Higher nicotine levels - oh yes

[tawraste]

Hi everyone,
there's been a few posts around the net about higher nic levels and I for one have been reading and searching looking for some kind of info which quite frankly I have not found.
So I decided to experiment -
A few details first - I have been vaping for a year now, and up until now I have been using Intellicig products. Prior to this I smoked for 23 years with a break of about 3 years when I was about 25. I went back to smoking because, quite frankly I love it, and I love to blow smoke. Prior to discovering vaping I was getting on for 20 marlboro red a day as other cigs didn't cut the mustard.
I went straight over to vaping, got on Intellicigs strong juice which is 4.5%. Yes, thats right 4.5%. As Intellicig keep harping on about smoking cessation I had always assumed that this was a normal percentage of nicotine and had no idea that everyone else considers this extremely strong.
Anyway, I got tired of Intellicig for a variety of reasons and ended up decided to try some other juices. I tried some tobacco flavours from jacvapour which i thought were delicious. However, I misunderstood the nicotine levels (got confused between % and mg) and bought 1.1% (11mg) juice. After one week I was literally chainsmoking my ecig using a cycling breathing technique and not getting anywhere. My nerves were so frayed I looked into the figures again and posted here to get some clarity. It was at this point I realised how lucky I had been with the 4.5% from Intellicig. But now I had been spoilt with new flavours....
So I decided to mix my own.

here goes the higher nic levels - now please everyone understand that this IS NOT RECOMMENDED. I do not endorse or accept any responsibility in any way whatsoever if you choose to follow my idea regardless of how awesome I happen to think it is. Also, would everyone please bear in mind that advice on my nicotine habit is not necessary - I have no intention of giving up nicotine or high levels of it because I really like it.

I got myself a bottle of 5.2% (52mg) pure VG liquid from a DIY liquid vendor (VapourZone - VapourZone Home) and added some liberty lights virginia flavour.

Now we're cooking!

I mixed the flavouring in at exactly 3%, and this is up for review at the moment. I think I'll add more soon and see how that goes. Liberty virginia is lovely though, spot on. The 5.2% juice is quite thick compared to what I'm used too. which is great as it doesn't leak. I can see this bunging up some atomizers perhaps.

The 52mg juice is awesome! After the first lovely drag, which produced tonnes of vapour and a lovely throat hit, my last night 12 hour shift tiredness totally disappeared. After the second drag I thought to myself how absolutely excellent this was. Third drag had me fully alert. Crankiness gone, muscles relaxing, vision and mental faculties sharpening. fourth drag had me feeling totally awesome, buzzing in fact! This is how my marlboros used to make me feel without all the tar and lung lag !
For those willing to take personal responsibility and wanting to really enjoy what nicotine has to offer - this is how you do it.
Make no bones though - the bottle clearly states that the nic liquid is (and I quote) "intended to be mixed with corresponding liquids and should never be used as a sole ingredient."

I am not too worried though, I've been chainsmoking the intellicig 4.5% for a whole year, and have only seen my health get better and better. Since I've been vaping I have taken up running, swimming, rock climbing, cycling, rowing....... the 5.2% is just a little stronger, but I will post back here periodically to inform everyone of my general health as time goes on.

But right now it's back to my ecig lol.......

 

[Hoosier]

A vape that works is what works. I wasn't able to make the switch to vaping until I started using 48mg/ml (4.8%) juice. That's what worked for me.

It's been a few years and I gradually moved down to my current 18mg juice, but without mixing my own and dropping 2mg at a time, I'm not sure I'd have been able to do it. My method involved taking a few 3ml bottles of juice to work with me. I generally vaped 4-6ml's at work. If I found I vaped less then 3ml during a workday, I dropped my Nic level 2mg. My vaping would shoot back up closer to 6ml during work. (Body over compensated I guess?) This wasn't a steady thing, but it did drop. I've been stuck at 18mg/ml for quite awhile and don't see any reason to push it. I wasn't unhappy at 48 and I started the whole drop-a-bit thing as an experiment.

Given you were able to make the switch at 45mg/ml it seems reasonable that mixing your own is the way to go.

 

[tidegirl]

OMG, I am choking just to think about that much nic! I'm glad you found what works for you though.

 

[DeeDee1234]

Since you are mixing you own and were using 45 mg, why did you go up to 52 mg? I am not sure what the intellicig cig is but maybe they using a high mg because they have a delievery problem? I smoked 2 packs a day or more full flavored dorals methol and was able to switch to vaping with 24 mg. I did have some withdrawl because of the other compounds in cigs. wow that's a lot of nic. good luck

 

[tawraste]

I got annoyed with intellicig as they discontinued some kit i liked. I went to 52 over 45 as i figured it was a small step up. I like nicotine and wanted to experience a bigger hit.

 

[DeeDee1234]

I got annoyed with intellicig as they discontinued some kit i liked. I went to 52 over 45 as i figured it was a small step up. I like nicotine and wanted to experience a bigger hit.

You should be carefull

 

[dwolf111]

What ever workd for you tawraste, but as others have said wow thats a lot of nic.. Good for you making the switch.

 

[DeeDee1234]

What are you using hardware wise?

 

[tawraste]

Hardware wise I'm using a cigalike ftom intellicig which works fabulously since I increased the size of the air intakes. On payday though I'm moving to a 808d1 style from jacvapour which will move me up voltagewise, and move me away from seperate atomizers. I've tried the larger models everyone likes, but I'm afraid I'm a cigalike fan at heart.

 

[tppp]

Isn't nicotine toxic over concentrations of 56mg?

...edit: turns out it's around 0.5-1.0 mg / kg that's enough to kill an adult. Works out to be around 60mg concentration. I'd be very careful with your experiments if I was you.

Nicotine poisoning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[echofinder]

Good god! As sort of a challenge/dare my friend once loaded an atty with 50mg base & we passed it about, was like inhaling a forest fire. I could not even imagine hitting that on the reg...

 

[tawraste]

"Isn't nicotine toxic over concentrations of 56mg?...edit:.turns out it's around 0.5-1.0 mg / kg that's enough to kill an adult. Works out to be.around.60mg concentration. I'd be very careful with your experiments if I was you"


Noted. But that figure is for total absorbtion in a non smoker. As for a total absorbtion figure you could OD on any strength juice. The name of the game is to know your side effects and watch out for them.

 

[tawraste]

hi all,
its come to my attention that the 4.5% figure is understandably a little unbelievable. coupled with intellicigs' own statement:
"We offer e-liquid with varying levels of nicotine content starting at 0mg and going up to our strongest level of nicotine content which is 15mg."

I can totally understand this. however, on this link you can select 4.5% from the drop down menu:
E-Cigarette E-Liquid | ECOpure E-Liquid | Made in the UK | Intellicig

And here's a pic of my last purchase:


I can confirm that dropping to a more normal level of 1.1%, or 11mg, results in me missing nicotine like you would not believe.

perhaps there's an explanation here that I'm missing? If anyone knows the answer to this I'd be very glad to read it.

 

[tawraste]

For those wondering, i found this:
http://www.nicotinedirect.co.uk/article_intellicig_strength_and_nicotine_dose_explained.php

Which says :
" 15mg ECOpure refill capsules and liquid
The new, simplified ECOpure refill capsule product range is now headed up by a newly formulated '15mg' strength.The 15mg ECOpure refill capsules have 15mg nicotine per refill, and a standard dose of the refill liquid in a re-fillable cartridge gives a dose of 15mg nicotine through the.e-cigarette.The 15mg strength ECOpure capsules contain 45mg/ml (that is 45mg nicotine per 1ml liquid), which is 4.5% of the solution.But the figure to remember is the 15mg nicotine per.e-cigarette.This new dose feels much more like a cigarette, and means that you are won't to feel the need to use them as often as lower doses, making the.ecigarette.an even more effective, and an even less expensive alternative to smoking cigarettes.Feedback gathered from existing customers who have sampled the new 15mg strength has been really positive, with most saying that they can use it less - inhaling less, and less often. Which makes the experience of using the ecigarette more similar to that of smoking tobacco - but without the health risks."

So the 15mg is the misleading figure - the juice is 45mg/ml

I have also emailed intellicig to confirm their labelling and will post back their reply.

 

[babemomlover]

I imagine you're able to handle the 54 or whatever mg/ml juice just because it's a cigalike

Trying doing that out of a properly build dual/quad coil dripper RBA like a nimbus with nice drilled airholes and you'll pass out.

Two things matter, how much nicotine, and how much vapor you're getting

you're substituting how much vapor you're getting with more and more nicotine

to each their own

 

[tawraste]

Have done. My friend and i pepsi challenge our hardware all the time. And my cigalike airintakes have been enlarged.
Anyway, didnt pass out. I thought it was great!

 

[DeeDee1234]

I think either intellicig is not using the standard mg/ml that we are use to here in the usa or on the other hand with thier cig a like brand maybe thier is a difference in how much nicotene is vaporized into a usable state. With a standard ego battery you will not start to vaporize your juice for nic the first couple of seconds. With this cig a like it maybe only vaporizing a smaller portion of the usagable nicotine into a consumable state, absorbtion level therefore would be decreased dramaticly.

 

[SouthernBliss]

I went to 52 over 45 as i figured it was a small step up. I like nicotine and wanted to experience a bigger hit.

That sounds like a pretty big step up to me honestly. 47 would be a small step to me so going up 7 mls sounds sort of a big step. I would seriously consider doing some mixes that were lower as well. It is very possible your going to find the higher level is more for "tough times" and not something you can do all day long without that sick feeling from too much nic. You may want to do some juices at lower levels for times when you just want to sit and vape for more than a few puffs.

 

[tawraste]

I dont know guys, all i can say is that I'm buzzing more than normal and I'm not feeling ill yet.
We all know that absorbtion rates are much lower than what is contained in the vapour, but if you do the maths you can see how you could vape a few puffs of even 7% and not get ill or die and on that basis I suggest those with doubts experiment intelligently themselves.
I would point out that my workmate buys the intellicig juice too (we split postage) and he uses the larger type pv like you guys. we work 48 hrs a week together and hotbox our cabin all day long with 4.5%. Still alive after one year and in perfect health. Perhaps the email reply from intellicig will clear this up?

 

[LucentShadow]

Well, according to the statement from Intellicig that you posted, it sounds as if each refill only has 0.33ml of 45mg/ml (15mg total nicotine), which seems like a small amount of e-liquid for even a cartridge. I didn't look to see what the refills are.

Anyway, there are a lot of variables involved in how much nicotine that you absorb. I'd guess that you may have a vaping style that's not very nicotine efficient, but who knows? Everyone is different.

If you are going through only 1ml or less per day, I would not be concerned. If you're going through a lot more than that, I'd be concerned. I'd guess that the average user tends to do 2-3ml of 18mg/ml per day, which is 36-54mg total of nicotine per day. Nicotine is known to have a negative effect on cardiovascular health, so keeping an eye on that would be advisable for any of us.

How much vapor you inhale per hit should probably be looked at, as well. If and when you go with a higher voltage with the same resistance, you may not need as high of a concentration.

I wouldn't try to talk anybody out of what works for them, but I'd say that many of us don't want newcomers seeing such a thread and just going for the high dose before trying the more normal ones. You've already tried that, so higher may be what you need.