SWITCH TO 0MG NICOTINE OR NAH?

[thirtyfiveandalive]

So I'm running out of juices, but at 17 days analog cigarette-free, I feel stronger than ever! So I'm trying to make it into my local vape shop today and I'm thinking about taking the plunge from 3mg-12mg to 0mg. Is this safe? Can I expect to dive right back into serious withdrawal symptoms again?

Or do you guys suggest sticking with the nicotine for now? What have you done? What were your experiences?

 

[salemgold]

17 days is not a long time to be off the cigs. You may want to wait a little longer before cutting the nic out completely IMO Or, you could get some with nic ( just in case) and some without to see how it goes. You don't want to relapse and go back to smoking. Here is some good info for you FAQ: Nicotine (tobaccoharmreduction.org)

Good luck!

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I took 3 months to reduce from 12 mg to 3 mg and some zero. What worked for me was to keep one tank with a higher nic for "those cravings". When I felt the urge I would just take the occasional hit, or hit the lower nic juice a few times. The first reduction was the worst for me, after that it was pretty easy. Good luck

 

[kkahmann]

I don't understand this need some people seem to espouse about cutting out nicotene.

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

17 days is not a long time to be off the cigs. You may want to wait a little longer before cutting the nic out completely IMO Or, you could get some with nic ( just in case) and some without to see how it goes. You don't want to relapse and go back to smoking. Here is some good info for you FAQ: Nicotine (tobaccoharmreduction.org)

Good luck!

Thank you! I just feel really good vaping. Lord knows this is my umpteenth time quitting-the most successful was 2 years ago cold turkey and I stayed quit for 6 months. But boy oh boy was it HARD-a bout with finding out my bf was cheating sent me off the deep end. And before that, I tried NRT (patches, gum) and Wellbutrin. Each one of those I felt like I was dying. Vaping is the only thing that made me feel like normal as I quit. So I was wondering, do I even really need the nicotine?

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

I took 3 months to reduce from 12 mg to 3 mg and some zero. What worked for me was to keep one tank with a higher nic for "those cravings". When I felt the urge I would just take the occasional hit, or hit the lower nic juice a few times. The first reduction was the worst for me, after that it was pretty easy. Good luck

I actually started out on the lower nicotine-3mg, and it wasn't on purpose-I just didn't know any better. Probably explains why I went through as many withdrawal symptoms the 1st couple of weeks I was vaping (I "weaned" myself off cigs my 1st couple of weeks of vaping). I got higher mg's as I found flavors that only came in the higher nicotine amounts.

 

[AndriaD]

So I'm running out of juices, but at 17 days analog cigarette-free, I feel stronger than ever! So I'm trying to make it into my local vape shop today and I'm thinking about taking the plunge from 3mg-12mg to 0mg. Is this safe? Can I expect to dive right back into serious withdrawal symptoms again?

Or do you guys suggest sticking with the nicotine for now? What have you done? What were your experiences?

You might want till you're seventeen MONTHS smoke-free before trying that -- not 17 days. That's not even a month, and potential for relapse is very high until well after three months. And reduce it gradually, like 3mg at a time. Doing it rapidly will defeat the entire purpose of e-cigarettes, helping you quit smoking without suffering. E-cigs are more about quitting *smoking* than quitting nicotine -- nicotine won't hurt you, but cigarettes surely will.

Andria

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

I don't understand this need some people seem to espouse about cutting out nicotene.

I'm not "espousing", it's just a question out of curiosity. Is this not what this forum is for? Sounds like you may need to UP the amount of nicotine you're getting, Buddy. You don't seem to be a happy camper this morning lol

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I actually started out on the lower nicotine-3mg, and it wasn't on purpose-I just didn't know any better. Probably explains why I went through as many withdrawal symptoms the 1st couple of weeks I was vaping (I "weaned" myself off cigs my 1st couple of weeks of vaping). I got higher mg's as I found flavors that only came in the higher nicotine amounts.

When I started vape I started at 6 mg. It cut my cigs by 2/3 but I was a dual user. After 12 days I found out my nic level was 12 and I dropped the cigs for good never looking back. For the first month I didn't try to reduce, just wanted to kill any urge to smoke. Then I decided to try and reduce and thats where I kept one tank with the higher nic. It took a week for me to get adjusted to the lower (9-10) level, and after that week I was good. The next two drops to 6mg nd 3 were easy for me using the same technique. It's different for everyone, you just have to find the path that works for you.

 

[sawman65]

I was a two Pac a day smoker and I did not want to quit. But my health demanded it. I started with 24mg and have slowly moved down to 12mg I may go down to the next level soon but I am not in any hurry. don’t go to fast. You may end up out and about and need that nic craving appeased. That is a bad thing cigarettes are everywhere and you will buy them if you have to believe me.

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

You might want till you're seventeen MONTHS smoke-free before trying that -- not 17 days. That's not even a month, and potential for relapse is very high until well after three months. And reduce it gradually, like 3mg at a time. Doing it rapidly will defeat the entire purpose of e-cigarettes, helping you quit smoking without suffering. E-cigs are more about quitting *smoking* than quitting nicotine -- nicotine won't hurt you, but cigarettes surely will.

Andria

LOL, here I was thinking I was gonna go full beast-mode and go without nicotine...so here's my next question-when you're taking the swab for life insurance-are they looking for the presence of tobacco or the presence of nicotine?? Cuz that's my real concern...

 

[VapieDan]

There is no evil with nicotine. Why worry about it?

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I don't understand this need some people seem to espouse about cutting out nicotene.

I was a 25 year smoker. I had tried many different ways to get off the cigs and nothing worked until vape. I always went back. When I started vape I wanted to get rid of any "addictive" element of cigarettes. Lowering the nicotine level to zero is like an independence. I want to have the freedom of being away from cigs and vape without having the "urge". Even when I reach Zero nicotine I will probably continue to vape as I really enjoy it, and I have 25 years experience of hand habit to over come.

Everyone is different. This is just what I want from my vape.

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

I was a two Pac a day smoker and I did not want to quit. But my health demanded it. I started with 24mg and have slowly moved down to 12mg I may go down to the next level soon but I am not in any hurry. don’t go to fast. You may end up out and about and need that nic craving appeased. That is a bad thing cigarettes are everywhere and you will buy them if you have to believe me.

Who you tellin'? I live in a house with FOUR other smokers. When I say the 1st week was HELL knowing I could get to and seeing packs of cigs everywhere around me? Constantly smelling cig smoke even though I asked them to smoke outside?? My own bf who would fall asleep with his pack of Newports out in the open? Trust me, will power aint the word of what I had to have around here.

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

I was a 25 year smoker. I had tried many different ways to get off the cigs and nothing worked until vape. I always went back. When I started vape I wanted to get rid of any "addictive" element of cigarettes. Lowering the nicotine level to zero is like an independence. I want to have the freedom of being away from cigs and vape without having the "urge". Even when I reach Zero nicotine I will probably continue to vape as I really enjoy it, and I have 25 years experience of hand habit to over come.

Everyone is different. This is just what I want from my vape.

I couldn't have said it better...

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

There is no evil with nicotine. Why worry about it?

REPOST: so here's my next question-when you're taking the swab for life insurance-are they looking for the presence of tobacco or the presence of nicotine?? Cuz that's my real concern...

 

[AndriaD]

LOL, here I was thinking I was gonna go full beast-mode and go without nicotine...so here's my next question-when you're taking the swab for life insurance-are they looking for the presence of tobacco or the presence of nicotine?? Cuz that's my real concern...

Actually they're probably checking for cotinine, one of the metabolites of nicotine, because nicotine itself metabolizes very fast; cotinine has a longer half-life, so it's more easily detected.

If you're dropping nic because of insurance, that's more understandable, but my suggestion would be to go for 3-5 days nic-free before the test -- which will allow your body to clear the metabolites too, and also give you an idea of whether or not you can actually stand to be nic-free indefinitely. Everyone counsels to drink a lot of water when vaping, but especially if you're trying to clear nicotine and metabolites from your system.

Andria

 

[Pjump]

I went from analogs to 4mg juices but i chain vape and try to get as much vapour as possible - my OH is a happy tootle puffer and is on 12mg juices she's been analog free for about 3 months now and if she tries a day on my juices she ends up craving and chain vaping like i do so at 17 days i'd avoid quitting the nic personally since it could lead you back to the stinkies.

Obviously this is completely subjective so feel free to think i'm an idiot but i won't bequitting nic for a while - had cravings today because i forgot my mod lol

 

[Hydroscopic]

Avoiding relapse is difficult. I would probably say that if you are insistent on cutting nicotine levels that you cut it in half or down one level and see how you do. The catch in that is that you should keep a bottle of the current level nicotine on hand just in case you run into withdrawal.

As for the insurance, you will have to avoid the nicotine for a few days. Body chemistry varies for everyone though to err on the safe side, nix it. The no nicotine liquid will help but you'll experience withdrawal since you didn't ease yourself down over time. Expect a nicotine fit or two. It won't be as bad as cold turkey because you can kill the act of smoking sensation with no-nicotine liquid, but it'll still put you through your paces.

 

[thirtyfiveandalive]

Actually they're probably checking for cotinine, one of the metabolites of nicotine, because nicotine itself metabolizes very fast; cotinine has a longer half-life, so it's more easily detected.

If you're dropping nic because of insurance, that's more understandable, but my suggestion would be to go for 3-5 days nic-free before the test -- which will allow your body to clear the metabolites too, and also give you an idea of whether or not you can actually stand to be nic-free indefinitely. Everyone counsels to drink a lot of water when vaping, but especially if you're trying to clear nicotine and metabolites from your system.

Andria

THANK YOU! I was really worried about that. The test isn't for 2 more weeks. I personally was just gonna tell the truth about my tobacco use but when my agent found out that I quit, she said I'd be fine by the test came around but I'm still weary.