Nic Reduction

[grandmato5]

Sorry about this being wordy but no better way to tell my story.

I had been an Ultra Light Smoker (2 packs per day) and was advised to start with 20 mg nic which I did and it fit exactly what I needed as a new vaporer. About three weeks into vaping I started using 10-12 mg with only using 18-20 mg occasionally. Worked fine for a few days and then I found I needed more of the 18-20 nic so I adjusted to more of the 18-20mg for a week using the 10-12mg only when I was chain vaping. Slowly I started to use more and more of the 10-12 nic and found I only needed the 18-20 mg when I'd been away from my PV for a couple of hours although I could use it without a problem if I chose during a regular day. A week ago I started using 6-8 mg at times that I was chain vaping and 10-12mg other times of day and only used 18 mg a few times when I found myself away from my PV for a couple of hours and then only used it for a few minutes.

I noticed two days ago when I used a 18 mg flavor I really like during the normal coarse of a vaping day that it seemed a bit strong to me so I stopped and went to my 8 mg. This morning I again pulled out my favorite flavor in the 18 mg and a few minutes later found it really is too strong for me now as a regular vape.

SO in the coarse of a little over two months without putting a lot of effort into it I've found that I've been able to reduce my original nic of 20 mg used all the time to using 10-12 mg about half the day and 6-8 mg the other half of the day. I'lll still reserve that 18-20mg nic I have left for those moments I find I really need it for a while before I delute it down to a lower nic level but otherwise no more 18-20 mg nic for me.

If you've been able to reduce your nic mg what has your experience been?

 

[SimpleSins]

My smoking habits were the same as yours (2 pack/day ultra light 120s), but I never had any problem shaking nicotine, and within a month was down to 6 and after two months off it entirely. What made a difference for me was an increase in the vapor production. When I first quit smoking, I did it with a 5V passthrough and an LR atomizer on an Ego/Riva. Now I use as 70/30 or 60/40 PG/VG blend for vapor production and keep a LR setup handy should I need it, but I've found that the nicotine necessary was greatly overstated and have not had any twitchy nic-fit moments. I will note, though, that somebody smoking 2-3 packs/day of Lucky Strike filterless may have a little more need for nicotine than I did.

 

[grandmato5]

I'd say that reducing your nic level down to 6 within a month and off in two months was amazing SimpleSins. Congrats! Do you plan to continue vaping for a long time or just see what happens in the future?

I started vaping thinking it would only be something I would do when it was more convenient than smoking but quickly learned I hated the taste of analogs. Needless to say I didn't start vaping to become nic free but I've also changed my mind on that too although I have no timeframe and simply plan on letting it happen when it happens simply by reducing my nic amount a little at a time and adjusting as I need to along the way.

 

[CJ in VA]

Wow, getting to that level so soon after 2 packs a day is amazing. Good job!

I had smoked a pack a day for 20 yrs. I started vaping at 24mg and it was a little high for me. After one month, I have gone from 24 to 18 and just ordered some 11 this morning. I think 18 is a good beginning point and then adjust from there up or down. I can't even imagine what 36 would do, that amount would terrify me, haha..

 

[SimpleSins]

In my view, smoking had become some of a Pavlov's dog thing, with nicotine just the tip of the iceberg as far as chemical 'alterations' provided by a cigarette. So we became programmed to know that making the hand-mouth motion and that cloud of smoke meant the MAOIs and other chemicals sort-of clearing a path and making it easy for the nicotine to get right to the brain pleasure center, at which point we all went aaaaaahhhhh. Whether it was my ultralight use or the hotter 'fluffier' vape putting more nicotine into each hit, I didn't have any problem dropping my nicotine, and without the chemicals clearing that path for the nicotine, I think my brain rapidly got accustomed to less and less nicotine with the quick taper.

I do feel like I'm un-Pavlov'ing, because the hand-mouth motion no longer brings that magical aaaahhh. I already vape less frequently than I smoked, and I don't find myself getting panicky if I'm outside and the Riva is inside. I think I've still got the hand-mouth habit ingrained, but I am noticing less and less of a tug, and hope that within a few months, I will be able to give that up, too, and maybe just pull it out to use like I do alcohol (I think I have a single drink once every couple of months) or if I catch myself dwelling on cigarettes for a period of time.

 

[pianoguy]

Well-done, everybody! I started at 24mg and a month or so into it I tried an 11mg menthol carto that I'd gotten as a free sample - I was surprised at how satisfying it was (I'd never been a menthol smoker). So I started using more menthol in the 11-12mg range and have worked my way down to 6mg now (for all flavors). I should give 0mg a shot again, as the last time I tried it was before the advent of low-res atty's. At this point, I don't think I need much nicotine if I can get some semblance of a throat hit.

 

[grandmato5]

The other thing that I 've noticed recently is that last Saturday was that when I was out with my daughter and grandson for 10 hours I only pulled my PV out a few times during the day to use it. After dropping them off at home and heading back to my house in my car in the old days of smoking I would have smoked nonstop all the way home with such a low nic intake all day along with getting in all my missed analogs during the few evening hours left at home that evening. While yes, I did use my PV on the way home and did use my 18 mg strong nic for about 15 minutes after I got home I was perfectly calm and ok all during the day and just a tiny bit craving nic by the time I left them off and after that 15 minutes of 18 mg nic I was fine with my normal evening 8 mg after that.

 

[shanagan]

I started (as an almost PAD smoker) with no real intentions to cut the nicotine down or out. I'm sure the idea was there, but I was pretty vocal that I'd keep using my eGo as long as I felt like it. But here I am, a bit shy of four months in, and have moved from 30 down to 12. My next purchase in a week or so will be 6mg. I find that for me, the higher nicotines now give me an unpleasant scratchy/ticklish feeling in my throat.

It does strike me as funny that while my husband planned all along to wean himself off (he smoked about a pack and a few more a day), we're at the exact same point. I've been looking more at what the long-term health repercussions of vaping might be, though, moreso than than when I started, so maybe it's just a subconscious desire to quit altogether coming out.

 

[Automaton]

Wow, congrats! That's a big cut-back.

I mostly vape 16-18mg, and I am slowly (very slowly) trying to work my way down, but I'm having a hard time with it.

It's not the nic. I can handle all the way down to 8mg.

But the problem is throat hit. I get no throat hit at all once I start getting that low. And I've always been big on that. I smoked rollies and Lucky Strikes, sometimes filterless. I liked to be kicked in the face when I smoked, and the same is true when I vape.

I have a sampler of Qhit for adding throat hit, but I've read some stuff that makes me worry about using it. People getting weird coughs. It's a very new product, and we don't know much about it. So I haven't touched it.

I can handle less nic... but no throat hit really leaves me feeling like it's not enough.

 

[shanagan]

Wow, congrats! That's a big cut-back.

I mostly vape 16-18mg, and I am slowly (very slowly) trying to work my way down, but I'm having a hard time with it.

It's not the nic. I can handle all the way down to 8mg.

But the problem is throat hit. I get no throat hit at all once I start getting that low. And I've always been big on that. I smoked rollies and Lucky Strikes, sometimes filterless. I liked to be kicked in the face when I smoked, and the same is true when I vape.

I have a sampler of Qhit for adding throat hit, but I've read some stuff that makes me worry about using it. People getting weird coughs. It's a very new product, and we don't know much about it. So I haven't touched it.

I can handle less nic... but no throat hit really leaves me feeling like it's not enough.

I'd been curious about the Qhit when I was thinking of ordering directly from FA, but never followed through one way or another. If you do try it, let us know.

I've found it's been helpful to go to different, "fresher" flavors as I've tapered off on the nicotine - the peach and strawberry from BWB in particular don't bother me with their mild TH at 12mg's because they're refreshing by themselves - but my next order will be down to 6mg, and I'm making sure to add spearmint and peppermint to that order, since the mints at least help to mimic th for me. I'm guessing 0nic menthol would probably have the biggest kick, so maybe I'll go that route. Not sure.

 

[SimpleSins]

I'd been curious about the Qhit when I was thinking of ordering directly from FA, but never followed through one way or another. If you do try it, let us know.

I've found it's been helpful to go to different, "fresher" flavors as I've tapered off on the nicotine - the peach and strawberry from BWB in particular don't bother me with their mild TH at 12mg's because they're refreshing by themselves - but my next order will be down to 6mg, and I'm making sure to add spearmint and peppermint to that order, since the mints at least help to mimic th for me. I'm guessing 0nic menthol would probably have the biggest kick, so maybe I'll go that route. Not sure.

The QHit has met with limited success. Apparently it requires an almost 50% mix to produce any hit, so it's not really cost effective. Several people have spoken of OMG-TH with the diablo loco at Decadent Vapour. A couple drops of that will flambe the cilia of your throat, or at least feel like it has. My only concern with that would be that I'm not sure what it's made of. If it's capsaicin, it's not good stuff to be inhaling as it can ulcerate the mucous membranes of you nose, esophagus, lungs, etc. I don't know whether you could dilute it enough to make it safely vapable and/or once you do, it may cease to produce the hit.

 

[topdown67]

I was also an Ultra-Light smoker (1.5 PAD) and after starting at 18-25 mg nic have found it easy to step down to 4mg nic with ease (10 weeks in). The hand-to-mouth most definitely defines my addiction - I can live without the throat hit, but I do prefer juices that produce more vapor.

Honestly, my most recent juice order was for a bunch of 4mg juice, but I still have 8, 12, and 16 mg to finish up. I can't tell the difference between the 4, 8 or 12 - the 16 maybe feels a bit stronger TH.

 

[Automaton]

Hey Shanagan, I'm actually going to have someone who can tell me a lot more about it take a look at the Qhit.

But as SimpleSins said, most of the reports of people using it that I've seen have been really high concentrations - at least 20%, all the way up to 50%. That gets expensive fast. And with some people reporting immediate irritation, I'm reluctant to give it a go. I want throat hit, not throat wreckage, heh.

But I'll see what he says.

I have been wondering if LR's, or spearamint or cinnamon flavors may be the only solution. I don't particularly like those flavors, and at a certain point, flavors start tasting fried with LR's. I like them at 3.2v, but on a true 3.7v device just tastes burnt to me.

But, tobacco flavors hold up ok. I do like my RY4. Maybe that will do better on an LR at 3.7v.

I do know what you mean about "refreshing" flavors. Thin mint (one of the only minty flavors I care for) and citrusy fruits are nice to vape.

Man, I wish I'd smoked lights. This would be so much easier! If I bummed a light cig off someone, I used to cut the filter mostly or complete off (I carry a little Leatherman around - I always have tiny scissors handy). Otherwise it just didn't feel like I was smoking.

 

[shanagan]

I hear you on your reluctance to vape until you've got more info (No, you don't say!).

I went to from virginia slims to marlboro reds to vaping CashCapp - I think it's safe to say I'm all over the map with what worked/works for me. The one constant through this whole vaping thing is that whatever I thought I wouldn't like soon becomes a favorite so I'm glad there are plenty of bwb's flavors out there to play with for a while.

 

[kylewinther]

wow that is pretty impressive! Congrats on reducing your nicotine! Keep going till you hit ZERO nicotine!

 

[Automaton]

I hear you on your reluctance to vape until you've got more info (No, you don't say!).

I went to from virginia slims to marlboro reds to vaping CashCapp - I think it's safe to say I'm all over the map with what worked/works for me. The one constant through this whole vaping thing is that whatever I thought I wouldn't like soon becomes a favorite so I'm glad there are plenty of bwb's flavors out there to play with for a while.

Yeah, well, when symptoms are actually seen, I do a double take. If you're alluding to our certain other additive concern, I must say that nothing I vape regularly has any in it. If I were vaping it all day, my personal decision may be different. The big thing with the Qhit is that I don't know what it is, and therefore I can't review any facts about it.

I gotta find me a cinnamon flavor I like! That'll kick your throat alright. If I can manage that, I'm sorted. I really think I could get down to no nic relatively quickly if I could get throat hit. Otherwise... just seems like I may as well stop vaping all together. Where's my throat hit!?!

What exactly is CashCap anyhow? The name is mysterious...

 

[shanagan]

Yeah, well, when symptoms are actually seen, I do a double take. If you're alluding to our certain other additive concern, I must say that nothing I vape regularly has any in it. If I were vaping it all day, my personal decision may be different. The big thing with the Qhit is that I don't know what it is, and therefore I can't review any facts about it.

Despite my recent reputation as an overall shrew, never let it be said that I won't go for a joke if the opportunity is presented. I wasn't poking at you, or any tiger in a cage for that matter, just teasing.

I gotta find me a cinnamon flavor I like! That'll kick your throat alright. If I can manage that, I'm sorted. I really think I could get down to no nic relatively quickly if I could get throat hit. Otherwise... just seems like I may as well stop vaping all together. Where's my throat hit!?!

What exactly is CashCap anyhow? The name is mysterious...

I have only tried fsusa's fireball - the first bottle I had was really tasty, creamy but not hot or particularly kicking so I wouldn't rec it if it's one you haven't tried (the 2nd bottle I bought was a dud - never developed any distinct flavor, even though it was a rich, deep color). Have you tried Don's stuff yet? It really is "that" good IMO - and I bet you could double the cinnamon flavor if you needed to. Or maybe play with a bit of.. shoot, what is that cinnamon schnapps flavor?.. Hot Damn! to try to kick it up a little.

The CashCapp is now discontinued, unfortunately. It was a rich, creamy cappuccino (more on the espresso side) that was perfect for a noob, which is probably why Steve at puresmoker tossed it into the box with my eGo.

 

[Automaton]

I've tried a sampler of his Applewood, which was fantastic. Otherwise, no.

Cinnamon schnapps? Time for me to go hunting...

 

[shanagan]

Schnapps by and large are sugary, so it might be an atty killer, not sure!

 

[Geolog]

I have noticed that after switching from an inferior rig to the eGo that I need to use lower nicotine juices. The eGo is just too damn efficient.

Sorry about this being wordy but no better way to tell my story.

I had been an Ultra Light Smoker (2 packs per day) and was advised to start with 20 mg nic which I did and it fit exactly what I needed as a new vaporer. About three weeks into vaping I started using 10-12 mg with only using 18-20 mg occasionally. Worked fine for a few days and then I found I needed more of the 18-20 nic so I adjusted to more of the 18-20mg for a week using the 10-12mg only when I was chain vaping. Slowly I started to use more and more of the 10-12 nic and found I only needed the 18-20 mg when I'd been away from my PV for a couple of hours although I could use it without a problem if I chose during a regular day. A week ago I started using 6-8 mg at times that I was chain vaping and 10-12mg other times of day and only used 18 mg a few times when I found myself away from my PV for a couple of hours and then only used it for a few minutes.

I noticed two days ago when I used a 18 mg flavor I really like during the normal coarse of a vaping day that it seemed a bit strong to me so I stopped and went to my 8 mg. This morning I again pulled out my favorite flavor in the 18 mg and a few minutes later found it really is too strong for me now as a regular vape.

SO in the coarse of a little over two months without putting a lot of effort into it I've found that I've been able to reduce my original nic of 20 mg used all the time to using 10-12 mg about half the day and 6-8 mg the other half of the day. I'lll still reserve that 18-20mg nic I have left for those moments I find I really need it for a while before I delute it down to a lower nic level but otherwise no more 18-20 mg nic for me.

If you've been able to reduce your nic mg what has your experience been?