The psychological difference between 8mg and 11mg...

[Rachy_B]

So, I went onto vaping full time on November 20th using 24mg first thing in the morning and 18mg thoughout the day...great!
On December 8th, I knocked the 24mg on the head and used 18mg all day...great!
By the 19th, I was using 18mg in the morning and 11mg throughout the day... iffy when drinking...
By about Christmas, I was OK on 11mg all day, purely because I kept forgetting to use the 18mg, although I realised 18mg when drinking was a better idea...

As you can see, I've slowly (possibly not slowly enough!) reduced my nicotine... but having recently bought 8mg from my usual supplier, I'm having problems. I'm literally sat here vaping constantly and feeling deeply dissatisfied. My lovely little 510 (the penstyle with the extra long battery) and cartomiser has worked a treat up until now so I know it's the nic strength...

So, to get to my question: any words of advice you can give, short of upgrading my hardware because I do love it, would be appreciated... I mean, I've just gone out and paid for this 8mg and I didn't think the difference would be that huge but it really feels it right now! I know I've reduced my nicotine really quickly but...meh! A new battery and a fresh cartomiser haven't helped... I really wouldn't be suprised if it turned out I had a mislabled bottle of 0mg right now!x

 

[markfm]

When I was dropping nic, I would drop a couple mg/ml per time early on, but only 1 mg/ml as I got around 12 -- the % difference can be noticeable (small steps are easier).

Also, I would give myself several weeks at one nic level before dropping. I might vape slightly more for a day or two, but by the time a few weeks had passed, I was back at my standard consumption in ml per day.

Pick up a bit of the next higher nic level in that eliquid (11 or 12 mg/ml strength), and mix it with your 8 mg/ml, to get intermediate strengths. You just need one empty spare bottle to use for your mixing, shake it after you put the two eliquids in.

Say you have 12 mg/ml and 8 mg/ml, want to step down from the 12 to the 8. Intermediate steps between 12 and 8 are:

2 parts 12 to 1 part 8 = 11 mg (e.g., 2 ml of 12 mg/ml, plus 1 ml of 8 mg/ml, yields 3 ml of 11 mg/ml)

1 part 12 to 1 part 8 yields 10 mg

1 part 12 to 2 parts 8 yields 9 mg

The above are easy enough to "eyeball", else just put a couple of small dots on the bottle that will hold the mixed eliquid, at about 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 way up from the bottom.

Good luck!

 

[grandmato5]

You're simply not ready for 8mg to fullfill your nic needs for the day yet

Spend most of your day vaping 11 mg and just fit a few sessions of 8 mg somewhere in your day. As the days progress over the next few weeks add a bit more 8 mg each day. Don't rush it. If it feels like a full 11 mg day thats fine You always have the next day to use a bit of 8 mg

The lower your mg levels go the harder it can be to continue to reduce. That doesn't mean you cant continue to reduce, but you do need to be more patient with yourself

 

[JinnMyst]

To the OP:

It's great to see responsible and well-informed vapers like you. I've seen some vapers actually become careless (maybe wreckless) with nicotine.

Don't rush lowering your nicotine intake, take it step by step.

For me, I just follow my intuition. I'm still vaping in between 18mg-30mg depending on what I feel like. When I'm at work, I use around 27mg (quick fix with a few puffs). When I'm at home I use 18mg-20mg.

It's my first month vaping again (was denied staying away from cancer sticks in the middle east), I'm just glad I'm not smoking anymore (no ciggies, no hookah) and I'll probably start lowering my nicotine in a month or two.

We need to see more responsible vapers like you (and less of those looking for a nicotine "high" and "chimney vapor competitiors")

Good luck to ya!

 

[DEVO357]

I can feel no difference between 8-12 or 5-11 for that matter, if I vaped them blind (some one said you had 12 but it was really 8) I cant tell the difference but thats just me lol. Now 24-12 yea big difference!
This is from a purely psychological stand point not physiological.

 

[Rachy_B]

I figured it would be psychological... 11mg was hard enough but 8mg has definitely pushed me over the edge... at 11mg I was beginning to feel the cravings but worked through it, and it certainly wasn't as bad as other methods...

Now to either up the nicotine on what I've bought, or find a supplier of a slightly higher version of 'Virginia' and mix em...as the calculators I have found don't like me upping pre-made juice with extra nicotine, it really will have to be the latter...I've got the DIY juices ready to go but I've yet to buy the gloves so daren't start!x

 

[Buggs5347]

i easily went from 24 to 18 to 12 in about 3 weeks time. But 12 to 8, no way. The flavor loss was much greater. I had to mix 12 and 8 together at various ratios on my way down to 8. Then the same thing when going lower than 8. Now, I've worked my way down to using mostly 0 and i can't stand to vape above 6 - too harsh!

 

[shatner]

Seems like you're titrating your nic dose rather quickly. Why don't you sit on 11mg a bit longer? The lower you go, the more of a % your dropping your dose. Stay a little longer on each drop and it won't be so bad.

I speak from experience. I'm currently titrating Subutex. I'm down from 20mg to 2mg. It's taken a year to get to this point.

 

[Rachy_B]

i easily went from 24 to 18 to 12 in about 3 weeks time. But 12 to 8, no way. The flavor loss was much greater. I had to mix 12 and 8 together at various ratios on my way down to 8. Then the same thing when going lower than 8. Now, I've worked my way down to using mostly 0 and i can't stand to vape above 6 - too harsh!

Thanks guys! You're all super reassuring! It's good to know that this isn't just me!

Jeez, Shatner! That's epic!!!- I don't know how to quote more than one person or I'd be quoting you too! I hadn't though of it as dropping more of a %!

I appreciate that I've done it rather quickly but 18mg was keeping me awake at night and I figured tapering it down in the PM would help...and I just ended up at 11mg all day! It definitely looks like I'm getting into the DIY quicker than I'd expected! Thanks for your advice!x

 

[subversive]

We need to see more responsible vapers like you (and less of those looking for a nicotine "high" and "chimney vapor competitiors")

Everyone is different. 10mg isn't going to work for everyone and not everyone has an interest in quitting nicotine. No one gets "high" off nicotine. Most people looking for a nic "rush" are noticing that their PV doesn't satisfy their craving for nicotine as quickly as their cigs, and it can be a problem for new vapers. There are people who vape all day and use high mg liquids because that is what it takes to keep them off cigarettes. It's wonderful what the OP is doing, but that doesn't mean that all the vapers that don't step down their nic are being foolish or reckless.

 

[MamaBird]

I was reducing my nicotine also, and got hung up right where you did. Everything was going great for me till I hit 6-8mg. But I am also starting to think that it is quite possible that the added stress over the holidays played a part in me rejecting that drop. For the time being, I am back up to 10-12mg until I feel like it is safe for me to drop down again, and I will do it slow for sure... probably will just add some 0mg to some of my fave flavors so I can't even feel the difference.

 

[Rachy_B]

Everyone is different. 10mg isn't going to work for everyone and not everyone has an interest in quitting nicotine. No one gets "high" off nicotine. Most people looking for a nic "rush" are noticing that their PV doesn't satisfy their craving for nicotine as quickly as their cigs, and it can be a problem for new vapers. There are people who vape all day and use high mg liquids because that is what it takes to keep them off cigarettes. It's wonderful what the OP is doing, but that doesn't mean that all the vapers that don't step down their nic are being foolish or reckless.

This is very true and I'm all for whatever works for people! I'm choosing to try and reduce my nicotine because, I must admit, I'm terrified of what will happen if the EU get their way! If I CAN cut down my nicotine, I WILL! I also think that if I can quit the stinkies, I've already come so far, its worth trying to push it a little bit further- this is one of the reasons why I'm reluctant to adopt a bigger set-up as I think it'll just make it harder in the long-term.

That said, in the last hour I have had a major set back in my cunning plan! At 11mg I was using two and a half batteries a day (I can't count in ml) and I've just started using my 4th of the day! I also started using 20mg juice. Part of me started using it because I was curious to know about the flavour after I'd let it steep for a month (it's better, but I wouldn't wanna buy any more than 5mls at a time!) and also so I wouldn't crack further and go for the stinkies. I'm not beating myself up about it, I mean, better I crack onto stronger juice than the stinkies but it's definitely concreted in my mind that 8mg is just too dang low at the moment! If I was blonde, you could call me Goldilocks- 18mg is too high, 8mg is too low, but 11mg was juuuuuust right!x

 

[yellowrider]

whats this about on your sig? Just wondering?
"I WILL BE WRITING TO MY MEP AND MP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EU DIRECTIVE TO REDUCE THE SALE OF JUICE TO ONLY 4MG! PLEASE, PLEASE, DO THE SAME!"

 

[JinnMyst]

whats this about on your sig? Just wondering?
"I WILL BE WRITING TO MY MEP AND MP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EU DIRECTIVE TO REDUCE THE SALE OF JUICE TO ONLY 4MG! PLEASE, PLEASE, DO THE SAME!"

It means she is AGAINST BANNING ejuice made with more than 4mg of nicotine.

This is very good, as for someone like me who just quit, even 18mg nic isn't enough...

 

[yellowrider]

I see.. I strongly agree with her statement then. I currently use 24,18, and 12mg. For some reason when I read it almost reads the opposite due to the way it is worded.

 

[Rachy_B]

Ahha! Then tomorrow, when my brain is less fuzzy, I shall reword it!

Robin 931, I think that might be how I play it...but I'm glad that I've still got my 18mg around for now! I've contacted a supplier near to where I live about picking up some 11/12mg juice for the time being, then I can get to thinking about DIYing! Once I have the gloves, I can give it a try and see how long it takes to steep...that's the plan anyway!x

 

[Sir Center Fire]

Im curious...why do people want to reduce nic in the first place? Perhaps I am mistaken, but isnt nic touted as only as harmful as caffeine? If its not bad for you in the form of vapor, then the only thing I can imagine is the monetary aspect. Vaping is an awesomely satisfying experience (the flavors and nic) and if there's no harm in it, then why worry?

 

[markfm]

It is a stimulant, I believe a vaso constrictor. Not too severe, but it is. A general rule of thumb is that no drugs are better than drugs, which is why at least some of us choose to reduce, if not necessarily remove, nicotine.

In my case I ended up decreasing coffee intake a lot, traded stimulants, and then chose to cut my nic level a decent amount. I still like the effects, particularly for concentration, but can get them with a lesser dose today.

 

[yellowrider]

cause nicotine is addictive like crack. You can skip your coffee and still manage, but your nic and watch out world..

 

[subversive]

I think reducing it is wonderful. I think everyone would agree that while it may not be all that terrible, no nic is going to be better. It's not something I personally want to tackle right now. I did try in the past, and I just ended up using twice the juice. You've gotten a lot farther than I could, Rachy. Keep up the good work! I agree that if you are happy with your current PV, it's good to stick with it. It's hard to go back to small batteries after using some of the other hardware out there.