Lowering Nicotine Strength

[jseah]

I have a question for all of the experienced vapers out there since I'm a relative novice in this area. I quit analogs on January 2 of this year and have been using blu's until this week when I picked up the Halo Triton. I was a pack a day smoker and contrary to the guidelines on what nicotine level would work, I find that for myself 24 mg juice works for me and curbs any desire I have of going back to analogs. When I was a smoker, I would typically smoke one or two analogs and then go without for anywhere from two to several hours before the next one. With vaping, I find myself pretty much keeping with the same routine (which I think helps break the habit) and I will vape anywhere from 5-15 puffs at a sitting, much like smoking an analog. Depending on how much vaping I was doing, I could go anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours before I start my next session. Over the course of the day, I will go through about 3 ml of juice and the 650 mAh Triton battery will last me the entire day, I swap out the battery before I go to bed with a fully charged one and throw the old one onto the charger.

If I am having a heavy vaping session, I will notice a very slight light-headedness and a very slight queasiness in my stomach so I know I'm getting up to my nicotine tolerance. Last night, I was sitting there watching TV and noticed that I was picking up the Triton and taking a couple of puffs every five or ten minutes. After about a little over an hour of this, I knew that I needed to put it down. For now, I still think that I would rather stay with a higher nicotine content and vape less often. In your experience, barring any change in equipment, at what point should I consider going with a lower nicotine level? Is there any guidelines for this such as after one month, six months, one year?

 

[daleron]

Not really any guideline ... whatever works for you and doesn't make you sick

 

[DingerCPA]

Welcome jseah

Congrats on quitting the analogs!!!!

IMO, there's no definitive answer on "when should I start dropping my nic level?" Your body will tell you when it's right (if it ever is....) You mention the light-headedness and queasiness - yep, you're starting to overdo. So, put it down and leave it alone for a bit. Orrrrrrrrrrr, have a second tank with a lower level of nic and use that for your "heavier" vaping sessions. I've really never vaped above 12mg (I think anything over that would kick my ....), but I have a mod in hand about as often as possible. I've been at this for almost a year now, and I do like a little "zhuzz" in my vape, but if I start feeling the effects, I just load up a different tank with lower nic and keep on keeping on.

Good Luck!!!

 

[minitater]

It does take time and experimentation to get your personal nicotine level sorted out. I too have been using 24mg for almost five years now and that works for me, but I have to make sure I don't get into chain vaping or I can "feel" that I have reached nicotine saturation. The only thing worse than not getting enough nicotine ( and possibly reverting to cigarettes again) is getting too much.

 

[djsvapour]

24mg sounds about right to me. What guidelines are you referring to?

I would give it a few months, maybe longer as it's early days for you. Get clear of the tobacco smokes, then plan your strategy.

Obviously, if you are overdoing it, load up a tank with lower nic juice for the evenings. (or vape less)

 

[jseah]

I was referring to the guidelines that recommends which nicotine strength to use depending on how much you smoke. Being a former pack a day smoker, they say that I should be using 12-18 mg.

I had stocked up on juice, with some more on the way, so I think I should have enough juice at 24 mg to last me at least 4-5 months, maybe 6. I also picked up some 18 mg so I may try that as well. I am hoping that by the time I use up the 24 mg juice, I can cut down to 18 mg and gradually step down.

 

[nrphilpot81]

My experience has been that I don't notice a huge difference from one level to the next. One of the big benefits of vaping as a form of smoking cessation is that you are still getting that oral fix, the feel of the "smoke" your mouth. And often times, that's enough to curb a craving. You're right to do it slowly and gradually. But the bottom line is, there is no right or wrong way to do it. Just do what is enjoyable to you.

 

[Rsunderl]

OK - here's a couple of guidelines (sort of)

You should lower your nic level when:

• You want to vape more often than you are now, but your body tells you that doing so with the current nic level will make you sick.
• You get a new device that delivers more vapor than you are getting with your current setup and don't want to change your vaping routine.
• You haven't changed your routine or equipment, but your body tells you that it doesn't need that much any more.
• You want to lower your nic level (similar to "you wanted to quit smoking")

One piece of advice that kind of stuck for me is "Vape low - top off high". That means that when you are vaping just for enjoyment and flavor, use a lower nic juice. Then when the cravings hit, switch to a higher nic juice to stave off the cravings. Works for lots of folks, but admitedly isn't for everyone. YMMV.

Hope that helps and Happy Vaping!

 

[Rsunderl]

I was referring to the guidelines that recommends which nicotine strength to use depending on how much you smoke. Being a former pack a day smoker, they say that I should be using 12-18 mg.

I had stocked up on juice, with some more on the way, so I think I should have enough juice at 24 mg to last me at least 4-5 months, maybe 6. I also picked up some 18 mg so I may try that as well. I am hoping that by the time I use up the 24 mg juice, I can cut down to 18 mg and gradually step down.

Those guidelines are just that - guidelines. If the guidelines say you should be at 18mg, but 24 is what works for you, then 24 is perfect for you.

 

[440BB]

I also started at 24mg to kill the cravings, and was there for about a half a year before stepping down to 18mg. One factor is how much you enjoy the liquid you are using. I didn't start vaping Halo liquids for some time, but when I did, I moved down to 18mg pretty quickly, as I found I was vaping more often to enjoy the flavor. Menthol Ice, Malibu and Tribeca are my favorites. I settled in to 12mg within the first year, and remain there still. I can vape as much as I want without any lightheadedness, using tanks like the Triton tank.

One thing you can do as you step down the nicotine is get a 12mg version of the liquids you have in 24mg, and mix them 50/50 to end up at 18mg. You could even get a 6mg bottle to further drop the nic of your 24mg when you are ready. Halo liquid ages very well, but once you've made a move to lower nic, don't let that tasty 24mg liquid sit on the shelf when you can mix it down to what feels right for you.

Congratulations on making the switch!

 

[Hitmetwice]

Adding pg to those liquids will also lower your nic level and may even increase the flavour if it was a high vg liquid. And it's cheap to do. Cheers.

 

[Izan]

In your experience, barring any change in equipment, at what point should I consider going with a lower nicotine level? Any time you decide to try will be the right point.

Is there any guidelines for this such as after one month, six months, one year? Only you can decide when you are ready.

Personally; I eat too much white sugar, consume too much caffeine and drive too fast to worry about something as harmless as nicotine.

Good luck
I

 

[xalksx]

I love the taste of the sweeter liquids .Im guessing if im vaping lots id be better getting a lower nic to vape with as i do vape allot
I do not want to take this of subject but between vaping do people switch there set ups of ?

Ive been tending to switch it of due to the fact i cannot help myself i just want to keep puffing lol .I was a 20+ per day guy now using 20mg nic im not looking to stop just to take the Nastiness away that are in cigs .

 

[jseah]

I also started at 24mg to kill the cravings, and was there for about a half a year before stepping down to 18mg. One factor is how much you enjoy the liquid you are using. I didn't start vaping Halo liquids for some time, but when I did, I moved down to 18mg pretty quickly, as I found I was vaping more often to enjoy the flavor. Menthol Ice, Malibu and Tribeca are my favorites. I settled in to 12mg within the first year, and remain there still. I can vape as much as I want without any lightheadedness, using tanks like the Triton tank.

One thing you can do as you step down the nicotine is get a 12mg version of the liquids you have in 24mg, and mix them 50/50 to end up at 18mg. You could even get a 6mg bottle to further drop the nic of your 24mg when you are ready. Halo liquid ages very well, but once you've made a move to lower nic, don't let that tasty 24mg liquid sit on the shelf when you can mix it down to what feels right for you.

Congratulations on making the switch!

You brought up a very good point. It totally slipped my mind that you could mix juice to get a lower nicotine level. I may need to order some low level juice to mix.

This is bad.....I've only had the Halo Triton for 3 days, and I also have a Kanger EVOD kit sitting in a box unopened, and I am already reading and intrigued by the Joytech EGO One and considering getting one. I guess with the low ohm heads, I would need to go with lower levels?

And here I kept telling myself that I would save money by vaping.....LOL.

 

[Treeburner1983]

Just remember, unlike smoking we can titrate our dose by vaping more or less without having to smoke a whole extra cigarette. I started on 24mg on a clearomizer, and only lowered my nic level because of moving into rebuildables and finding the vape too harsh. But with all that extra vapor and the amount I use it, am I really getting any less nicotine than I was at 24mg?

You could switch to 12mg now and vape more and get the same satisfaction. Just don't rush to cut your level if it's satisfying you, and don't over think the decreases. If you need more nicotine you can always vape more or get more vapor per hit, it's not all about mg/ml.

-Treeburner

 

[Rsunderl]

UT OH! Shinyitis has set in!

For some, it takes a while until you get equipment you like, then you settle down. For others, it becomes a new hobby - and you know how that goes

Yes, you will likely have to lower your nic with lower ohm heads. They typically deliver vapor more efficiently.

 

[jseah]

Yeah, I think I need to force myself to hold off for a little while. As it stands now, I have enough gear (individual batteries and tanks) that I can vape every day with a different unit and go a week and a half without using the same combo twice. Heck, I'm still on my first coil.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Once I got stable with a nic level, I started putting my APV out of my direct line of sight. I just went by urges. When my urge was about an hour, I got a few bottles of the next lower and used both. As the higher ran out I just continued with the lower. I might have noticed that I vaped more, but with my APV not in my direct line of sight.

This is for lowering my nic, not for just relaxing on the front porch. If I know that I will be vaping for an hour, I use a lower nic. Its good to have different nic levels.

 

[Treeburner1983]

I guess I should have noted, I'm currently running 8mg on my Lemos between 0.5-0.9 ohms - wonder if I have decreased my nicotine intake at all from the 24mg I started with on less powerful devices? I tend to think no.

-Treeburner

Just remember, unlike smoking we can titrate our dose by vaping more or less without having to smoke a whole extra cigarette. I started on 24mg on a clearomizer, and only lowered my nic level because of moving into rebuildables and finding the vape too harsh. But with all that extra vapor and the amount I use it, am I really getting any less nicotine than I was at 24mg?

You could switch to 12mg now and vape more and get the same satisfaction. Just don't rush to cut your level if it's satisfying you, and don't over think the decreases. If you need more nicotine you can always vape more or get more vapor per hit, it's not all about mg/ml.

-Treeburner

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Its been a bit over a year for me and I am "only" down to 12mg. I have about a hundred MLL, but my next purchases will be 6mg of the same flavors and I will mix them to get 9mg.

One step at a time.