Nicotine and Dreams

[Kyi]

Well first of all, I just recently started using an electronic cigarette again. Not that I really smoked that many "analog" cigarettes to begin with, but when I drank, I would chain smoke.

I got my electronic cigarette a while ago, so I've been using that whenever I'm at home. The liquid I got seems to be too high for me... I didn't think it'd affect me that much, but even after a good puff or two, I would feel very lightheaded and even a little strange. I knew I did not need another puff after that. I would guess this is the feeling of a good long puff of a high nicotine liquid?

Anyways, I noticed that recently my dreams have been very vivid and way more memorable and detailed. I have always been pretty good at remembering my dreams and even attaining a level of consciousness in my dreams, but I do believe the nicotine is increasing that occurrence. I've remembered every dream the past few nights and events in very close detail.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced very vivid or strange dreams.

 

[Hotbrained]

OOOOOH yeah, I've noticed more vivid dreams.

I don't completely attribute it to the nicotine though; I think I'm actually taking in less nicotine now than when I smoked Marlboro's supreme cowboy killers. I am getting what I need though, as I haven't felt compelled to choke the life out of anyone yet.

I'm placing the uptick in dreams more on the fact that this is the best I've slept in years, and especially since the industry switchover to FSC's. I can't remember the last time that I'd gotten more than 2 hours of contiguous sleep.

-HB

 

[Moriah]

I know that when I tried Chantix I had some really funky dreams. And my mom had to take off her patches at night because of dreams -- she had to start at step 3 on the CQ system instead of step2 like she tried. (She quit for six years then started back, if my e-cig experience works out I hope to convert her! I might even get her one for a present if she really likes mine.... I want her to be here for awhile!)

Perhaps try to not vape 3-4 hours before bed? Most of the nicotine should be out of your system by then.... Mom took her patches off about 2hours before bed and it fixed the dream problem when she did NRT. But as Hotbrained said, it could be just that you're finally getting a good night's sleep!

 

[Slea]

Oh, yes!

So vivid, in fact, I don't quite feel like I've slept well since last April. Better than lung cancer, I suppose.

 

[420GypsyGirl]

Here I thiought it was just me and now it seems I am not alone. I chaulked it up to not smoking and inhaling carbon monoxide and the other things that hinder oxygen getting to the brain and maybe that is what it is and not really the nic or maybe it is the nic is getting through easier because it isn't competing with the thousands of other chemicals. My dreams are more vivid than ever and so are the nightmares. Seriously, I have had some nightmares that scared the bejeezes out of me and it made it really hard to go back to sleep.

 

[Scooter Bob]

Here I thiought it was just me and now it seems I am not alone. I chaulked it up to not smoking and inhaling carbon monoxide and the other things that hinder oxygen getting to the brain and maybe that is what it is and not really the nic or maybe it is the nic is getting through easier because it isn't competing with the thousands of other chemicals. My dreams are more vivid than ever and so are the nightmares. Seriously, I have had some nightmares that scared the bejeezes out of me and it made it really hard to go back to sleep.

Seriously, I've had vivid, terrible! dreams, that I won't tell a soul about, even my closest friend or relative. My sleep was bad going into e-cigs, so I'm not sure my case is a valid example or not. I have to say that there are seemingly more occurances of euphoric dreams since the e-cigs, than with the harsh analogs. Gotta learn how to control them. I tried subliminal stuff, and it never took. Bob

 

[VictoryNotVengence]

same here, more vivid good dreams, and scarier more realistic nightmares.

 

[Blaze]

I've not experienced any vivid or strange dreams, but I feel ya on the lightheadedness...it was REAL bad for me (as in I almost had to leave work 'cause I felt like I was gonna pass out). It kinda felt like a migrane/flu/being drunk all at once. If it doesn't subside (which it never really did go away for me), try switching to a VG based juice instead of the PG based. It really worked wonders for me, just got mine from Cignot today, and it rocks (better, cleaner taste, no nasty "perception" side effects).

 

[Blaze]

....and since there's no "edit" function

also maybe try a lower strength juice, I dropped from the "high" 16mg to a "medium" 10mg...still feels like a marlboro to me

 

[Cicatrize]

After about 6 months of vaping, I haven't noticed anything different about my dreams. I don't dream very often though, or at least I don't remember them very well.

 

[glennnnnnn]

Nicotine is a stimulant so it doesn't surprise me that some people may be experiencing more vivid dreams, or just remembering them more

Same thing happened to me when I went onto 24 hour patches, some very unpleasant dreams and some really weird ones too.

I don't think its anything to get to worried about unless it persists or is causing you concern

You could always go to the doctor and explain, if nothing else it may give you peace of mind

Glenn

 

[Slither]

Vivid dreams are not at all uncommon on NRT, steroids and some medications. Some people report having out of body experiences as well. The nicotine molecule attaches to the same receptors in your brain as acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which is tied in to memory and learning. The first time I went on patches, I got a full body tingly/numb feeling and had really bizarre dreams nightly. I am not a doctor/scientist but I think to much nicotine or a sharp withdrawl from it can upset the balance of what the body is used to and have effects directly on the neurotransmitters. Most of us have a "stasis" level of nicotine we are used to per day. Changing to an e-cig may change that level to either higher or lower. The body normally adapts though and you go back in to balance. If you are having symptoms of too much nicotine, it is best to back off a bit though

 

[wanted]

Isn't vivid dreams or nightmares listed as a side effect on nic. patches??? I thought that was common with increased nicotine levels... I could be wrong though...

 

[Mordred]

I'm placing the uptick in dreams more on the fact that this is the best I've slept in years, and especially since the industry switchover to FSC's. I can't remember the last time that I'd gotten more than 2 hours of contiguous sleep

This.

The only time I noticed a change in dreams was after about two weeks of vaping with no analogs. My sleeping pattern changed and I went to bed a lot earlier than usual. This change in my sleeping pattern probably changed the sleep phase I was in when the alarm clock woke me, making me remember my dreams more.

Interestingly, since switching from mainly vaping to mainly snus, my sleeping pattern has reverted to what it was when I was smoking, i.e. I sleep a lot less. It's not that I can't sleep, I just feel more energetic again and need less sleep.

So my conclusion is that I got considerably less nicotine from vaping than from either snus or smoking, thus missing out on the stimulating effect of nicotine.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[DC2]

Sounds like too much nicotine.

What strength juice are you using?
And how many of what kinds of cigarettes did you smoke?

 

[AngusATAT]

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced very vivid or strange dreams.

Funny you should ask...

I'm not sure if it's because I've been spending too much time here, or if it's because I was doing some high voltage vaping last night and should have lowered my nic level more, but I dreamed about doing my job here on the forum. An emergency popped up that had to be handled ASAP, and I couldn't get logged in for some reason. It was such a realistic dream that I woke up and immediately headed to my laptop to sign in and make sure it wasn't real.

It was wierd.

 

[Dillan]

This is a very common symptom of some NRTs, such as the patch, too. I had a bit of it the first time I tried that method - it actually wasn't unpleasant, as my dreams were, ahem, adult in nature, but different people's mileage may vary.

That said, I'd always heard the reason behind it was that you were getting nicotine at an unaccustomed time of day (i.e., mid-sleep), not the total amount of nic. So there might be something different at play here.

 

[Dillinger]

Kind of strange that this will be my first post. I've been vaping almost a month and have been allover this forum researching stuff. Bought Bartlebies for my girlfriend and I, read every page of every cartridge mod topic, etc.

Anyways, I haven't experienced lucid dreaming since I switched from combustibles to my PV. But about 5 or 6 years ago I was on nicotine patches 24 hours a day. I was fairly reckless in my highschool years I guess. I stayed on Step 1 of the patches the entire time and also stacked the patches, wearing more than 1 at a time while still smoking analogs as well. =X Taking the SATs, my whole arm was covered up n' down with tape helping to keep it all on. lol

Now, if you don't already think I'm crazy at this point, let me tell you about one of the many lucid dreams I had(and can remember) during that time. In my dream, I was apparently a ninja running through a dark maze of stone walls. Around practically every corner were enemies to whom I would very graphically slice and kill with my katana. The dream was so vivid I could feel their blood splash on my face.

I'm actually a very nice guy and in no way violent, but these dreams are very typical for me. Although it was fun for awhile; having such clear dreams and feeling like I was actually there, I'm glad my PV causes no such side effect for me. I'm past my crazy teen years and don't feel the need to indulge in such wacky things, among others, that I used to.

Sorry for the essay.

--Scott

 

[Kyi]

Yes, after reading some replies I looked up nicotine and dreams on Google and found out more info about it. I even asked some of my friends, and one of them told me that he fell asleep with nicotine gum in his mouth one time and had a lot of weird dreams. And also another, who slept with his nicotine patch on.

I guess I don't really mind the vivid dreams. Except when they're nightmares. I had a dream the other night that the world had ended and me and some random girl were running through a dark subway tunnel, being chased by these crazed zombies. It was terrifying. Everything felt so real and vivid, and it seemed like an eternity that I was trapped and fleeing from danger. On the other hand, two nights ago, I had an amazing dream about being on a magical hot air balloon ride over this beautiful city and I could almost feel the wind blowing through my hair.

I might try taking a few puffs right before going to bed... I'm trying to do this experiment and see how my dream recall improves. I used to be really into lucid dreaming and documenting things I dreamt about, but it started to fade. Now that I've been consistently having more memorable dreams, I want to see if this will help. Of course, I will stop trying that if I keep getting nightmares, because sometimes my boyfriend complains of me yelling and/or struggling in bed and waking him up.

 

[Belhade]

I've found that any some kinds of drastic change in foreign chemicals to the body will trigger dream recall. Specifically, an abrupt halt of a long-term marijuana habit (ie. a week in jail) did stunning things to my "night life". I had been actively studying my dream patterns and physiology before that, so it's not like I wasn't familiar with dreaming. Perhaps it is the increase of blood oxygen due to not smoking anything.