Newbie and have a question about fast heart rate

[Pebble]

Hello

I switched from Marlboro Lights to e-cigarettes two weeks ago. I wanted to give up smoking and my GP said that as I have an anxiety disorder I should use some form of nicotine replacement initially to avoid withdrawal anxiety. So far, so good - I don't have many cravings and am enjoying vaping

However, since switching I have had a fast heart rate. It's waking me at night multiple times and making it difficult to get to sleep.

I wondered if it was perhaps too much nicotine - but I have been using a low nicotine e-cig, and today tried a 'zero nicotine' one and I still have the fast heart beat. Plus I don't have any other symptoms. I don't feel nauseous, sweaty or shaky. I wouldn't say I feel anxious or panicky (and I know those feelings very well!). I just have a fast heart rate.

(When I used a nicotine patch a few years ago, I experienced a fast heart rate - but I also felt sick, anxious and shaky with that. This doesn't feel the same.)

Any ideas as to why this is happening? Nicotine withdrawal? An ingredient in the e-cig? I am using Neo disposables, ingredients are Nicotine, flavouring, Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerine and water.

Many thanks

 

[ThePaladin]

Pebble,

That's something I STRONGLY suggest you take up with your GP. There are so many different things that could be causing this, and it's best to know why. I doubt that it's related to the vaping, but it's ALWAYS best to be sure. We want to see you around for years to come...

 

[catalinaflyer]

Could be a combination of withdrawal symptoms from many things in an analogue cigarette besides the nicotine. I did experience a raised heart rate for a few weeks but it has since settle back down and now I only get it if I get a nic buzz (too much chain vaping high nic content juice).

 

[FourWinds]

Give the NHS direct people a call Pebble. If you hadn't said you had tried zero nicotine I would guess at too much like you said. Nicotine has a half life of two hours in the human body, but it's effects on the heart even after most has gone... who knows.

Be safe mate, and call the NHS Direct this evening, better safe than sorry.

 

[Completely Average]

Sounds like you have the opposite problem that you think you do.

Sounds to me like you aren't getting enough nicotine, especially right before bed. The withdrawal is causing your heart rate to rise.

I would suggest you try to find a small sample bottle of 12mg nicotine juice and given that a try, especially right before bed. If the 6mg juice is satisfying your daily cravings, stick with that during the day and get a small minitank or cartomizer to fill with the 12mg juice to use shortly before you're ready to go to sleep. See if the slightly higher nicotine dose helps lower your heart rate at night.

Also keep in mind you can mix juices with different nicotine levels to create a new one. A 50/50 mix of 6mg and 12mg juice will result in a 9mg juice, which may work better for you.


Remember, nicotine is more addictive than coke (And I'm not talking about the soda). Withdrawal from it will have symptoms similar to most illicit drug users who quit. Increased heart rate, cold sweats, night sweats, irritation, headaches, nausea, etc... All common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

 

[Pebble]

Thank you so much for your replies. I am going to go to my GP early this week as he knows me and won't just dismiss the fast heart rate as anxiety. I do have some sedating antihistamines which are help.

I always thought stopping smoking made the heart rate slower and dropped blood pressure. It's interesting to hear it can do the reverse initially. I hope this is what is going on and it's temporary.

 

[revco]

I'd second the advice of checking with your GP to be sure, since none (or at least very few) of us are medical doctors. I'm far more qualified to diagnose electronics than I am people. Nicotine, for most, is a stimulant and would definitely have the ability to affect both your heart rate and your sleep regulation.

I found I had to adjust my nicotine intake when I switched to e-cigs. I was having tremendous trouble sleeping and ended up actually going down in strength to 12mg from the 18mg. That balanced me out to where things felt right again, so for me, it was clear I was getting too much. What I learned through that, though, is that it's clear that people react differently when they do experience some symptom. Some told me it was too much. Some said not enough. Both are probably true for different people. It wouldn't surprise me if you have to figure out what's best for you, since you know your body best. Unfortunately, because people react differently, it's hard for any of us to say accurately what the best course of action would be.

I'm of the opinion that the minimal amount of nicotine that is required to get your fix is probably best. Nicotine does increase your risk of heart disease and some other fairly serious issues, so less is better than more in my mind. Withdrawal symptoms are pretty gnarly, but they won't kill you...it's just unpleasant and usually results in multiple symptoms. Still, they won't last much more than about a week or two and then you'll balance back out again...that is, if you can take it in the mean time. Anxiety can be an rather unpredictable thing, so just take it one step at a time while you're figuring things out.

Good luck on your journey and welcome to ECF!

 

[balwin]

If your heart rate is too high call a trained medical adviser right away. As much as those of us on ECF like to help new folks, we aren't medical specialist just folks who would like to help you make the transition to vaping. Better safe than sorry!

 

[djsvapour]

Go and see your GP Pebble.

I don't think anybody should be advising you on these matters.

However, if you quit smoking just two weeks ago I'd be surprised if you felt 100%.
Also, I'd put money on your nicotine intake from e-cigs not matching your nicotine from tobacco.

I suffered some of these symptoms in the early days. I had bad side effects using a disposable (not enough nicotine, basically nicotine withdrawal) and then too much nicotine (from a new powerful ecig) having cut down to almost none....

Try not to worry in the meantime.

 

[Completely Average]

Go and see your GP Pebble.

I don't think anybody should be advising you on these matters.

As far as having one's health checked, never take internet advice over a doctor.


However, one should understand nicotine, it's effects, and have a good idea of how ecig nicotine compares to tobacco.

A general rule of thumb in regards to nicotine intake is this:

1 Pack a day, full strength cigarette = 18-24mg nicotine
1 Pack a day, lights = 12-18mg nicotine
1 Pack a day, ultra-lights = 6-12mg nicotine

Smoking less than a pack a day, move down one level.

There are obviously variables. People who chain vape or like to blow huge clouds need a lower level, people who only get to vape once every few hours may want to step up a level. But generally speaking that's a good starting point for people who just quit smoking.

In regards to the OP, the "low nicotine" ecig juice is likely a sub-10mg juice when they are probably addicted to a 12-18mg level.





To the OP, do you also get cold-sweaty palms? That's a good indicator of withdrawal.

 

[Pebble]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I absolutely do intend to see my GP, and it would be completely unfair of me to expect anyone to advise me here. (I hope I haven't made anyone feel uncomfortable.) Really I was just wondering if this was something common when giving up cigs / starting vaping, as I was a bit stumped by it. But I will be seeing my doctor anyway

 

[djsvapour]

* post deleted *

unhelpful and regrettable comment.

 

[Pebble]

Completely Average: I don't have any other signs of withdrawal. No nausea, headaches, shaking, sweating etc. Just a fast heart beat at times.

 

[FourWinds]

Completely Average: I don't have any other signs of withdrawal. No nausea, headaches, shaking, sweating etc. Just a fast heart beat at times.

I don't think you should over stress about it, but I do know how long it takes to get an appointment these days. I would say that if I thought my heart rate was up, I would call the NHS Direct peeps and ask them what they thought. I won't nag you more than this any more though

I had the flu over xmas last year; it was the first time I had had it. I was so bad that I hardly had the energy to walk to the shower. I called NHS direct in the middle of the night, just to ask their opinion on how long I might have to put up with the symptoms, and the guy I was talking to e-mailed my local GP surgery to ensure that I had a fast-track appointment to see my doctor. I had an appointment the next day rather than wait for three weeks.

 

[KODIAK (TM)]

A general rule of thumb in regards to nicotine intake is this:

1 Pack a day, full strength cigarette = 18-24mg nicotine
1 Pack a day, lights = 12-18mg nicotine
1 Pack a day, ultra-lights = 6-12mg nicotine

Interesting CA. I was 3 packs per day up until 8 days ago. Vaping 24mg juice right now. Explains my headaches (which I suspected was withdrawal).

 

[Pebble]

Fourwinds: Thanks so much. I did call the NHS Quit line and spoke to a nurse, who just said she couldn't advise me on e-cigs and didn't seem to be overly fussed by the tachycardia. I have called NHS Direct before, but the answer tends to be, 'Go to A&E to be sure'. Because I've had this on and off for a couple of weeks now, I'm hoping I won't pop my clogs before an appointment on Tuesday. I did get tachycardia a few years ago and I put up with it for 2-3 years as the GP said it was a medication side effect (he was wrong, turned out later I was very badly macrocytic anaemic!).

 

[FourWinds]

Fourwinds: Thanks so much. I did call the NHS Quit line and spoke to a nurse, who just said she couldn't advise me on e-cigs and didn't seem to be overly fussed by the tachycardia. I have called NHS Direct before, but the answer tends to be, 'Go to A&E to be sure'. Because I've had this on and off for a couple of weeks now, I'm hoping I won't pop my clogs before an appointment on Tuesday. I did get tachycardia a few years ago and I put up with it for 2-3 years as the GP said it was a medication side effect (he was wrong, turned out later I was very badly macrocytic anaemic!).

Before any more time passes I'd like to say that it's nice to say hi. It seems that a new peeps shows up more frequently than every hour here; it's quite an interesting thing. You seem like a clever peeps with good insight, and so I'm sure I don't have to tell you not to let them dismiss you just because you're been diagnosed with some anxiety in the past. I have been too by the way.

Hey mate, at least you're off the analogues now, and that is something to be happy about. You may have just discovered the holy grail of cessation!

Nice to meet you friend, and I look forward to swapping posts in the future.

 

[Pebble]

Before any more time passes I'd like to say that it's nice to say hi. It seems that a new peeps shows up more frequently than every hour here; it's quite an interesting thing. You seem like a clever peeps with good insight, and so I'm sure I don't have to tell you not to let them dismiss you just because you're been diagnosed with some anxiety in the past. I have been too by the way.

Hey mate, at least you're off the analogues now, and that is something to be happy about. You may have just discovered the holy grail of cessation!

Nice to meet you friend, and I look forward to swapping posts in the future.

It's nice to meet you too! And thank you, I look forward too

 

[Grimwald]

Just to be clear...I'm not a doctor of any kind.

I did have rapid heart rate at about 2 months in...I was a heavy smoker. I read that the liver, since it no longer has to work overtime to remove all of those chemicals from cigarette smoke, begins to do a better job of processing caffeine and other stimulants. It seemed logical to me, so I began to remove caffeine and sugar from my diet, along with cutting the nicotine level of my liquid. That seemed to help. YMMV

 

[Mcp15]

Hi Pebble... After I quit smoking (on day 4 of vaping), I began to experience a high heart rate too. My blood pressure was also above normal. What the heck? Quitting cigs is supposed to HELP this. I adjusted my nicotine level. No change. Like Grimwald, I found I was more sensitive to caffeine...and I used to be able to drink it and go to bed! So I trimmed my ntake by 30-50%. (although it's still 4 or 5 cups a day)

Finally, my GP did a physical and ran my bloodwork. He ordered a thyroid scan...turns out I have hyperthyroidism. Main symptom? High heart rate. It seems that Smoking cigs to get nicotine may actually ask the symptoms. Once I quit...bam! There they were in plain sight.
Hopefully your GP is the supportive type as far as ecigs go. Mine was ecstatic that I quit smoking.

Good luck and feel better!