it. So considering my opinion, am I being insulting or condescending to myself? I could quit the nicotine habit if I wanted to. As you saw in my post, I tried numerous methods of cessation. But it has come down to minimizing it at this point in my life and I enjoy the sensation of nicotine, especially vaping.

If my opinion has offended anyone, then I offer my sincere apologies, however, I respect anyone else's opinions as they should respect mine. We may disagree, but that is the beauty of an opinion, it may not coincide with other's beliefs and, therefore, open a dialogue that may lead to enlightenment and education beyond the opinion itself.

 

[synthsiggy]

Well you know it is a common belief that it's the addiction that is in control of the person. Like you are a product of your lifetime experiences. What you do from day to day is based solely on all the events from your past. You could compare the similarities of that to a robot. A robot will do nothing unless it is programmed. To me the two are exactly the same. So are people organic robots ?, can't they think for themselves in real time ?. Does an addiction to something mean you have absolutely no choices in what you do right now or in 5 minutes time or tomorrow ?. People are free to do exactly what they want when they want !. When someone says they are addicted to something it's a cop out. They simply cannot be bothered to break out of the rutt they got themselves into. They choose, in real time, to be addicted to whatever it is. They will make up 1000 and 1 excuses why they do it. Other people will even endorse this belief. But it is simply a case of them deciding right there and then, on every occasion, to be obsessively compulsive about something. People are not robots !. What i choose to do from one moment to the next is completely random. While it is true that most choices that are made from one second to the next are normally from a very short list, the list you give yourself is also from another list of options. It is up to the individual what they decide to do right now or sometime in the future. But in no way does the events from an individuals past dictate what they can do with their future. That is just psychological claptrap !. If you want to be some kind of robot that's your "choice". And not a very good one, given that you are unable to learn anything because you think you are some kind of robot. And you will never undersand for that same reason. So i can only assume that some people are unable assimilate any information from any source that exists outside of their existing belief system. I understand that, but i certainly don't believe it !. And that's my "choice".

 

[synthsiggy]

You know i was thinking about the placebo thing again. Although i've changed my mind about the whole thing and agree that e cigs are not placbo's i had another idea about it again. Seeing as someone had already defined the e cig as a "nicotine delivery system" based on what it "DOES", i'm now thinking that an e cig could be categorized as a "synthetic placebo" based on what it "IS", and could exists in that new, previously non existent, category exclusively !. You know, like a fake fake if that makes any sense. If people that use e cigs are content with their pv rather than have a cigarette, and are happy that their e cig does the same job, then at least it would be understood as being a useful tool. Just thinking out loud again folks. I'm perfectly happy for you to shoot me down in a cloud of errrrr ........"vapour"? Let me guess.....It makes no sense right....Nevermind..

 

[Caridwen]

Well you know it is a common belief that it's the addiction that is in control of the person. Like you are a product of your lifetime experiences. What you do from day to day is based solely on all the events from your past. You could compare the similarities of that to a robot. A robot will do nothing unless it is programmed. To me the two are exactly the same. So are people organic robots ?, can't they think for themselves in real time ?. Does an addiction to something mean you have absolutely no choices in what you do right now or in 5 minutes time or tomorrow ?. People are free to do exactly what they want when they want !. When someone says they are addicted to something it's a cop out. They simply cannot be bothered to break out of the rutt they got themselves into. They choose, in real time, to be addicted to whatever it is. They will make up 1000 and 1 excuses why they do it. Other people will even endorse this belief. But it is simply a case of them deciding right there and then, on every occasion, to be obsessively compulsive about something. People are not robots !. What i choose to do from one moment to the next is completely random. While it is true that most choices that are made from one second to the next are normally from a very short list, the list you give yourself is also from another list of options. It is up to the individual what they decide to do right now or sometime in the future. But in no way does the events from an individuals past dictate what they can do with their future. That is just psychological claptrap !. If you want to be some kind of robot that's your "choice". And not a very good one, given that you are unable to learn anything because you think you are some kind of robot. And you will never undersand for that same reason. So i can only assume that some people are unable assimilate any information from any source that exists outside of their existing belief system. I understand that, but i certainly don't believe it !. And that's my "choice".

You my friend have a lot to learn about addiction.

 

[synthsiggy]

You my friend have a lot to learn about addiction.

YES I DO.............So what you got ?

 

[JudeD]

I smoked over a pack a day for thirty years. I quit for about eight months using Chantix (I didn't have any of the unpleasant side effects others had, but it was a battle against cravings every single day). Finally I gave in to the cravings and started smoking again. I didn't start vaping to quit smoking. I was going to be in a situation where I wouldn't be able to smoke much for an entire weekend and I saw a celebrity using an e-cig on tv and thought I might be able to use it to get through the weekend. I bought a cheap one, tried it, and it was effective enough to get me through those two days. It peaked my curiosity which led me to the internet which led me here. Once I read through a bunch of threads on here, I ordered a kit and some juice to use when I couldn't have a real cigarette. The kit arrived, I tried it with my pack of cigs sitting right next to me, and within two days I was only reaching for the e-cig, never the real cigs. That's when I realized that I was about to quit smoking. I ordered more toys and liquids and I haven't had or wanted a real cig for almost eight months. The first week or two, I would have a feeling first thing in the morning with my coffee that I wouldn't exactly call a craving, but more of an unsatisfied feeling. Then I found a juice that suited me and I haven't had that feeling since. I kept an unopened pack of cigs so I would never have that "Oh my gosh, it's 2 in the morning and I don't have cigs and what if I suddenly want one" moment, but I've never wanted one. I forget that I even have that pack until I'm looking for something else and come across it. The fact that there was no pressure on me since I wasn't trying to quit and I told myself I could have a cig whenever I wanted made it incredibly easy to stop smoking. Plus, vaping tastes good and it's fun. When have you ever heard anyone say quitting smoking was fun?

I think there are three hurdles to getting people to give up smoking and vape instead. One is getting the information out there to smokers and erasing the disinformation they have built up in their minds (myths, rumors, and doggone lies). Second is each person finding the PV that works for them. Everyone is different and has different needs, but finding the PV that satisfies your craving is vital. And lastly, finding the juice or juices that will replace cigs for each individual (nic level, flavor, PG and VG levels, etc.) It takes a little time and effort to find the right PV and juice, but a lot of people just try a pre-filled cartridge in a disposable e-cig, don't like it, and give up. Don't get me wrong--a lot of people used those disposables to get started and some people continue using them, but many think they are the only options in e-cigs and therefore, give up. If doctors who believe in ecigs as a viable way to get their patients to stop smoking could give out the info for this forum so potential quitters could see what is available and how many have used vaping to stop smoking, it could be invaluable. My doctor recommended gum, patches, hypnosis, and Chantix, but never ever mentioned e-cigs as an option, although he is thrilled now that I'm using them and not smoking.

If you really want to help your patients quit smoking, don't just recommend e-cigs. Give them the link to this forum so they know all their options. It can be overwhelming at first because there is so much info and so many choices, but there are great people here to give support and answer questions. Without the people on ECF, I would probably still be smoking and just using an ecig on the occasions when I couldn't enjoy my real cig. Thanks again, ECF.

 

[happy-girl]

Hi... I have been smoke free for 10 months now. I've tried both the gum and patches and neither worked well for me. Once I started vaping, I found that I didn't crave a cig like before. I wish my BF felt the same. He still smokes. I do believe that if you really want it.....you'll figure it out.

 

[synthsiggy]

Hi... I have been smoke free for 10 months now. I've tried both the gum and patches and neither worked well for me. Once I started vaping, I found that I didn't crave a cig like before. I wish my BF felt the same. He still smokes. I do believe that if you really want it.....you'll figure it out.

Well christmas is just round the corner and you'll have problems with delivery from this weekend onwards. So you've got the next couple of days to decide whether to order an e cig kit for him as a christmas present.

 

[Kable]

Yes, my opinion is qualitative as you put it. But it's my opinion. And you are reading your opinion into mine. I never said that an addiction makes anyone less of a person or a person without an addiction superior to someone who does. I don't mean to insult anyone with my opinion or belittle them. Basically what the problem is here that people are offended by my use of the word "weakness". OK, what would be a more politically correct term to use? Lack of will power? I stand by my opinion and what I stated in my post as you may stand by yours. Let's just agree to disagree my friend

Lastly, I have the nicotine addiction and consider myself to be weak not to have the will power to stop using it. So considering my opinion, am I being insulting or condescending to myself? I could quit the nicotine habit if I wanted to. As you saw in my post, I tried numerous methods of cessation. But it has come down to minimizing it at this point in my life and I enjoy the sensation of nicotine, especially vaping.

If my opinion has offended anyone, then I offer my sincere apologies, however, I respect anyone else's opinions as they should respect mine. We may disagree, but that is the beauty of an opinion, it may no coincide with other's beliefs and, therefore, open a dialogue that may lead to enlightenment and education beyond the opinion itself.

Will power can factor into it, but it isn't the sole decisive factor. Calling it a lack of will power implies the desire to quit is equal. Most addicts don't want to quit, just as you don't. Do I think you are insulting yourself? Yes, and I don't like seeing someone insult themselves any more than I like seeing them insult someone else. If I may, I'll try to read between the lines you wrote. I think maybe the crux of your argument is that dependence on a substance is something that can be changed (feel free to correct me if this is untrue). This I absolutely agree with. I just think that people need certain resources available to them to help them achieve this, as most aren't able to do it alone.

Your last paragraph I agree with completely. I see this as a healthy debate, which is something I enjoy, and hold no animosity against anyone who has opinions that differ from my own.

 

[Kable]

Well you know it is a common belief that it's the addiction that is in control of the person. Like you are a product of your lifetime experiences. What you do from day to day is based solely on all the events from your past. You could compare the similarities of that to a robot. A robot will do nothing unless it is programmed. To me the two are exactly the same. So are people organic robots ?, can't they think for themselves in real time ?. Does an addiction to something mean you have absolutely no choices in what you do right now or in 5 minutes time or tomorrow ?. People are free to do exactly what they want when they want !. When someone says they are addicted to something it's a cop out. They simply cannot be bothered to break out of the rutt they got themselves into. They choose, in real time, to be addicted to whatever it is. They will make up 1000 and 1 excuses why they do it. Other people will even endorse this belief. But it is simply a case of them deciding right there and then, on every occasion, to be obsessively compulsive about something. People are not robots !. What i choose to do from one moment to the next is completely random. While it is true that most choices that are made from one second to the next are normally from a very short list, the list you give yourself is also from another list of options. It is up to the individual what they decide to do right now or sometime in the future. But in no way does the events from an individuals past dictate what they can do with their future. That is just psychological claptrap !. If you want to be some kind of robot that's your "choice". And not a very good one, given that you are unable to learn anything because you think you are some kind of robot. And you will never undersand for that same reason. So i can only assume that some people are unable assimilate any information from any source that exists outside of their existing belief system. I understand that, but i certainly don't believe it !. And that's my "choice".

There are two ways to program a computer. One way is to write all the lines of code that it will use to make decisions. The other way is to design basic algorithms that will be built upon by experience. Watson, the computer that appeared on Jeopardy, is probably the most famous example of this type of programming. In this method, the computer actually changes the criteria used to make decisions based upon the information it gathers. This is similar to the way our brains work. We start out with basic rules, but much of how we think is shaped by our experiences with the world around us. This is why humans are so dependent when they are born. This may seem like a vulnerability, and it can be, but it also allows us to be adaptable, which I see as one of our greatest strengths. Unfortunately, however, some of the adaptations we make can be detrimental.

Calling something an addiction isn't a cop out. Can it be used that way? Sure. But it also provides a frame of reference so that symptoms can be treated. Denying the existence of something doesn't stop it from having any effects.

 

[Jackstraw]

Thanks for asking Doc

I smoked for 30 + years. I really never tried to stop for 2 reasons.
1) I was hooked, addicted, etc to the whole experience.
2) I was *afraid* to quit because everyone who did or tried to quit said it was very painful and the hardest thing they ever did.
I was scared of trying.
I played with a few disposable e cigs for about a month and thought they were pretty good.
I went to the park, tossed my real cigs in a trash can, and decided I didn't want the CO, tar, and gases in my body anymore.
That was 30 days ago and I cannot believe how easy it was. No cravings for the real ones. Oh, I do like the vaping, sure; but it actually tastes better than the gas sticks and and I know my body is clear of the CO and poisonous gases I was pounding into it.
I guess I still have the hand to mouth requirement, but it isn't smoke. It's flavored steam with some nic in it.

 

[synthsiggy]

There are two ways to program a computer. One way is to write all the lines of code that it will use to make decisions. The other way is to design basic algorithms that will be built upon by experience. Watson, the computer that appeared on Jeopardy, is probably the most famous example of this type of programming. In this method, the computer actually changes the criteria used to make decisions based upon the information it gathers. This is similar to the way our brains work. We start out with basic rules, but much of how we think is shaped by our experiences with the world around us. This is why humans are so dependent when they are born. This may seem like a vulnerability, and it can be, but it also allows us to be adaptable, which I see as one of our greatest strengths. Unfortunately, however, some of the adaptations we make can be detrimental.

Calling something an addiction isn't a cop out. Can it be used that way? Sure. But it also provides a frame of reference so that symptoms can be treated. Denying the existence of something doesn't stop it from having any effects.

So i am wondering whether the reply i am writing right now is a good or bad post. Or whether i should not have read your post above. Or should i disagree or agree with what you have written once i had read it. or should i repeat my previous posts that you're referring to because it makes sense to me. I don't think there would be any point in repeating that post. You chose to disagree so what would be the point. What i will say is that, from my own observations, addicts that use illegal substances receive treatments provided by goverment services and choose not to use them and contine using illegal substances. They actually sell the treatments provided to feed their habit. They reject the help that is provided for more than just the one reason i've mentioned. Why do they do this. It is because they enjoy the buzz they get from the illegal substance, it's like heaven to them. The treatment would have cured them of their addiction completely. But they just make bad choices don't they. Would a computer make a bad choice ?. If it was programmed to. But who on earth would do that. Then you'd have a disfunctional computer that didn't work properly. No longer a cumputer that computes. People make bad choices because their stupid. Computers aren't stupid. So "people are not robots" and they can think for themselves. And most do.

 

[TroyHoot]

Smoked 27 years. Quit twice with the patch. Took about a week both times. It was a mind thing to me more then a craving. Both time i quit for about a year to year and half. My partner at work smokes and both times I started back was because i just wanted to smoke. I like to smoke. Thats why I hope vaping gives me the same enjoyment of smoking with out most of the harmful side effects.

 

[G slate]

been smoking a pack for 15 years. Been smoke free for a month now. ecigs saved me

 

[C Heise]

I have tried patches, Wellbutrin and Chantix. Patches irritated my skin and cause me to itch. Chantix makes me feel like I had half of my brain removed and nauseous although I did quit for a year once with it. I tried it a second time and could not handle it. Wellbutrin caused me to sleep walk which I've never done before or since. Needless to say none of them work very well and all of them had negative side effects. I still craved cigarettes with all of them. They don't even compare to vaping. I quit the day I got my e-cig starter kit. 2 weeks in I went out and had a few drinks with friends, at the end of the night I asked a friend for a smoke. I never smoked it. I don't even know why I asked for one. That same cigarette has been sitting in a drawer in my house for close to a year. I feel it was just a misguided drunken attempt to feel like I fit in with others that night because I still felt weird about vaping. Needless to say I don't crave cigarettes at all.