Long time lurker, first time poster

[Utopus]

Hi all. I have been on and off this site (and vaping and cigs) for three or four years now and I thought it was time to come out and say hello.

i have tried to find the answer to this question for a long time, and I am sure it is in these pages, but haven't been able to locate any solid info. But, my issue wiping vaping is the dosage. I cannot figue out when enough is enough. I tend to under dose myself, but have also overdosed before which makes me too cautious.

I am a pretty light smoker (4-5 Light Cigarettes a day) using 12% liquids in an eGo clone. With a cigarette, I know when the smoke is done, I am done for a few hours - actually, I can even feel that satisfaction after 4-5 good drags. But, I don't get that from the vape. I feel like I can suck on the vape all day...until the headache hits. Any advice?

I really do prefer the idea of vaping over smoking. I hate the lingering smell of a cigarette, and I have never liked the taste of it. My vape of choice has been Sweet Southern's Irish Mint, which tastes so much better than a cigarette.

 

[Sloth Tonight]

Hmm, I wish I had a quick answer for you my friend, but I'm not exactly sure how to address this. For one thing when you hit a cig, the effects come on very quick. The nicotine takes a minute to really be felt with vaping. I rarely get the "rush" with vaping I did with cigs, and that "rush" is kind of what told me I was good for a while. So I totally hear you.

I'd say that honestly if you vape no more than 4-5 light cigs a day, your nic is too high at 12 mg. Maybe try 6. You'll be able to vape more without risking the overdose. Now, this won't per se solve the problem of knowing when you're good for a while, which is the real question here I know. But maybe give it a try, I think your headaches may cease with lower nic.

Yes vaping tastes great which is a perk of dropping the nic too - you can vape and vape without throat irritation or headaches. Then again, a lot of people want to vape very little, they just want to be satisfied. If that's the case, I'd just recommend staying where you're at (don't go higher in nic) and try to vape a little bit less.

I really hope someone else comes along and has a better answer than I do Utopus, sorry I'm not of much help.

Welcome to the forums my friend. Glad you finally joined us! Stick around, as you know this is a wonderful place with wonderful people

 

[kartoffelfaust]

You get used to it - to the new pattern. I smoked 2 packs a day for years. Switched to vaping at 18-24mg last summer. Had the same problem as you - never found "done", sometimes got headaches, sometimes not enough.

Since I was a chain smoker by nature, I'd sometimes find myself chain-vaping. That sucked at higher nicotine levels.

Eventually, every month or so, I stepped down nicotine, as I got more used to vaping and not smoking. 24mg, 18, 12, 6mg. And now I'm at 3mg. No more headaches. Each step down, I'd go through liquid like crazy for a few days, then just taper off. Chain vape, or go for hours without, it doesn't really matter much anymore.

 

[Utopus]

Thanks for your response, Fairtradesloth!

the reason I have always used 12 mg is to help my wife to make the switch. She is a pack a day smoker, and she has tried vaping, but isn't totally sold on it. She has been smoking for nearly 30 years. My thought with 12 was that it would be enough for her, and I could get my fix with fewer puffs. I have always kept my smoking low because I just want to be satisfied, and don't want to go outside to light up every hour, so yes, I am looking to not be vaping all day, just when I feel the need. I am planning to visit a new store later this week and try out some new juices, so I may sample a 6mg and see what that does for me. I would not mind weaning off of nic altogether.

 

[kartoffelfaust]

Also, +1 for Tom Leykis reference

 

[Larry J]

I agree with dropping your nic level to avoid the headaches. If you find that the 6 mg/ml isn't cutting it, though, mix equal parts of 12 mg and 6 mg of the same juice and you'll have a 9 mg/ml juice to try. And why worry about when you're "done." if your situation allows it just chain vape!

 

[Sloth Tonight]

Thanks for your response, Fairtradesloth!

the reason I have always used 12 mg is to help my wife to make the switch. She is a pack a day smoker, and she has tried vaping, but isn't totally sold on it. She has been smoking for nearly 30 years. My thought with 12 was that it would be enough for her, and I could get my fix with fewer puffs. I have always kept my smoking low because I just want to be satisfied, and don't want to go outside to light up every hour, so yes, I am looking to not be vaping all day, just when I feel the need. I am planning to visit a new store later this week and try out some new juices, so I may sample a 6mg and see what that does for me. I would not mind weaning off of nic altogether.

Yeah, eventually I would like to wean off nic as well and just vape zero nic when I wanna vape. Good luck to your wife bro. She actually may need higher nic, I was a pack+ a day for 9 years and started at 24 (only for a couple of weeks) then switched to 18 pretty quickly. Trying new flavors is key because for a lot of us, when we find a flavor that really hits for us, that's what does it. I wish you both the best and you've got tons of love and support flowing to you both from ECF my friend.

 

[rkb7]

I have never gotten headaches from vaping before, but I have tried quitting caffeine before and gotten walloped with headaches, so it seems as though you are under dosing maybe.

 

[Sloth Tonight]

I have never gotten headaches from vaping before, but I have tried quitting caffeine before and gotten walloped with headaches, so it seems as though you are under dosing maybe.

This too is feasible...I remember migraines when I went a couple of weeks without caffeine. Straight up migraines. In the OP's (original poster) case I kind of doubt it's underdosing, but, very very valuable point rkb7. I see this is your first post my friend - welcome to the forums! Glad to have you around!!

 

[Rat2chat2]

You already have some very good suggestions, I just wanted to wish you and your wife well with the vaping. I think it is just amazing what it has done for me. My 3¢ (inflation) is to just be patient and give yourself time to adjust. You may even get better satisfaction if you tried a WTA. Here is a place that a friend loves.

Whole Tobacco Alkaloid WTA Eliquid Ejuice

Good luck.

 

[Sloth Tonight]

My 3¢ (inflation)

ROFL - that's ingenious!!!

 

[daleron]

Welcome to ECF, make yourself right at home

 

[Utopus]

Thanks for all your kind responses and welcomes!

I am excited to check out a new vape shop on my next day off and experiment with some new juices. The ones I have now I bought when I tried to make the switch in the summer. I mentioned the Irish Mint, which is my current go-to flavor, but I also have The Standard's G-35 and Five Pawn's Castle Long. The G-35 is a nice citrus flavor, which is good to switch to here and there, but a little too sweet to be an all day vape. I had the Castle Long in a leaky tank last year which got into my book bag and all over the cabinet where I store my gear, now I can't stand the smell (which is ashame, for what I paid for it). I bought a few zero nic flavors (Vanilla and Clove), and I may see if I can buy nicotine and experiment with lower nic levels with those.

I agree that my wife probably needs to up to 18 mg (if not 24) to get her committed. She is afraid of going any higher, though. I'll keep working on her.

 

[Utopus]

I just returned from the new vape shop in town, and had a successful visit. The guy there was very helpful in finding a less sweet flavor, and agreed that I should step down to 6mg. I came out with Niquid's Daybreak, and two flavors from what must be their house brand, since the bottles do not have a brand name on them, Vanilla and a very nice Black Tea (funny, I don't like drinking black tea, but this has just the right mix of sweet and savory flavor).

I have always bought new tanks for each flavor and have used the Kanger T3S tanks before. He suggested I try Dual Coil EVOD tanks, which should help in lowering my nic level. So far, I like the heaviness of these new tanks over my old style.

Now, my goal for the day is not to overdo it testing out these three new flavors. Vape on!