Nicotine
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The Nicotine is the Same. It's the way the Nicotine mg's are Rated that is Different.
The Nicotine mg in Cigarettes is Rated at what the Body of the average smoker Absorbs when they Smoke 1 Cigarette.
Whereas the Nicotine in an e-Liquid is Rated at the Total Nicotine in 1 Milliliter of Volume.
It's hard to say what is an Equivalent Amount of Vaping to Cigarettes. Because the Absorption Rate can vary due to what type of Hardware a Vaper Uses. And at what Power they use.
If you Vape Four 4ml tanks of 3mg/ml per day, you are taking in 48mg of Nicotine (4 * 4ml * 3mg/ml) per day.
Now say your Absorption rate is somewhere between 25% and 65%. So using those Absorption rates, your Absorbed Nicotine would be 12mg/day ~ 31.2mg/ml
Now take the Nicotine Rating for your Brand of Cigarette, usually around 1mg/cigarette, and divide you Absorbed Nicotine thru Vaping by that amount.
This will give you a Rough Idea of the Comparative Amount to your Brand of Smokes.
I don't think anyone could even semi-accurately answer that question. I was very interested in this question when i first started vaping. I found that the amount of nicotine in cigarettes varies widely. I remember different studies showing a range from 6mg to over 20mg per cigarette, but the majority were in the 8-13 mg range. How much of that is absorbed ? I couldn't find out a convincing answer at the time. i remember the 1mg per cigarette estimate ( regardless of what cigarette !? ) bandied about, but the source for that number was the CDC ( the context was their attempt to do away with the "light" and "ultralight" labels on cigarettes ), so i took that with a grain of salt.
My guess is that the rate of absorption varies from smoker to smoker, just as it does from vaper to vaper, depending on vaping/smoking method, and equipment/cigarette used, as well as each individuals physiology.
The only thing I've cared about nicotine absorption is that I get enough to never want to smoke again. I figure I must be getting enough as it's been 118 days since my last cigarette!
I found out by trial and error (not fun) , you just got to take it slow and experiment . Never go hog wild where you take like 6 to 10 deep inhales at a time and then wait to see how you feel .
You will end up on the floor sweating profusely while the room spins around you . Nic will sneak up on you and by that time you know you overdid it. Awful experience
You will end up on the floor sweating profusely while the room spins around you . Nic will sneak up on you and by that time you know you overdid it. Awful experience
The nicotine IS different when vaping! Most cigarettes have ammonia added for "flavor" reasons. When combusted, the nicotine and ammonia react and the nicotine is altered, making it more bioavaliable, and more freely absorbed. Basically when you smoke you're consuming a free-based form of nicotine. It's stronger, and it absorbs more easily.
Now, don't read anything into that other than it's stronger. It's not a giant conspiracy, and stronger nicotine is not why cigarettes are dangerous.
I wouldn't worry so much about what nicotine level you require to successfully quit cigarettes, and how much. Use as much as you need at whatever level you need, to get off the cigarettes. You can always do nicotine consumption control later. The most important step is to make the switch.
Don't get me wrong, by no means am I suggesting you should pick up the highest level of nicotine juice, put it in a high powered device, and chain vape all day long. That'll make you sick, don't do that. But start small, and if you're not getting enough, increase your nicotine level, and/or the amount you vape until you're feeling satisfied.
Now, don't read anything into that other than it's stronger. It's not a giant conspiracy, and stronger nicotine is not why cigarettes are dangerous.
I wouldn't worry so much about what nicotine level you require to successfully quit cigarettes, and how much. Use as much as you need at whatever level you need, to get off the cigarettes. You can always do nicotine consumption control later. The most important step is to make the switch.
Don't get me wrong, by no means am I suggesting you should pick up the highest level of nicotine juice, put it in a high powered device, and chain vape all day long. That'll make you sick, don't do that. But start small, and if you're not getting enough, increase your nicotine level, and/or the amount you vape until you're feeling satisfied.
nicotine in vaping is exactly the same as in smoking. Your body doesn't know the difference.
It doesn't mater anyway as nicotine is likely not the all encompassing uber addictive compound
in tobacco that causes "smoking addiction". The myth of nicotine addiction - Formindep
This whole ammonia in tobacco free basing charade is based on ANTZ science designed to
associate smoking cigarettes with doing hard core illegal things. Ammonia free tobacco free
bases the nicotine just as well as tobacco with ammonia because the nicotine is in the leaf.
Its the combustion that releases it which, for all intents and purposes freebases everything
in the tobacco.
Nicotine extracts may benefit from chemical enhancement but,even that point is moot.
Either nicotine is as addictive as claimed,(one of the most addictive substances available)
which,in that case freebasing it with chemicals would be pointless or, it doesn't have the
addictive qualities attributed to it. Thus freebasing would again be pointless and not worth the
cost.
Sorry for the rant.
Regards
Mike
Sorry this is so long, but it may help someone else in my same position, too.
I don't know any way to accurately, quantitatively compare nicotine absorbed through smoking vs. through vaping. But I do know for certain though, that I've personally been getting less total nicotine by vaping than I was when smoking.
Reason I know that is by how my body has changed since totally switching to vaping for the last 3 years, and my doctor's explanation for that change. When I smoked 1 - 1/2 PAD for 42+ years, my weight always stayed within a specific 5 pound range, and I always had energy to spare. I was always at the lower end of that range during summer when doing more outside work and sweating more with our heat & humidity down here. It was always at the higher end of that range in winter when not doing as much outside and with lower temps. & humidity.
Once I totally got off the smokes, I started steadily gaining weight and my energy level was going down. At each of my 6 month doctor check-ups (for regular thyroid monitoring & bloodwork), I'd gained another 4-5 pounds, until I'd gained a total of 20+ pounds and my energy level was about zilch. But it was definitely not because my eating habits or snaking had changed, as is the case with many who quit smoking and replace it with eating more regular food and snacks to compensate for it. I wasn't doing either, since I was vaping and getting nicotine, and my hand-to-mouth habit was satisfied, too.
After much frustration on my part with the weight gain and non-existant energy...my doctor (endochronologist) finally told me he knew it wasn't because of any change in my eating nor snaking, since I was vaping and happy with it instead. Said it was because my metabolism had been changed by quitting smoking. Said I was no longer getting the other chemicals that I did while smoking, in addition to probaby less nicotine with vaping...than my body was used to from smoking. Thyroid test results had been showing my metabolism had been changing, too.
So, I've been doing a little test of my own for the last month. I haven't changed my eating nor snaking habits, my activity level, nor the amount I vape per day. But I have raised my nic in my eliquids to almost 7mg, instead of my usual 6mg for the last 3 years. I've lost 6 pounds and my energy level is noticeably higher because of that small change in the nic mg. That tells me that while vaping does satisfy my mental/emotional need for nic and my hand-to-mouth habit...my body doesn't get nearly the amount of nicotine from vaping about 8mLs per day @ 6mg, as it got from smoking 1 - 1 1/2 PAD of ultra-light ciggies per day.
I'm planning on staying at the 7mg for another month, to see if the weight & energy changes any more, and then upping it to close to 8mg to see what effects that has on both. Doctor knows I'm doing this and has no problem with it. Have my next check-up the first week of March.
So, I'd say based on my own experience so far...there is definitely a big difference in getting nicotine through smoking compared to by vaping. My habit may be satisfied with vaping, but my body's need for the same nicotine intake hasn't been being met. Hopefully, through my own experimenting with nic mg in my eliquids, I'll find out exactly how many mg give me the same as I was getting through smoking...and my metabolism will level back out to where it was.
I don't know any way to accurately, quantitatively compare nicotine absorbed through smoking vs. through vaping. But I do know for certain though, that I've personally been getting less total nicotine by vaping than I was when smoking.
Reason I know that is by how my body has changed since totally switching to vaping for the last 3 years, and my doctor's explanation for that change. When I smoked 1 - 1/2 PAD for 42+ years, my weight always stayed within a specific 5 pound range, and I always had energy to spare. I was always at the lower end of that range during summer when doing more outside work and sweating more with our heat & humidity down here. It was always at the higher end of that range in winter when not doing as much outside and with lower temps. & humidity.
Once I totally got off the smokes, I started steadily gaining weight and my energy level was going down. At each of my 6 month doctor check-ups (for regular thyroid monitoring & bloodwork), I'd gained another 4-5 pounds, until I'd gained a total of 20+ pounds and my energy level was about zilch. But it was definitely not because my eating habits or snaking had changed, as is the case with many who quit smoking and replace it with eating more regular food and snacks to compensate for it. I wasn't doing either, since I was vaping and getting nicotine, and my hand-to-mouth habit was satisfied, too.
After much frustration on my part with the weight gain and non-existant energy...my doctor (endochronologist) finally told me he knew it wasn't because of any change in my eating nor snaking, since I was vaping and happy with it instead. Said it was because my metabolism had been changed by quitting smoking. Said I was no longer getting the other chemicals that I did while smoking, in addition to probaby less nicotine with vaping...than my body was used to from smoking. Thyroid test results had been showing my metabolism had been changing, too.
So, I've been doing a little test of my own for the last month. I haven't changed my eating nor snaking habits, my activity level, nor the amount I vape per day. But I have raised my nic in my eliquids to almost 7mg, instead of my usual 6mg for the last 3 years. I've lost 6 pounds and my energy level is noticeably higher because of that small change in the nic mg. That tells me that while vaping does satisfy my mental/emotional need for nic and my hand-to-mouth habit...my body doesn't get nearly the amount of nicotine from vaping about 8mLs per day @ 6mg, as it got from smoking 1 - 1 1/2 PAD of ultra-light ciggies per day.
I'm planning on staying at the 7mg for another month, to see if the weight & energy changes any more, and then upping it to close to 8mg to see what effects that has on both. Doctor knows I'm doing this and has no problem with it. Have my next check-up the first week of March.
So, I'd say based on my own experience so far...there is definitely a big difference in getting nicotine through smoking compared to by vaping. My habit may be satisfied with vaping, but my body's need for the same nicotine intake hasn't been being met. Hopefully, through my own experimenting with nic mg in my eliquids, I'll find out exactly how many mg give me the same as I was getting through smoking...and my metabolism will level back out to where it was.
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See i'm not worried about my nicotine intake so much cause i'm on three mg, I understand I only absorb about half of that. So i'm basically vaping 24 mg of nic a day. I'm just worried about what it is doing to my heart honestly cause heart disease and everything runs in my family. Been reading about this guys studys though which is king of helping. No adverse effects on blood and oxygen supply to the heart by electronic cigarette use
nicotine in vaping is exactly the same as in smoking. Your body doesn't know the difference.
It doesn't mater anyway as nicotine is likely not the all encompassing uber addictive compound
in tobacco that causes "smoking addiction". The myth of nicotine addiction - Formindep
This whole ammonia in tobacco free basing charade is based on ANTZ science designed to
associate smoking cigarettes with doing hard core illegal things. Ammonia free tobacco free
bases the nicotine just as well as tobacco with ammonia because the nicotine is in the leaf.
Its the combustion that releases it which, for all intents and purposes freebases everything
in the tobacco.
Nicotine extracts may benefit from chemical enhancement but,even that point is moot.
Either nicotine is as addictive as claimed,(one of the most addictive substances available)
which,in that case freebasing it with chemicals would be pointless or, it doesn't have the
addictive qualities attributed to it. Thus freebasing would again be pointless and not worth the
cost.
Sorry for the rant.
Regards
Mike
I wasn't quantifying a free-based nicotine with being more addictive than a non-free-based form, just stronger because it's more bioavailable. Less goes farther. And yes, the combustion plays a big roll and all smoked tobacco is free-based. All of it also contains some ammonia naturally. It's just many of the main producers add more, and doing so does increase the free-based effect.
Now I'm not saying this is intentional by tobacco producers. More than likely it's just a side effect of them trying to improve the taste and consistency of their low quality tobacco. I really don't think free-basing is the point, and therefore it doesn't have to be occurring for a reason. To get their consumers more addicted or anything like that. They don't have to. It's already plenty addictive.
But all of this deep dive into why isn't really helping the OP. My main message was it's not exactly the same, and don't worry about quantifying your vaping with how much you were smoking before. Use as much as you need to make the switch, and worry about dropping the nic and frequency later.
Well, I mean nicotine is a stimulant yes. And you're running the same risks as you would be with similar mild stimulants, like caffeine. I don't think you're doing any more damage to yourself than you would be by having a moderate coffee habit.
The fact that you're no longer smoking is loads better for your future health than continuing to smoke would have been. That's harm reduction. I can't tell you that vaping won't have any effect on your heart health. But I can tell you that smoking is running a pretty serious risk with it.
Other things you can do to cut down your risk of heart problems with your family history is to see a doctor regularly, get regular exercise, and to keep your consumption of carbs and sugars in check.
JCinFLA,
That's really interesting because I seem to have those exact same problems but attributed it the smoking cessation. I thought maybe my palate was better and I ate more food. I started at 24mg and now I am down to 3mg in the past 18 mos. I always thought that I never got the same kick from vaping as I did cigarettes, I mean the head rushes like I did off the 1st cig of the day. It's the free base effect of cigs, that sounds logical. It could be one of a thousand chemicals in cigarettes that increased the stimulant effect that aren't present in vaping. 4 years ago I was smoking damn close to 2 PAD, I have gained about 15-20 lbs since. very informative and interesting post! thanks.
That's really interesting because I seem to have those exact same problems but attributed it the smoking cessation. I thought maybe my palate was better and I ate more food. I started at 24mg and now I am down to 3mg in the past 18 mos. I always thought that I never got the same kick from vaping as I did cigarettes, I mean the head rushes like I did off the 1st cig of the day. It's the free base effect of cigs, that sounds logical. It could be one of a thousand chemicals in cigarettes that increased the stimulant effect that aren't present in vaping. 4 years ago I was smoking damn close to 2 PAD, I have gained about 15-20 lbs since. very informative and interesting post! thanks.
Most likely it's the CO2. Mild Co2 toxitity.
symptoms may include.
"A tension-type headache is the most common symptom of mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Other symptoms include: dizziness. nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting."
Carbon monoxide poisoning - NHS Choices
The sudden restriction of blood vessals may limit oxygen.
Mike
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You're welcome! There are more of us, too, that have had the same thing happen. One member in particular, @Mrmik, was doing the same type of experiment with his nic mg. The last time I saw him post about it...he'd lost a good amount of the weight he'd gained. In August, he said he'd know within 6 months if it had definitely been his lack of enough nic (compared to what he got when smoking) that caused his weight gain. He's the one who suggested I might want to try adjusting my nic mg, too, to see if it made any difference for me, too.
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co2 =/= CO. Carbon dioxide vs carbon monoxide big difference
Oops.
same symptoms though.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms | Kidde
Initial symptoms are similar to the flu without a fever and can include dizziness, severe headaches, nausea, sleepiness, fatigue/weakness and disorientation/confusion
My point was lower oxygen levels combined with an increase in CO
is what causes the buzz.Low level CO toxicity.
Mike
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