So - are we getting it or are we not - nicotine

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olderthandirt

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(Passion Flower) Day two

1. Desire to smoke- Even day with reduced cravings in the morning.

2. Mental Awareness state (Mental Fog)- No fog but very tired in early afternoon.

3. Anxiety (Relaxed state) and restlessness- Slept normal the night before. Energy in morning with crash early evening.

4. Perceived GI (Gastro-intestinal) effects including effects on bowl movements- have the runs

5. Effectiveness of and frequency of vaping sessions to reduce cravings- Not very effective today.

6. Number of traditional cigarettes consumed (If any)- 18

Well that didn't sound like a whole lotta fun IANAN, testament to your perseverance though!
 

TWISTED VICTOR

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IANAN, in my quest for passion flower the nice lady at the local natural health mart made a suggestion I thought I'd throw your way. I was looking for a good source of Harmine, along with St. John's Wort. She thought I'd due better using a suppliment called CALMadvantage from Advanced Nutritional Innovations, Inc. Info states:

...brightens mood and relieves stress naturally, without making you drowsy. It reduces nervous irritability and helps you calm down, feel better, concentrate and work effectively. It may also help control appetite, improve quality of sleep, and diminish the normal symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (maybe that's my problem?). Calmadvantage is a synergistic blend of 5HTP, theanine, and MSM. 5HTP is the safe and natural mood boosting direct precursor for serotonin. Theanine is the natural calming component of green tea. MSM is added to enhance absorption. .....active ingredients remain elevated in the bloodstream for 5-8 hours after administration. Brain levels may remain elevated for up to 12 hours. For daytime stress relief we suggest you take either 1 capsule in the morning, 2 capsules in the morning, or 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. To improve quality of sleep try taking 1 or 2 capsules at bedtime. Up to 3 capsules/day may be taken if well tolerated.
Suppliment facts: (1 cap)
5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan).........50mg
L-Theanine....................................100mg
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)...........50mg
..................................................................................

Sounds good to me, but what do I know :?:. I guess the tryptophan part caught my eye, but I don't know what the 5-hydrox does for it. Nor do the mg amounts mean anything to me. The lady said she recommends these to those who stop smoking. She seems to have a fairly good grasp on the biochemistry, but she's never been a smoker. That's where I have to come to the experts. I'm sure it'll take more than a few pills to upright the boat, but it sounds good. Any thoughts, pros/cons, waste of money or a cure-all? :confused:
 
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Vaporer

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Ianan,
Ever considered Valerian Root for rest?

"Valerian has an affinity for GABAA receptors, likely due to the relatively high GABA content in valerian itself. The amount of GABA present in valerian extract is sufficient to induce release of GABA in synaptosomes and may also inhibit GABA reuptake.

Other believed mechanisms of action in valerian include inhibition of the catabolism of GABA by valerenolic acid and acetylvalerenolic acid and affinity for the 5-HTA receptor by another constituent of valerian, called hydroxypinoresinal."
 

Elf

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Ianan,
Ever considered Valerian Root for rest?

"Valerian has an affinity for GABAA receptors, likely due to the relatively high GABA content in valerian itself. The amount of GABA present in valerian extract is sufficient to induce release of GABA in synaptosomes and may also inhibit GABA reuptake.

Other believed mechanisms of action in valerian include inhibition of the catabolism of GABA by valerenolic acid and acetylvalerenolic acid and affinity for the 5-HTA receptor by another constituent of valerian, called hydroxypinoresinal."

Long I used to mix my own herbal medicinal teas. Valerian Root and Passion Flower were the strongest sedatives I knew of at the time. There are several others.. (strawberry leaf, who knew?), but Valerian and Passion Flower were the biggest ones.
 

Vaporer

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Well, decided to fill the Nicotrol Inhaler the Dr wrote for me,"just in case"(his words).
I was expecting a nasal inhaler after hearing all the horror stories of burning like a soldering iron up your nose.
It came with 5 whistle tip mouthpieces and 168 10mg(2.5ml) carts (menthol). Also the literature answers a lot of questions and provides mucho interesting data.

"Most of the nicotine released from the Nicotrol Inhaler is deposited in the mouth. Only a fraction of the released dose, less than 5% , reaches the lower repiratory tract.
An intensive inhalation regimen (80 deep inhalations over 20 min) releases an avg of 4mg of the nicotine content of each cartridge of which 2mg is systemically absorbed. Peak plasma concentrations are reached 15 min after the end of inhalations.
Absorption of nicotine through the buccal mucosa is relatively slow and the high and rapid rise followed by the decline in nicotine arterial plasma concentration seen with cigarette smoking are not achieved with the inhaler. After use of the single inhaler the arterial nicotine concentrationsrise slowly to a level of 6ng/ml in contrast of those with a cigarette at 49ng/ml in 5 min."

So.....the atomized liquid isnt going far even with deep inhalations and only 50% is being absorbed orally. According to this data, analogs hit 8x harder and 3x faster than inhaling atomized liquid. It's going to take 40 deep inhalations (in 20 min) to get 2mg of nic of which only 1mg is absorbed to equate to 1 analog( 1 mg).
They recommend a min of 6 carts a day min to 16 a day max. 1 cart with 10mg will equal 5 analogs x 6 carts is 1 1/2packs of analogs. That's inhaling 60ml of liquid a day up to 160ml or 2.66 packs of analogs.

These numbers look very familiar to the studies that have been done here and the empirical data collected. The PV in DVaps test was 46% efficient so 24mg e liquid enters the mouth at a level of 11.04mg and then according to Nicotrol only 50% of that is adsorbed 5.52mg. Maybe less and longer time in a PG/VG base (the 2.5 multiplier). Even at 1/3 the time absorption of an analog we see 1.84mg. This is getting very near the 1mg per analog level but it is missing the WTA, flavor and all the other fixations that go with smoking! It's not all about the nic.

Hope you found this as interesting as I did.
 

Mister

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...
10mg(2.5ml) carts
...
the atomized liquid
...
That's inhaling 60ml of liquid a day up to 160ml or 2.66 packs of analogs.
Where do you get the ml figures and the atomized liquid information? To me they seem worrisome, suggesting that 99.6% of what enters the body from this device is some unspecified thing other than nicotine.
The best description I could find of the Nicotrol Inhaler is at Nicotrol Inhaler(nicotine inhalation system)10 mg per cartridge(4 mg delivered)

The description there matches yours in most details but says "Nicotine is the active ingredient; inactive components of the product are menthol and a porous plug which are pharmacologically inactive. Nicotine is released when air is inhaled through the Inhaler." That indicates that there's no liquid and no atomizing going on with this product.
 

rickghouse

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Well, decided to fill the Nicotrol Inhaler the Dr wrote for me,"just in case"(his words).
I was expecting a nasal inhaler after hearing all the horror stories of burning like a soldering iron up your nose.

I also tried Nicotrol, both the inhaled and the nasal spray (Nicotrol NS). I found, as you did, that the inhaled version was pretty pathetic. After sucking away on that thing for 20 minutes, I really couldn't tell if I got anything (except a feeling of embarrassment that I was sucking on air).

Nicotrol NS, on the other hand, did provide me with instant relief. Don't believe the horror stories. There is a shocking sensation (I wouldn't exactly call it burning) accompanied by a major nicotine rush. I found that 1 shot in each nostril, and I'm good to go. It did leave me with that 'something missing' feeling, but I suppose the intense head rush somehow made up for it, and always took away the need for a cigarette.

Cost is the down side. I laid out well over $2,000.00 in 5-6 months. And I wasn't able to taper down much (as the product is intended to be used) so I had to pack it in. :(

Rick.
 

Vaporer

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All the data is quoted off the insert in the box.
I wouldn't have gotten it, but ins covered it.......................
The porous plug lets the liquid fly off it as the air passes by. So they say.
It sure isn't much............it still looks like a small tampon with a whistle tip.

I was interested where the 50% loss goes with it going directly in the mouth.
Huffing this thing for 20mins.......I cant see that happening often....I dont vape that much! To even try to keep it at an analog level, you would have to chain whatever this thing. I think its gonna be a flavored mouth spray as I originally intended. lol

Edit, no batteries, heater..just a white/beige tube with a holder for the cart inside.
You can look right through it...........it would have been more interesting clear and less embarassing
 
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olderthandirt

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....it still looks like a small tampon with a whistle tip.

...Edit, no batteries, heater..just a white/beige tube with a holder for the cart inside.
You can look right through it...........it would have been more interesting clear and less embarassing

Heh he he, well sounds as though if you do use the the thing it'll be an easy draw...

hehe, he said tampon w/ a whistle tip lol
 

TropicalBob

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It's not an atomizer unit. I've had them in the past, and, in fact, have one now, given to me by a friend. It contains a core soaked in nicotine liquid; gaseous discharges are sucked in when a user pulls air over the core. It's not vapor; it's not mist; it's simply a gas. You can feel the throat hit and some people cough. But it does not reach the lungs and it does not have the whamo impact of smoking a cigarette.

I sometimes pull the cart out, soak the core in flavored e-liquid and use the inhaler that way. I wouldn't say it works, but the curious don't freak out and wave their hands at me either.
 

DVap

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Observations from one of the round 2 WTA testers:

11-18-09
For the past month I've been managing my nicotine requirements by vaping 36mg liquid, PG, VG or a combination along with the use of snus.
Starting today I am vaping 36mg, unflavored, only. This is in anticipation of receiving my sample of WTA in either todays or tomorrows mail.
I have had a low depressive swing for the past 2 weeks, but been maintaining with an average of 1.5ml of liquid and average of four to five 8mg, one 9mg and one 11mg snus portion/s a day.
Appetite has been spotty at best, occasional headaches attributed to lack of proper food, no muscle or joint pains. The cravings attributed to lack of nicotine have only been present on the 2 days during the past 2 weeks that I purposely withheld snus. Focus aand initiative the past 2 weeks have been off, slightly impaired.

WTA did arrive today.

11-19-09 Day 1
Awake at 4AM
Bathroom, coffee, started in on the WTA. 1st vape by 4:05AM. There was certainly a bit of craving going on.
Tastes similar to a Shag soak I tried recently. Has a real tobacco taste.
Using a Joye 306 at 3.7v. Decanted 3ml for the day.

6AM, well now, that's very surprising. I have not by any means been chain vaping the past 2 hours. Taste of the vape is a bit on the blah side, but, satisfied. The day still lays ahead but hmmm...

8:00 Well I don't know what to do with myself. I really had no need to vape after 7AM. Simple "whole" feeling. Went ahead and kept hitting the WTA for another hour, and now I'm a bit over amped. Antsy, I need to go do something... Unique as I haven't felt a "need to do something" for quite awhile.

4:15 Amped might be extreme, but the ability to actually motivate has returned somewhat. I've been having a particularly extended down swing of depression the past 2 weeks. WTA or simply time for an upswing I don't know. Suffice it to say, WTA and no snus, the past 12 hours has gone by relatively well.
Added a 510 and 901 both also at 3.7v to the mix. 1ml used at this time. Taste is much cleaner with the 510.

Asleep around 9:30

11-20-09 Day 2
Up at 4:30, nasty headache. Aspirin, coffee and vape in place by 4:45.
The taste is noticeably better using the fresh, clean 510.
Topped off my bottle. Right at 1.5ml used yesterday.
Brand new 306 put into rotation.

8:30AM, been sitting at computer and rotating all 3 devices, basically chain vaping. I'd really like a snus right now, satisfaction level is not there.

12:30PM, Remains a dismal, blah kinda day. Not really chain vaping but fighting the urge to grab some snus or 48mg.

4:30PM, Received a snus order today, oh the temptation.
After 12 hours now the day has kind of drug on. Regardless the atty used the WTA is taking on a slightly sweet taste. 510 is the best of the 3.
Satisfaction, barely. Cognitive issues, can't really say. It was a bit of a struggle to fill out a reasonably simple online job application earlier.

7:30, just finished 1/2 hour session of vaping, eh. Nic cravings have not been really pronounced just the classic desert thing still.
Slight spasms, laterally, just below the naval. Noticed this last night upon laying down to sleep. Occurring now while seated. I'm thinking probably hunger though as I've eaten next to nothing today.

9:30PM, time for the rack. 2mls today.

11:00PM, stuck on the interweb for awhile longer, serious chain vape the last hour. Spasms were more than likely hunger related. Gone within 30minutes of eating a sandwich.

11-21-09 Day 3
Asleep around 11:30 last night, up at 6:30AM today. Would actually have slept longer but the cat had other ideas!
No urgency for vape upon waking.

9:25AM, much calmer morning so far. Bottle topped back to 3ml, rotating all 3 attys. 301=pronounced sweet, 901=tobacco-ish, 510= best described as clean. Vapor close to the same on all 3...

2PM, taste settled into sweet now. Enough volition to get out for 2hr walk. Serious doubts as to whether I'm going to finish off the WTA without some augmentation. The empty aspect is staying strong.

9PM, need to retire the 306. Stuff just doesn't taste good with it. New 901. Not quite 3ml used today. Still not getting the satisfaction that Vaporer spoke of from the 1st trial.

11-22-09 Day 4
Up at 4:30,

9:00AM, bottle refilled to 3ml, used 2.75 yesterday.
While I keep thinking that the something missing is still there, I also realize that an hour or two can pass without vape and there is no actual urgency to do so.
306 was used little yesterday. Just fired it up now and the WTA flat tastes nasty in it. Taste is (lowercase) ok in the 901 but actually nice in the 510.

3:32PM, Mood remains level so far. Resolve continues to deteriorate. 48mg, snus are calling my name! I'm thinking I'm going to call it quits after today.


Sweet taste kicks in after about 6 or 7 hours use. Not that much different than any other single liquid used without a break though.
Trying to think of a way to describe the "empty" feeling. Something missing, almost like a hole or void at the back of my throat that extends up and out through the back of my head.
Close, sort of. My thoughts at this point in time, I don't really see any benefit for me as a result of the attempted alkaloid isolation of this batch.

There IS something to this. Prior to WTA, if I went much over 2 hours with out anything, vape or smoke, the sense of craving was very real and urgent. I intentionally re-confirmed this for myself twice prior to WTA. During the past 4 days an abstinence of 2 hours is accompanied by a desire for a nicotine fix, but it is not a desire filled with anxiety or urgency. Simply typing this out has helped me decide to stop using the WTA after today. I'm going to revert to my previous use of 36mg and snus starting tomorrow morning when awaken. I will continue to log as I have been, here and the scorecard.

11-22-09 cont.
7:00PM, I couldn't do it. Popped a General Wintergreen portion around 6:30 and that hole in the back of my head is gone.

11-23-09 Day 5
Up at 3AM, weird dreams....
No WTA today. Will refill a 3ml bottle with my usual 36mg unflavored and resume snus.

7AM, Huge change from this time yesterday morning. Had two 8mg snus last night and any hint of lacking was gone within an hour.
So far this morning I've had one 5mg snus as well as periodic hits of my usual 36mg. Positive on all accounts so far.

12:00PM, All nicotine/smoking withdrawal issues completely in the background. Normal depression issues, nothing new there, but all craving for tobacco related relief have been non-existent since the second snus last night.

7:30PM Closing this test log now.
Snus = 1@5mg, 5@8mg, Snuff@9 hits, 36mg liquid@1.5ml
Gotta say I feel a whole lot better now than I have during the trial. Lowered nic intake, lack of alkaloids, combination, of the two. As soon as I started using the snus all the negative indicators popped back up to the positive side of life!
 
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IANAN

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(Passion Flower) Day three

1. Desire to smoke- Reduced in the morning.

2. Mental Awareness state (Mental Fog)- Migraines the entire day.

3. Anxiety (Relaxed state) and restlessness- Not observed.

4. Perceived GI (Gastro-intestinal) effects including effects on bowl movements- normal.

5. Effectiveness of and frequency of vaping sessions to reduce cravings- Vaping increased headaches

6. Number of traditional cigarettes consumed (If any)- 19

(Passion Flower) Day four

1. Desire to smoke- No reduction at all.

2. Mental Awareness state (Mental Fog)- Migraines gone- dehydration possibly.

3. Anxiety (Relaxed state) and restlessness- Not observed.

4. Perceived GI (Gastro-intestinal) effects including effects on bowl movements- normal.

5. Effectiveness of and frequency of vaping sessions to reduce cravings- Not effected.

6. Number of traditional cigarettes consumed (If any)- 17
 
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