So how much am I vaping?

[Geographer]

Sorry for the one-off thread, but I wondered if some vaping experts could help me out as I'm curious how much nicotine I've been taking in.

I used to smoke 5-10 Marlboro Reds a day (about a pack every 3 days).

I got an iTaste vv about 21 days ago and since then have used only about 7mL of a 10mL bottle of 12mg Nicquid in addition to smoking about 30 cigarettes. With my previous amount of smoking, I would have smoked about 7 packs of Reds in that same time period.

I know that vaping math is not exact due to differences in nicotine absorption. However, it seems to me that my decrease from 7 to 1.5 packs is not offset by my modest Nicquid intake. So am I right in reasoning that I've lowered my nicotine intake quite a bit?

* * *

As a related question, I've been rather grumpy and short-tempered since switching to the e-cig, possibly related to nicotine withdrawal (but possibly also just due to being around family at the holidays, haha). I'm considering moving up on my nicotine level to 18mg. Any thoughts?

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[Niten13]

Welcome to ECF! I would say you have done a great job reducing your analogue consumption. You could very well step you nic up a notch but that will not guarantee your withdrawal will go away as your body is wanting the other chemicals also found in cigs, not just the nicotine. I would stick it out with 12 and keep trying to reduce the amount of cigs you smoke.

Just curious what are you vaping on? I see the iTaste but what topper?

 

[lamarrk]

It's all about cutting down AND quitting. Cutting down to 30 cigarettes in 21 days is awesome. Once you find the right e-liquid, I think you'll be able to skip all the cigarettes.

It won't hurt since you're just starting to bump it up to 18mg and see if that helps with the grumpiness. That's where I started and am now down to 6mg.

 

[InTheShade]

Welcome to the forum Geographer. The simple answer is we've got no idea how much nicotine you've absorbed. The reason is because, as you alluded to, there are no studies done that have measured nicotine absorption from vaping.

It would also depend on your specific e-liquid, the topper, the coil, your power, rate and volume of inhale, how long you hold it in your mouth etc, etc. Just too many variables.

What I would say is, assuming that not smoking (or reducing it further) is your main goal, don't be afraid of stepping up a level of nicotine or vaping a little more if it means keeping the cravings away. For me, the most important part of vaping is that I get enough to not want to smoke.

For reference, I was a pack and a half a day smoker. When I started vaping, it was at 24mg and now vape 18mg in tanks and 3-12mg depending on mood in my drippers. I have no plan to reduce further. For me this isn't necessary a smoking cessation product or a nicotine reduction technique, I see it as simply an alternative to smoking. I know this is in direct contrast to many vapers and I accept I may be in a minority on this point.

Finally, and just as an aside really, I've tried to read everything I can about the effects of nicotine on the body. The main objection to nicotine has almost always been the form of delivery and less so about the actual effects of nicotine. At this moment in my life, I feel comfortable inhaling nicotine regularly and see no reason, medical or otherwise, to stop.

 

[Geographer]

Thanks for responding, guys. I've been vaping with an iClear 16. Is that a dripper or a tank? What's the difference?

I realized that I may have given the impression that I'm trying to cut down on smoking. That's not the case-- I just wanted to know if I had been getting less nicotine. Like IntheShade, I view vaping as an alternative to smoking. I don't smoke in my house and I live in Manhattan where it's cold and where going outside for a cig requires as much time as the actual cigarette does, and I have a job where I can't smoke during the day (not even on breaks). So I enjoy vaping to get my nic fix briefly and without any odor that lingers on clothes and affects my job.

What I'd like is to be able to keep a steady nicotine level whether I'm out and about smoking or at work vaping. It goes against what many on this board are trying to do, I imagine, but if that means I actually take in more nicotine than I did pre-e-cig, then so be it.

 

[EBates]

Welcome aboard
The absolute amount of nicotine is irrelevant to your quitting cigs. Vape what you need to avoid smoking/craving. Since you are 'grumpy' take more frequent vapes and determine if nicotine is the issue.
Try taking a vape and hold it in your mouth for a one count before inhaling and exhale through the nose. This should increase nic absorption.
If the above doesn't work try a small bottle of 18mg nic juice. Or go to a vape shop and sample some 18mg and see how it makes you feel.

 

[djsvapour]

Hi

You've gone from 7 'reds' a day to only 1-2 smokes and approx. 0.33ml a day of e-liquid?

If that was me, I'd be climbing the walls, and grumpy, yes.

I went from 15 reds (equivalent) to 2.0ml of e-liquid a day. Everyone is different, but I reckon you've cut your nicotine by a fair bit.

 

[David1975]

Thanks for responding, guys. I've been vaping with an iClear 16. Is that a dripper or a tank? What's the difference?

I realized that I may have given the impression that I'm trying to cut down on smoking. That's not the case-- I just wanted to know if I had been getting less nicotine. Like IntheShade, I view vaping as an alternative to smoking. I don't smoke in my house and I live in Manhattan where it's cold and where going outside for a cig requires as much time as the actual cigarette does, and I have a job where I can't smoke during the day (not even on breaks). So I enjoy vaping to get my nic fix briefly and without any odor that lingers on clothes and affects my job.

What I'd like is to be able to keep a steady nicotine level whether I'm out and about smoking or at work vaping. It goes against what many on this board are trying to do, I imagine, but if that means I actually take in more nicotine than I did pre-e-cig, then so be it.

Hello and welcome to ECF. The iclear you have is a non-replaceable coil tank. By non-replaceable I mean that when your iclear starts to taste burnt, or starts to produce less vapor, you must replace the entire tank, tanks such as the Protank, Davide, Aspire...ect, have a coil assembly in the bottom of the tank which is replicable. This coil also comes in a variety of different Ohm's resistances, and some (although not made for this) can be rebuilt after failing.
As for the difference between a tank and a dripper... a tank holds a reservoir of e-liquid inside, as feeds the wicking material as needed, a dripper has no such reservoir. Drippers require you to "drip" e-liquid onto the wicks after a few vapes. These also require you do build the coil yourself. There is a third type....a hybrid between a tank and dripping, called squanking, or bottom feeding. The tank is a bottle below an atty, and instead of dripping you squeeze the bottle to wet the wick.

 

[somdcomputerguy]

Welcome! Congrats on the cut-back!

Read some of the threads/posts in The ECF Library - The ECF Library, maybe you'll get some info.

Don't worry about blowing up or transforming into something if you want to see if there's any difference between 12mg and 16mg or 18mg. Try it for a week or so, stay there or go back.. or drop a bit, or raise a bit..

I read somewhere that a filled 1.6 mL tank might be equal to maybe 5-7 tobacco cigs. But there is no conclusive tests, and comparing the two is a very apple/orange thing..