Propylene Glycol and Alcohol with Depression

[jnnfrlsw]

You guys sound like you would really enjoy the PIF group. There are so many great people there and we help each other out. Its a great way to meet others and getting to try new ecig things that you may not otherwise be able to afford. Check it out. Jenn

 

[Jaka]

Wow, this gives me a bit of hope.

I have a rather colorful mental health history, to put a sunny spin on it. And I have been terrified of what it's gong to be like. Every time I try to quit cigs, it's the psychological symptoms that get me. The physical withdrawal I can live with - it's unpleasant, but I've felt worse. But the mental stuff... it's really bad.

I also live med-free, and have been doing really well at that. I'm pretty scared of not being able to maintain that if I quit.

But it's nice to hear of someone's mental symptoms actually getting BETTER instead of worse.

MistressNomad - glad I could give you a ray of hope Although I don't know how typical my experience is, hopefully others can chime in too...

Chiming in. In the two months plus since I started vaping, I've had to move house twice, watched my business go bankrupt, tried not to get suckered into depression by a depressed boyfriend, spent my savings for purchasing a home on rent instead, had my boyfriend break up with me, take it back, break up again, and move out, and then found out my personal and professional brokeness was due to him stealing from the company. I still have to deal with him on a business level daily and he brings personal issues into that - well. Let's say I'm under a wee bit of stress. I have a lifelong history of depression and bouts of attempted self-harm, and yet I described my mood while switching from smoking to vaping (during all the above) thus: "I now suffer from a constant, low-grade optimism."

My old brand did not have additives, no I had no MAOIs etc. to withdraw from - that's a big consideration. However, I have repeatedly decsribed vaping as "giving a much gentler version of that sine-wave rhythm of smoking" to my moods without the lows every 1.5-2 hours - the highs aren't as high as fast, but I never drop below "comfortable". I think the nicotine from vaping stays in the system longer as well as taking longer to hit - either way, I know I don't wait two hours between vapes like I used to do between smokes. Since I use nicotine primarily as an antidepressant, this steadier presence of acceptable levels in my body has been one of the biggest benefits -- totally unforeseen -- of switching over. I'm happier. Stabler. YMMV, of course, but for some people (certainly for me) vaping is better against depression than smoking in addition to all its other benefits, and definitely far nicer than nicotine withdrawal in order to quit.

 

[radicaljd]

I have discovered that vaping has caused me to be much more pessimistic. I don't have time now to go into details, but if by some miracle the world isn't destroyed by a nuclear war or other calamity, I will post more on this tomorrow--but don't count on it.


RadicalJD

 

[TVree]

My experience----switched over to vaping full time after 2-3 months of less and less analogs; still using low-dose anti-depressants as I have for a long time, but no major mood shifts. I breathe better, no coughing, and my singing voice (throat) has opened up amazingly!

I suspect everyone will have different experiences with this transition, but I certainly have found it worthwhile.

TVree

 

[Zelphie]

Yes Iv read that PG can in theory cause CNS depression and maybe even neurological issues.
Some suppliers warn not to use an ecig if you taking antidepressants for some reason, but give no additional information and I have yet to find answers. But taking all of this things into consideration makes me a little uneasy.

 

[Danyulc]

Doh, I made this big long post and them my internet craps out when I tried to post it and I lost it!

Anyway, the basic gist was just a heads up to those that might not know, although I'm sure all of you do...

CNS Depression is not the same as mental depression. CNS depression is caused by things like Alcohol and Xanax and to a much lesser extent apparently PG.

I wouldn't worry too much about the effects though. It has to be an incredibly mild CNS depressant. I'm not even sure vaping tons of 0nic juice would even yield a noticeable effect.

Must be why they say 'in theory' about the PG CNS depressant. Probably cause it has never been observed in humans because the quantity required is so high to be noticeable. Just a guess though.

-Danyulc

 

[LadyPhoenix]

Hmmm...I am not a chemist or a doctor (although I was an x-ray technician), but I think you're comparing apples and oranges. From what I understand CNS depression is depression of the Central Nervous System which can lead to reduced heartrate and breathing, and unconsciousness. This is not the same as 'clinical depression' which typically is a result of too low seratonin or issues with seratonin re-uptake, or other chemical imbalances of the brain.

CNS depression can result from the use of depressants such as alcohol, opiods, general anesthetics, and some anti-convulsant medications. PG POISONING can also lead to this. Again, from what I have read, PG POISONING would be somewhat difficult to achieve because you would have to ingest 100-200 ml or more.

Like I said, not a chemist or doctor but I did some research on this before I started using ecigs and so far (fingers crossed) I've not found any cause for concern or anything to indicate that ecigs are worse than my smoking habit was.