Thinking about stopping vaping or step down on nic

[Mowgli76]

As the title says, I'm thinking about gradually using less nicotine, maybe even be completely nic- or vape-free later.

I've been vaping for about 2 years (18 mg nic). Before that I smoked 2 packs a day for about 25 years.
vaping has been fine for me.
But I'm beginning to think I could stop that too + save the money, habit and "hassle".

Please share your experience
Would it be easier to stop vaping than it was stopping smoking?

 

[mattiem]

Would it be easier to stop vaping than it was stopping smoking?

Only you can answer that question for you.

I have dropped my nic strength from 24 to an average of 12 (some flavors are best at low nic -6- and others are fine higher - up to 15- ) I have no plans on getting rid of all nic. I am of an age now that I think the good outweighs the bad when it comes to nicotine. That is a kind way of saying that I am old and set in my ways.

 

[WonderDude32]

For me the goal was to quit smoking and not pick up a new habit. When the day comes for me to quit, you just put it down and walk away. Not when you run out of juice or coils or some other excuse. Try to go the whole day without. See how you feel. Are your cravings a real desire for nicotine or just to have something in your hand? Try vaping 0 mg juice. I'm timid in going cold turkey and always have been so I look for the smallest step down then see if I'm ready for another. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in being free and clear of all bad habits.

 

[Moonlitwish]

I found it way easier to stop vaping than I did smoking. I found out I was pregnant and just stopped. I chewed a lot of gum because I like having something in my mouth. It helps me think. When the pregnancy terminated, I picked vaping back up again because I really enjoy it. I used to make a lot of liquor drinks because I loved mixing them, not because I really wanted alcohol. If you truly feel vaping is a hassle, then stopping seems completely reasonable. You have achieved your goal of quitting smoking. That's an accomplishment to be proud of and vaping helped you do it, but if you haven't become enthralled by the hobby of vaping then stopping vaping is a great next step for your health and wallet.


*~*moonlitwish*~*

 

[DC2]

I think a lot of us could stop using nicotine if we wanted to.
Probably even a lot of us that don't think they could but are wrong.

But there are also probably many that truly do need it.

It certainly does have well documented benefits...
Nicotine, the Wonder Drug? | DiscoverMagazine.com

 

[Mowgli76]

I found it way easier to stop vaping than I did smoking. I found out I was pregnant and just stopped. I chewed a lot of gum because I like having something in my mouth. It helps me think. When the pregnancy terminated, I picked vaping back up again because I really enjoy it. I used to make a lot of liquor drinks because I loved mixing them, not because I really wanted alcohol. If you truly feel vaping is a hassle, then stopping seems completely reasonable. You have achieved your goal of quitting smoking. That's an accomplishment to be proud of and vaping helped you do it, but if you haven't become enthralled by the hobby of vaping then stopping vaping is a great next step for your health and wallet.
*~*moonlitwish*~*

Yes, quitting smoking was huge for me. Mega victory! But that settled quite fast and easy.
I enjoy vaping, for the most part. But I'm also getting more and more irritated by all the things I have to keep doing and remember, just so I can vape that damn thing. Order juices, clearomizers, recharge, clean, refill, change, check battery, recharge, carry it around, preparation when going out etc.
A part of me wants to be free of that too

Anyway, I think I will just try without it (or with 0 mg nico) for some days, and see how it goes

 

[Racehorse]

Hi Mowgli, you started vaping about a year after I did. It has taken me a full 3 years to move to 0% nicotine. (I still have some 3% that I'm using up).

I only vaped 0% this week and for me, noticed no difference. However, my body is not your body.

I do, however, understand the "habit and hassle" aspect. I also understand that many people love all that. I knew when I started vaping that I was only using it for harm reduction, and as a stepping stone to get off inhaling ANYTHING into my lungs, eventually.

So, I started thinking in those terms from the first 6 months I started vaping. Went from 18mg and trying tons of equipment back then, down to 0% and tootle-puffing now.

For me, it has simply been a slow, steady, and carefully planned "step down" program. Some people can do that quicker than I have, others might take longer, and others have no desire to ever stop vaping.

If it is truly your desire to eventually quit vaping, then I would say steppping down your nic, and then also your usage (I stopped taking vape gear out on errands, etc.) SLOWLY would be the way to go.

 

[Racehorse]

Oh, and yes, it was way easier to step down my nic, etc. than when smoking. Because I never could stand those airy "ultra light" cigarettes. With vaping you can CONTROL everthing you do...i.e. nic content, % of flavoring, quantity, and when you use your gear.

It has been ridiculously easy for me, but understand, I did this excrutiatingly SLOWLY, so my body really hasn't noticed anything because it was so gradual.

 

[Mowgli76]

For me, it has simply been a slow, steady, and carefully planned "step down" program. Some people can do that quicker than I have, others might take longer, and others have no desire to ever stop vaping.

If it is truly your desire to eventually quit vaping, then I would say steppping down your nic, and then also your usage (I stopped taking vape gear out on errands, etc.) SLOWLY would be the way to go.

Yeah, I think the next juice order will be a step or two down in nico. And I'll take it from there..

One thing.. every single time (not often though) I go out partying and drinking I simply cannot avoid smoking many cigarettes.
Vaping does not work at all in that situation for me..
I enjoy smoking when out, also because I know that once I get back home, I'm straight back on vaping without a problem.
It could be a problem though, when not having vaping to fall back on after a night out smoking cigarettes.. hm

 

[Racehorse]

It certainly does have well documented benefits...
Nicotine, the Wonder Drug? | DiscoverMagazine.com

I agree there is nothing much bad about nicotine.

That is not why I reduced. I reduced because for me, I thought that would be the best way to get off the whole bus (smoking and vaping).

At 0% nic, all I have left to lick is the *behavioral* aspect.....the whole ritual, doing something with hands, etc. But I no longer get those jone-like urges that I had for nicotine.

My brother used to vape (I introduced him) and he vaped for about a year....now he has a box of vape gear in a drawer somewhere....he started using the lowest level nicotine lozenges for a while and it worked out great for him. Now he is off everything.

 

[Racehorse]

Anyway, I think I will just try without it (or with 0 mg nico) for some days, and see how it goes

JMHO, but I think going from 18mg to 0mg is going to be a little hard on you. That is why I did it slowly...I didn't want to experience those nicotine urges.

 

[crxess]

As the title says, I'm thinking about gradually using less nicotine, maybe even be completely nic- or vape-free later.

Wishing you all the best of success on your journey!!

 

[57chilicat]

Just my 2 cents! I would gradually reduce your nic level! I started at 12 mg and I now have juices ranging from a few 12s but mostly 6 and 3mg. My goal is to get to 0 mg but I am not going to rush it. I am almost at the two year mark but honestly I still think of cigs on a daily basis. I know that for me the nic is still needed and I DON'T want to go back to cigs!
Take it slow and work your way down!
Good luck to you!

 

[Racehorse]

Yeah, I think the next juice order will be a step or two down in nico. And I'll take it from there..

You can keep 18mg and 12mg, and then, you can even mix some of them (if same flavor) 1/2 and 1/2 to get 15mg......if 12mg feels a little too low for your first step-down.

And it will allow you to have 18 for more stressful times.

Experiment.

 

[QU1T]

Please share your experience
Would it be easier to stop vaping than it was stopping smoking?

I dropped strait to 0mg nic, had I known all the things the more knowledgeable ppl here cared to share, I would have done it gradually...

I am slowly but surely cutting down on vaping now, some days I hardly vape, and plan to do it on the weekends only, or special occasions.
When I was a smoker, though I never smoked that much, it was always on my mind, which is why I wanted to quit, as it bothered me both mentally and physically,
The gradual decrease in vaping has been MUCH easier when compared to smoking, some days, specially if I am busy, I simply forget to vape - this would have been impossible for me with cigs.

 

[WindyCityJoe]

@Mowgli76, whatever you decide, best of luck to you!

 

[Racehorse]

it was always on my mind

Yes, that is why I wanted to quit smoking.

but I also don't want to be thinking about vaping all the time, either.

 

[Grimwald]

I was a 3 pad 40+ year smoker and started at 24mg on cig-sized and cartos 3 years ago--my devices are better today. I cut back by 3 mg every 3 months or so (mostly because my body told me to). I found that 9mg to 6mg was too big a jump so I went to 7.5 for awhile. Finally dropped to 6mg. This month I'm trying 5mg which seems to be going fine. I hope to get down to 4mg (maybe 3mg) by years end but no hurry. Could I quit completely? Hard to say. At my age and since smoking was a big part of my adult life, I may not be able to give it up completely. I do find I can go a lot longer without cravings, so I may get down to 0mg...who knows?