Is vaping nicotine juice addictive? I tried a little experiment

[Winkos]

Since I was an ex smoker for over 4 years before vaping I was worried about becoming addicted to vaping. I have been vaping 12mg nicotine juice for the most part since May, vaping all together since March. I thought getting a little nicotine might help me keep my weight down (I know- my bad) so most of my juices are about 12mg nic.

Well I went 48 hours without vaping. I didn't suffer any withdrawl that I noticed. I missed vaping at night which is when I usually am tempted to snack and overeat. But missing it is not the same as addicted to the nicotine it provides.

I am not saying that vaping nic juices doesn't mean I am not absorbing nicotine. I am saying that the horrible withdrawl that I went through when I quit smoking just wasn't there. Probally all the horrible chemicals in the cigarettes that I was mostly addicted to then. Another thing I have noticed is that my resting heart rate has not increased since vaping. When I smoked I had a very fast heart rate.

All in all I am very happy about this.

 

[Godzilla]

This is some excellent information. I have been vaping almost a year, (Aug 20th to be exact) and I find I am not climbing up the walls during long meetings like I used to do as a smoker when sitting there for a few hours. Thanks for the report!

 

[light487]

Yes, definitely a different experience after the first few weeks. I remember a recent business trip I made when I couldn't vape for the entire day except for at lunch time. It wasn't even on my mind the whole time like it would have been with analogs. When I got to the end of my trip I realised I had hardly vaped at all.. I vape a lot under normal conditions simply because I can not because I have to... it's a really liberating experience.

 

[rook2pawn]

i noticed the same thing. if I dont have access to my vape, i dont care as much as when i was a smoker.
Its definitely the cocktail of bizarre and dangerous chemicals that are increasing the withdrawl symptoms in analogs.

I read that alot of the chemical additives in analogs are designed to enhance the body's reception of nicotine, e.g. ph adjusters, response heighteners, absorption increasers, etc... I dont know any of the chemistry behind it other than what i gleaned from the Wikipedia page on cigarettes.

However, i did notice that when all my vapes simultaenously went out of service (super bad timing), and I smoked 3 analogs, that the nicotine levels were roughly the same as with 24 mg juice. All i picked up on were the addition of the extra chemicals.

Forgive me if you will, but my best "hand-wavy" expression of what the chemicals in analogs are this:

they make your brain much more readily responsive to nicotine absorption, i.e. your mind is temporarily strung up just waiting for the nicotine. You sense immediately when the nicotine is coming in.

they also make your blood be able to absorb nictotine much faster. Perhaps there's a scientist or someone more knowledgable on this than myself who can chime in.

 

[Mary Kay]

I can take or leave E-cigs at this point. I just like the taste of the juices. I use 11mg or 4 mg..I never know cause I mix them. There is a big difference between smoking and vaping. Nic leaves you system very fast..then you have no cravings..I love it!

 

[Levitas]

Its definitely the cocktail of bizarre and dangerous chemicals that are increasing the withdrawl symptoms in analogs.

I read that alot of the chemical additives in analogs are designed to enhance the body's reception of nicotine, e.g. ph adjusters, response heighteners, absorption increasers, etc... I dont know any of the chemistry behind it other than what i gleaned from the Wikipedia page on cigarettes.

This is correct. Cigarettes contain numerous additives that increase the amount of nicotine that reaches your brain through your tissue and blood vessels. Levulinic acid and ammonia are two to name. They alter the pH of nicotine.

E-liquid generally contains food flavorings, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and nicotine.

Edit: To add, I too can go for hours at a time without a vape. And that's just fine by me

 

[ShannonA]

Not to put a damper on anything but this theory may be jumping the gun. From what we know about nicotine absorption when vaping (which is not enough) the body absorbs nicotine slower and holds onto it longer. You wouldn't feel physical withdrawals until your body felt it was deprived of nicotine.... IE you'd have to go longer without vaping than without a smoke before you felt withdrawals. The problem is I'm not sure there is any data on how MUCH longer.

 

[light487]

I do fret when I forget to take my vaping gear.. but no more than I would fret if I forgot to bring my mobile phone and it is with the same consequence, that is.. I am not overly bothered by it.. just mildly annoyed at myself for forgetting it. As the OP has said, wanting to have it and being addicted to it are worlds apart.

 

[light487]

Not to put a damper on anything but this theory may be jumping the gun. From what we know about nicotine absorption when vaping (which is not enough) the body absorbs nicotine slower and holds onto it longer. You wouldn't feel physical withdrawals until your body felt it was deprived of nicotine.... IE you'd have to go longer without vaping than without a smoke before you felt withdrawals. The problem is I'm not sure there is any data on how MUCH longer.

Valid point.. and I definitely am addicted to nicotine... no doubt about it.. but again, to a different degree and in a different way.. just as you post outlines.. it is a different method of absorption, so to is the addiction different.

 

[ShannonA]

Valid point.. and I definitely am addicted to nicotine... no doubt about it.. but again, to a different degree and in a different way.. just as you post outlines.. it is a different method of absorption, so to is the addiction different.

I agree and would even venture to say the addiction to nicotine alone (as with vaping) isn't as strong as the one with nicotine and other substances (as with smoking).

 

[subversive]

I can go longer without vaping than I used to go without cigs, BUT if I go long enough I have the same craving and the same sense of relief when I get back to vaping. I can go an hour without a vape, but once I get to the 2 hour mark, I'm definitely fiending for some nic. So the theory that the nicotine from vapor stays in your system longer makes sense to me.
I just don't want anyone out there that doesn't smoke or who hasn't smoked in years thinking that they won't get addicted to the nicotine from vaping.

 

[ShannonA]

It should also be said that just because I am/am not addicted to nicotine doesn't mean you are/aren't. Alcohol is a fine illustration of that. Some people can take it or leave it others can only take it or avoid it.

 

[nastos.]

I noticed since starting vaping that my cravings have decreased drastically. Sometime I forget to vape then I remember I do that: something I never experiences while smoking marbs.

 

[Levitas]

Not to put a damper on anything but this theory may be jumping the gun. From what we know about nicotine absorption when vaping (which is not enough) the body absorbs nicotine slower and holds onto it longer. You wouldn't feel physical withdrawals until your body felt it was deprived of nicotine.... IE you'd have to go longer without vaping than without a smoke before you felt withdrawals. The problem is I'm not sure there is any data on how MUCH longer.

Here's the problem though, most of us who vape, used to smoke cigarettes. It doesn't take long before your body becomes dependent (addicted) indefinitely with cigarette smoke. Sure, people can quit and never touch another cigarette again, but how many of us attempted to quit before vaping? And how many of us failed, and how many times? Hell, even with vaping, I find myself sometimes thinking of a cigarette (I'll not lie), and even sometimes dreaming that I smoked one. How many of us would smoke cigarettes if vaping suddenly ceased to exist? Some might not, many would, I imagine. That is just how strong the nicotine addiction from cigarette smoke is.

How strong it is from vaping? Now that is an interesting question.

 

[Winkos]

Not to put a damper on anything but this theory may be jumping the gun. From what we know about nicotine absorption when vaping (which is not enough) the body absorbs nicotine slower and holds onto it longer. You wouldn't feel physical withdrawals until your body felt it was deprived of nicotine.... IE you'd have to go longer without vaping than without a smoke before you felt withdrawals. The problem is I'm not sure there is any data on how MUCH longer.

That is interesting. For me the relief is that I went 2 whole days without withdrawl symptoms. Do you think withdrawl symptoms would take longer then that? When I smoked and went without cigarrettes for a day I felt edgy, nauseated, and felt a craving so strong that it made me absolutley miserable. I was severely addicted to smoking. I just needed to see if this happened when I stopped vaping. I had made up my mind that if it did I would quit vaping now instead of letting the addiction get stronger. Almost every day I choose to vape and if my battery dies, or I lose my e-cig I feel edgy and ticked off. THAT made me wonder if I was addicted. But when I chose to not vape I did not get those feelings. So I do have some pyschological dependence on vaping when I choose it to be my main stress reducer of the day. The relief I felt when I know that I can go without and not feel sick has made me much happier in general.

 

[ShannonA]

That is interesting. For me the relief is that I went 2 whole days without withdrawl symptoms. Do you think withdrawl symptoms would take longer then that? When I smoked and went without cigarrettes for a day I felt edgy, nauseated, and felt a craving so strong that it made me absolutley miserable. I was severely addicted to smoking. I just needed to see if this happened when I stopped vaping. I had made up my mind that if it did I would quit vaping now instead of letting the addiction get stronger. Almost every day I choose to vape and if my battery dies, or I lose my e-cig I feel edgy and ticked off. THAT made me wonder if I was addicted. But when I chose to not vape I did not get those feelings. So I do have some pyschological dependence on vaping when I choose it to be my main stress reducer of the day. The relief I felt when I know that I can go without and not feel sick has made me much happier in general.

I wouldn't venture to guess how long it would take for withdrawels to start from vaping. However I can tell you that studies are now showing that nicotine is not the only thing in cigarettes we were addicted to and that could be part of the difference. Let me see if I can dig up a link to one of the thread that's been discussed in.

 

[ShannonA]

Ok here is the link to the thread. It's a long but interesting discussion. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/187431-so-whats-verdict-wtas-e-juice-not.html I'm also linking to a blog entry from who I consider our resident expert on the topic. I hope he doesn't mind but the blog entry is shorter that's why I'm including it. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dvap/403-its-not-just-nicotine.html

 

[Uncle Willie]

Before going into the e-cig all in, I read a lot about it and came to the conclusion that the nic in an e-cig is substantially less than in an analog .. even the high content liquids .. regardless of absorption rate, etc ..

After 4 months analog free, I am convinced, that in my own case, the action of smoking, the inhaling of and the act of using was and is as important as the nic was for me .. you don't smoke analogs for 40 years and not develop other habits besides the nic ..

Just my experience, of course ..

 

[Levitas]

Ok here is the link to the thread. It's a long but interesting discussion. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/187431-so-whats-verdict-wtas-e-juice-not.html I'm also linking to a blog entry from who I consider our resident expert on the topic. I hope he doesn't mind but the blog entry is shorter that's why I'm including it. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dvap/403-its-not-just-nicotine.html

This is an interesting discussion and blog, but I don't know if this really answers the OP's question? These discussions are about whole tobacco alkaloids and the reasoning behind why some find vaping satisfying while others find that e-liquid may do nothing at all for them (because of the lack of WTAs).

I agree with Uncle Willie. While we're still getting nicotine, the majority of my personal addiction at least, is that of a psychological addiction. The problem is, I need to be able to 'feel' the vapor so a 0mg doesn't work for me (still need the nicotine). If I can get passed the desire for TH, perhaps someday I may not 'need' to vape. Then again, this also doesn't really fully answer the question of 'how' addictive nicotine is while vaping. In order to properly gauge these types of results (and I could be wrong), but I imagine it would have to be studied on someone who has never been subjected to the increased, altered version of nicotine (in a cigarette).

 

[bjannr]

Interesting facts and discussion. I get a bit grouchy and short tempered if I don't get my vaping fix if I am under stress. But mostly I think it is more a hand/mouth and flavor addiction for me. II can go for hours without vaping, but would rather not.