My nicotine consumption seems to be moving in the wrong direction

[Dustbuster]

I started on the e-cigs to get off of traditional cigarettes once and for all. I've tried patches, pills, gum, and the dreaded cluck and none of them worked for me. Well, e-cigs definitely worked. I have painlessly transitioned from analog to digital and I can safely say I'll never go back. I enjoy my e-cig, the millions of flavours, and all of my fun new gadgets more than I ever enjoyed any cigarette.
The only problem is, I'm vaping way more nicotine than I ever smoked. I started out vaping 12 mg strength liquid, and quickly worked my way up to 18 and 24 mg. This increase in strength coupled with the fact that I can't put this f#@king thing down and I can hit it just about anywhere add up to a massive nicotine addiction of proportions I never experienced on the analogs.
Not that I'm complaining. Enjoying every second actually. I just realized that I crave my e-cig and the nicotine it delivers more every day. If they ever definitively ban these things and crack down on them, you'll be able to find me in the dodgy part of town trying to score some juice on a street corner...

 

[mattiem]

Give yourself time. Most folks do find that they keep their PV in hand constantly. Some gradually slow down others not so much. I have been at this for almost 2 years and I still can't put it down unless I am really busy.

I have lowered my nic from 24 down to 15 though.

 

[belsenj]

I started with 24 and then went to 18 after about 1 month. Then 2 months after that, went down to 12. But I am having trouble with the 12 as I have a lot of activity and (stress) in my life right now. So, I am back to 18. But I'm not smoking!!

It's tough sometimes when I think I have increased my nic strength, but in the grand scheme of things, it's really just fine.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Your experience is similar to mine. I started out at 12mg liquid and found it just wasn't enough. Instead of stepping up to 18, I doubled it and went straight to 24 within a week. During that week, I couldn't stop smoking. In fact, I smoked and vaped for almost two weeks before I found the right flavor at the right nicotine level to finally throw away the stankies.

I stayed on that 24mg level for another few weeks and began to find the throat hit and nicotine rush to be a bit too much. So, I backed down to 18mg and have pretty much stayed at that level for the last couple of months.

Now that I'm mixing my own liquids and have a variable voltage/wattage system, I've been able to back it down to 12mg again and all seems well. Although I also seem to be vaping more. I will probably alternate between the 12mg and 18mg liquids.

One thing to keep in mind--there's no way of comparing the nicotine content or delivery capability of smoking tobacco and vaping e-liquid because there's simply no good basis for comparison, except in how each of those methods work in your own body. You may think you've upped your nicotine consumption when in fact, all you've done is found the right system, the right nicotine level and the right frequency of vaping that replaces what you used to get when you burned those highly engineered "Class A" cigarettes.

All mileages vary here.

What is a "Class A" cigarette, anyway? What differentiates them from "Class B?"

 

[Harlen]

Hello
I started with 24 and it was hard to not pick up I smoke .
Switched to ego 36mg/ml and wow didn't need or want a cig
Now I'm down to .8 mg/ml and it was and is slow that's why I mix my own juice I can go down as little as I wish .

 

[Myrany]

Be patient with yourself.

I started at 12 mg and have pretty much dropped to 1 mg.

That said I am not by any means beyond grabbing my 6 mg juice to fend off bad cravings or other not so nice side effects I get from time to time.

Last month when I first went down to 1 mg I had a real bout of depression. I just suddenly found myself sitting at the computer crying. I upped my nic level to 6 mg for a week. Depression gone and back down to 1 mg.

The point is there will be ups and downs and your body will tell you what you need. Remember many of us have been addicted to nicotine for more than 30 years. It makes sense that it is hard to break.

 

[jsalter]

It's not uncommon to switch nicotine levels... I've went up and down several times over the past year. I recently downgraded to 12mg from 18mg, but I definitely find myself vaping a lot more frequently since the drop. Ideally I'd like to stay at 12, but may have to move back up since it doesn't seem to fully satisfy me. I'm going to give it another week or two... hopefully I can stay at 12

 

[JulesXsmokr]

Old habits die hard, don't they..you will survive.

 

[volume control]

Its still better for you than smoking. Give it some time. Ive been on 24mg for over a year, and i still feel healthier slowly as time goes on even at this point. Doctor said my lungs sound perfect, and im in better condition than most people my age last checkup. Blood pressure was better than any prior checkup, and i didnt put on any weight switching either.

 

[Dustbuster]

What is a "Class A" cigarette, anyway? What differentiates them from "Class B?"

I think those stanky unbranded cigs that come from the indian reserve in big ziplock bags of 200 (you know, the cartonless carton) might be considered class b. Probably more like class D actually. Those things are nasty.
It's funny listening to everyone talking about tapering down to the last milligram like we're on methadone. (I realky hope I don't get a 'drug talk' infraction for that; I'm just making an observation that I find comical, not talking about using drugs. Also, its a medication, but let's not stray that far off topic. Nicotine IS a drug though. Just sayin.... People need to relax...)

It would be interesting to see a study on the blood levels of nicotine in smokers vs vapers. I read that vapor doesn't penetrate the lungs as deeply as smoke and as such less is absorbed per puff, but if you're puffing ten times more, are you taking in more nicotine? I volunteer to be a guinea pig, who's going to step up and fund this study?

 

[suspectK]

^Lol...yeah, it would be a little more understandable if nicotine was more like methadone. We'd have a lot more crime rates if so... I like breaking rules too. I'm sure you're good..

I started with 24 almost a year ago.. I still use 24. I haven't wanted to smoke a cigarette since I've started, but I haven't smoked in at least 7 months...lol

 

[naplesvapoor]

Personally...I don't care if I ever get away from nicotine. Probably stay with 16 to 18 mg for the remainder of this life.
No worries here. Just glad to be off the tar, CO and 3000 other cancer causing sticks.
Just as long as the gubbermint doesn't go #$#$#$# it up.

 

[wv2win]

I think this fixation on nicotine level that some here on ECF have (not meaning the OP who is new) is getting out of hand.

Unless you have a severe heart condition, nicotine is on par with caffeine. If one has a strong goal to quit vaping, then by all means experiment with different nic levels. Otherwise, it's NOT A BIG DEAL what nic level one uses.

 

[wv2win]

I think this fixation on nicotine level that some here on ECF have (not meaning the OP who is new) is getting out of hand.

Unless you have a severe heart condition, nicotine is on par with caffeine. If one has a strong goal to quit vaping, then by all means experiment with different nic levels. Otherwise, it's NOT A BIG DEAL what nic level one uses. There is no right or wrong level.

 

[suspectK]

^^^If anything is to happen, which it probably will, taking a logical approach to the situation nothing will change much. That is with a logical approach..* In this world, guns kill people after all.

 

[volume control]

I think this fixation on nicotine level that some here on ECF have (not meaning the OP who is new) is getting out of hand.

Unless you have a severe heart condition, nicotine is on par with caffeine. If one has a strong goal to quit vaping, then by all means experiment with different nic levels. Otherwise, it's NOT A BIG DEAL what nic level one uses. There is no right or wrong level.

The comparison to caffeine is something you see a lot of, but i wouldnt bet my life on it. Maybe its on par, maybe its actually better, maybe its worse. Sure, we know nicotine doesnt directly cause cancer (though it is proven to accelerate growth of existing cancer, so if you have cancer i dont see ecigs being helpful unless you reduce your nicotine intake overall) Studies of nicotine intake via PG/VG vapor are limited, and honestly long term effects (10-20+ years) are relatively unknown. All i know as a prior smoker is i feel a lot healthier, and now i have all these toys and flavors OMG =)

 

[Myrany]

I think this fixation on nicotine level that some here on ECF have (not meaning the OP who is new) is getting out of hand.

Unless you have a severe heart condition, nicotine is on par with caffeine. If one has a strong goal to quit vaping, then by all means experiment with different nic levels. Otherwise, it's NOT A BIG DEAL what nic level one uses.

My focus on dropping my nic levels has nothing to do with health as such. I see Nicotine as the choke point in the chain and if the FDA/Government is going to do anything to us Nic is the easy likely target. Reducing or removing my dependance on Nic simply seems the smart move in light of that.

 

[DC2]

It would be interesting to see a study on the blood levels of nicotine in smokers vs vapers. I read that vapor doesn't penetrate the lungs as deeply as smoke and as such less is absorbed per puff, but if you're puffing ten times more, are you taking in more nicotine? I volunteer to be a guinea pig, who's going to step up and fund this study?

Here is a post I read recently...
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...icted-vaping-then-analogs-2.html#post10818077

And here is a post from awhile back regarding the Eissenberg studies...

Last week Andrea Vansickle (who works with Tom Eissenberg at VCU and coauthored his "no nicotine" study last year) gave the following presentation (after my presentation on tobacco harm reduction products and policies) at the Virginia tobacco control conference.

Study 1 is their "no nicotine" study published last year, which found that 16/18 mg/ml NJOY and Crown7 e-cigs delivered very little nicotine (less than 2.5 ng/ml) to the plasma of first time e-cig users (i.e. smokers) who took a 10 puff bout of vapor, but satisfied some cravings.

Study 2 (still ongoing) has found that 18 mg/ml VaporKing e-cigs delivered more than 6 ng/ml plasma nicotine to first time e-cig users (i.e. smokers) who took six 10 puff bouts of vapor during a half hour, and satisfied cravings more than in Study 1.

Study 3 (still ongoing) using experienced vapers who vape ad lib (i.e. as much as they want) has found that a 9mg/ml Silver Bullet delivered 10 ng/ml plasma nicotine, that a 18 mg/ml Super T Precise delivered 30 ng/ml plasma nicotine, and that a 24 mg/ml Chuck delivered 40 ng/ml plasma nicotine. This study also found that ad lib vaping satisfied cravings of experienced vapers far more than controlled vaping by first time vapers (i.e. Study 1 and Study 2).

If I'm not mistaken smokers generally test out at around 30-50ng/ml of plasma nicotine.

And here is a link to the published results of the third study mentioned above, but you have to pay to read it...
Electronic Cigarettes: Effective Nicotine Delivery After Acute Administration

 

[berkshirewoodworks]

Well I just found out today that it may be the device you are using. I was using a Riva and started with 18mg, it didn't help at all so I went up to 24mg and still had serious cravings. I ended up just using my Riva in places where I couldn't smoke and smoking a cigarette whenever I could.

Today I got a zmax and all I can say is holy smokes.....or vapes for that matter. Excited about my new device, I filled the ce4 that came with it with some of the 24mg and started to puff away tinkering with the VW and VV. Next thing I know I have the feeling like the first time I smoked a cigarette only stronger. Actually so strong that I had to sit down and felt a little sick. After that I tried some of the 18mg and got almost the same effect.

I think this new device is going to do the trick! After that buzz I actually hated nicotine for about a half an hour. I have a ton of flavors in 18-24mg. I am going to try and dilute them with some PG and VG. I think the flavor will still be good because with the zmax the flavor is real strong too.

As long as it keeps us away from those nasty cigarettes that is all that matters.

edit. After looking over what I posted, it sounds like a ad for zmax. No intention of that as I would think that most any vv or vw device would do the trick.

 

[Fulgurant]

My focus on dropping my nic levels has nothing to do with health as such. I see Nicotine as the choke point in the chain and if the FDA/Government is going to do anything to us Nic is the easy likely target. Reducing or removing my dependance on Nic simply seems the smart move in light of that.

That's sensible. Like you, I'd eventually like to ween myself off of nicotine. In an ideal world, anyway.

But if I were the OP, I wouldn't be too hard on myself. If whatever he's doing now keeps him away from tobacco, then that in itself is a huge victory. An indescribably huge victory. Only when you're 100% certain that the major victory has been secured should you worry about the smaller ones.