Time to lower NIC level?

[reprisal]

If you are buying from US vendors what is your level 18mg? 24mg?
I pull 48mg all day everyday.

Man up!

This post is ignorant, there's no "manning up" needed, this isn't a nicotine contest. Everyone's different and so are their tolerances.

To the OP, I will second what some others have suggested and recommend using a lower strength juice when going out with your friends.

 

[AJT]

I stuck at a high nic level - 24mg - for the first couple of months so I could kill off cravings when they came. Better to stay off cigarettes unless you're making yourself dizzy!

 

[JimmyA]

My cravings for a analog disappeared as soon as I started. The taste is what hooked me. I like the vapor and smells great, just don't like the TH, makes me cough.

Hell maybe I never really smoked analogs properly! LOL

 

[JimmyA]

I'm not a girl, and you're obviously a troll. Btw I'm pretty sure this board doesn't tolerate sexism.

I love the term "TROLL" to funny. I have read a lot and that made me laugh!

I did find that offensive since I have only been on e-juice for only a few days, but a lot of my friends have given me crap in just this short time as well. I just don't like a strong TH that's all. My goal is to NEVER pick up another analog again and this is it.

I have attempted countless times in the past with total failure. I truly believe this is it and I'm very happy I had the nerve to just walk in the store and just bombard them with questions. All where answered and I tossed out the remaining pack on the way out the door and I still have no craving for a analog.

 

[wolcen]

Hi JimmyA,

There is another important factor to throat hit in addition to nicotine and the wattage your device is putting out. That being the formulation of the juice. Some people do not tolerate the PG in juices very well and will do much better with a juice that has more VG in it. VG is a bit smoother on the throat (generally speaking - there are VG juices that then use TH additives to restore the loss of TH) especially for someone that is intolerant of PG. I don't know anything about your model, but I would research the higher-VG (or even 100%VG) option at the nicotine level that works for you. VG should be great for dripping, but may be problematic in some cartomizers because of it's thickness.

Regarding the dual coil cartomizer suggestion. As one person stated, yes, they have a lower resistance, which means a higher total current and power output. What I have experienced however is NOT that this generates more heat. Because that power is spread out over a greater surface area, and each of the coils doesn't get as hot (they are individually around 3ohms), you get a cooler denser vapor than you would with a cartomizer that has the same resistance but just a single coil. So, if you are after a lot of vapor that won't burn your throat, they are a great option.

Good luck!

 

[JimmyA]

Wolcen

Thank you very much for the info. I do believe I'm on all VG, I think...I will have to look into it.

 

[swedishfish]

I love the term "TROLL" to funny. I have read a lot and that made me laugh!

I did find that offensive since I have only been on e-juice for only a few days, but a lot of my friends have given me crap in just this short time as well. I just don't like a strong TH that's all. My goal is to NEVER pick up another analog again and this is it.

I have attempted countless times in the past with total failure. I truly believe this is it and I'm very happy I had the nerve to just walk in the store and just bombard them with questions. All where answered and I tossed out the remaining pack on the way out the door and I still have no craving for a analog.

I think it was probably meant as a joke, I can't speak for them. Even if it wasn't just take it that way. Please don't get offended by remarks on the board. Everyone here is really nice and helpful. Some people just have different ways of expressing themselves.

I've said things myself that I meant in a joking way and wasn't really taken that way. Now I always use a just in case people don't know. Sometimes what you're thinking doesn't come out the same way as when you post it.

I think posting and being a part of this board definitely act as support and really help you stay focused and keep you vaping. I know a couple people that tape and never posted here and they lost interest in vaping.

For most of us, this is our only interaction with other vapors. I really hope you stick around and enjoy yourself.

 

[dormouse]

What juices are you using? If you are using 100% PG then you are not getting as much vapor as you could and the TH and irritation of your nicotine level are at their highest. I use 80PG/20VG because I am using standard resistance (slim ecig) cartomizers and any more VG makes the drag seem sluggish for me. On an atomizer I use 20 to 50% VG. PG lets through flavors, nicotine's TH, nicotine's skin irritation the best. VG dulls/Smooths everything PG lets through but makes thicker and more persistent more visible vapor. Even having 20% VG in your juices can smooth the TH and irritation some while making more vapor. So you could try different juice.

I started dropping my nic after about 2-3 months of vaping and I mean a total switch from one level to a whole new set of juices one step lower - I would switch on a Saturday. But you certainly could buy some lower nic juice for when you want to vape a lot. And if you like it you could switch totally or continue to vape 2 levels, one when needy and one when you want to vape a lot.

 

[theguy01]

My cravings for a analog disappeared as soon as I started. The taste is what hooked me. I like the vapor and smells great, just don't like the TH, makes me cough.

Hell maybe I never really smoked analogs properly! LOL

I'm pretty new at this myself, but what I've found to be useful is:
buy two bottles of your favorite juice: one in 0mg and one in whatever higher mg you're currently using. You can then mix (literally) or alternate to get yourself to something that you can vape more heavily than what you have now.

I find that I have gotten to a point where I have high-nic juice loaded in cartos for those times/situations where I really used to smoke heavily, and a much lower nic level for those times that I've found I want to vape for longer / not get a massive nic hit.

I've also found that all-VG / mostly-VG juices are very much too my liking - throat hit seems smoother even at high nic, and the vapor production is insane. It seems like all-VG juices aren't super common, but some places allow you to specify your PG/VG mix, and places like Alien Visions specialize in VG juices.

 

[wolcen]

Wolcen

Thank you very much for the info. I do believe I'm on all VG, I think...I will have to look into it.

Yeah, I'd definitely check that. PG is of course extremely common in juices and often at more than 50% of the total volume. Juice that is not specifically labeled with a PG/VG ratio of any sort almost invariably contains a decent amount of PG.

In the case you do have 100% VG, I would try a different juice altogether. Some people experience throat irritation from alcohol-based flavorings or other specific ingredients. I don't generally recommend them (strictly on account of their pricing) but the one juice I've had so far that didn't bother my girlfriend (everything else she finds harsh on the throat) was the Johnson Creek Red Oak line. When I got the sampler pack, I opted for their highest level of nicotine, which was on par with other juices she had tried but could not tolerate.

 

[wolcen]

I'm pretty new at this myself, but what I've found to be useful is:
buy two bottles of your favorite juice: one in 0mg and one in whatever higher mg you're currently using. You can then mix (literally) or alternate to get yourself to something that you can vape more heavily than what you have now.

Dang. Simple and effective. Great idea! I don't know that I'd go to zero for the low end on yours though JimmyA. Maybe 6-12 if you are (aside from throat irritation) tolerating the current level well.

 

[namselas]

I have the Jessy M 650 mah and It is only compatible with Jessy products I believe. I love the LONG battery life (only charged it once so far) I dont vape A LOT I guess.

I have been reading a LOT in the forum info area and I know now I have to cut back my nic level. The TH is what's getting to me even though I have 3 different settings on it.

I'm always on the lowest setting and it helps but still get a HARD hit and I don't like it.

The others are right in the fact that, the equipment has part to due with the throat hit, but I think they may be missing your issue. 24mg is too strong for you.

I smoked 1 1/2-2 packs of swisher sweet flavored cigars a day, before switching to vapor. If you have every tried these cigarette sized cigars, you would know they are harsh. The point is I only use 18mg in the afternoon/night and 11 mg in the morning. If I were smoking lights or ultralights before I switched, I would be using 6/8mg in the morning and 11mg in the afternoon, if I needed more of a hit like I do now.

The reason that 24mg is hurting, is not because of your equipment. It is because that level is way too high for you. That level is actually higher than what a filterless cigarette would deliver. There are even higher mg's available, but that is because E-liquid manufacturers are looking to make you more hooked on nicotine. Many people who start with lower mg's of nicotine think they need to up the level because we get used to the hit through out the day.

My advise is to adjust your level. I know many people who smoked ultra lights, that start with no nicotine in the morning and bump it up, through out the day. When I find myself in a social situation (where more smoking is going on) I will often reload my cartridges with 11mg or half 18 and half 11 to create 14/15mg. The throat hit can be made stronger by simply taking a bigger inhale or just topping off the cart.

 

[swedishfish]

The others are right in the fact that, the equipment has part to due with the throat hit, but I think they may be missing your issue. 24mg is too strong for you.

I smoked 1 1/2-2 packs of swisher sweet flavored cigars a day, before switching to vapor. If you have every tried these cigarette sized cigars, you would know they are harsh. The point is I only use 18mg in the afternoon/night and 11 mg in the morning. If I were smoking lights or ultralights before I switched, I would be using 6/8mg in the morning and 11mg in the afternoon, if I needed more of a hit like I do now.

The reason that 24mg is hurting, is not because of your equipment. It is because that level is way too high for you. That level is actually higher than what a filterless cigarette would deliver. There are even higher mg's available, but that is because E-liquid manufacturers are looking to make you more hooked on nicotine. Many people who start with lower mg's of nicotine think they need to up the level because we get used to the hit through out the day.

My advise is to adjust your level. I know many people who smoked ultra lights, that start with no nicotine in the morning and bump it up, through out the day. When I find myself in a social situation (where more smoking is going on) I will often reload my cartridges with 11mg or half 18 and half 11 to create 14/15mg. The throat hit can be made stronger by simply taking a bigger inhale or just topping off the cart.

That's not really the case. The average strength people vape when they start is 18-24. Some higher and some lower. What may be too strong for you is what another person needs to get off cigs. What you vape may not be enough to get someone off cigs.

There are people on here that smoked 50-60 years. A person needs the nicotine strenth that gets them off cigs. That is unique to each individual.

 

[dormouse]

Depending on the ecig and juice, 24mg can be very harsh. Especially if you were not a hard dragger of full strength cigs. And even then, particular combos are very harsh (like a KR808D-1 with V4L WOW juice on a WOW carto - some 24mg vapers cannot vape that combo)

 

[swedishfish]

I found most of the V4L juice a tad harsh.

I'm still working on the idea that juice makers make higher nic juices to get people hooked.

 

[wv2win]

That's not really the case. The average strength people vape when they start is 18-24. Some higher and some lower. What may be too strong for you is what another person needs to get off cigs. What you vape may not be enough to get someone off cigs.

There are people on here that smoked 50-60 years. A person needs the nicotine strenth that gets them off cigs. That is unique to each individual.

+1....you are right as usual swedishfish. The most common level vaped from polls on this and other vaping forums is 24mg. And not because someone told all these people to vape that level, but because that is what they need to stay off analogs, both from the nic needed and the throat hit that better simulates the real thing. The OP may not need that, which is fine. But you CANNOT compare what someone smoked to what works from a vaping standpoint. It's like comparing apples and oranges because of the inefficient manner nicotine is absorbed into the body from vaping in comparison to smoking. There are a number of studies on this point.

 

[wolcen]

And there you have it - the thing you'll hear over and over and over again here on ECF: everyone is different (well, that and the whole thing about various combos - there are a surprising number of variables involved in vaping). Anyway, the point is we all share our experience as a general guide to what might help, but no one can really say what will work for you.

To that end: I smoked a pack a day of Marlb Med's or Camel Lights or any medium-to-full flavor that was cheap that day. I also rolled filterless cigs when money just too tight to be buying a pack of cigs and they weren't my favorite, but I could tolerate them anyway. I've been off analogs since January this year and I have only had one juice that irritated my throat. Just so happens, it's not my strongest juice either. I have primarily 18mg-24mg and aside from that one juice, none bother my throat the least bit. In fact, most of it I feel doesn't provide much throat hit at all, but they do the most important job of satisfying me when I happen to have an analog craving so I really don't care - it's not a huge factor for me.

I love theguy01's suggestion. If this does have to do strictly with nic level, that'll certainly be the most effective experiment. Upon reading back in the thread I see you were on ultra-lights (how many?), so maybe the 0mg/24mg IS the best option. In addition, taking a few hits of the 0mg will tell you instantly if it has nothing to do with nicotine - if it's PG or alcohol based flavorings or whatever, you'll still get plenty of irritation.

 

[namselas]

That's not really the case. The average strength people vape when they start is 18-24. Some higher and some lower. What may be too strong for you is what another person needs to get off cigs. What you vape may not be enough to get someone off cigs.

There are people on here that smoked 50-60 years. A person needs the nicotine strenth that gets them off cigs. That is unique to each individual.

There is nothing in your post that is false, however, it is not exactly the whole truth either. With the gap in information, it is a little misleading and can be confusing to someone who is new to this industry.

You are correct in the fact that different people have different needs, however, anyone who would recommend 18-24mg's to someone who smokes ultralight cigarettes, is either irresponsible or ignorant. Someone who smokes 5 packs of ultralights a day will need more nicotine than the person who smokes one pack of lights a day, but that does not mean they should take the daily requirements in one puff. Different people do need different levels, but when 24mg's is hurting and making you cough, your level is obviously too high.

FYI, the amount of time that you have smoked does not tell you how much nicotine you need. What size of cigarette (full flavor, light, etc.) does not help you determine the nicotine level needed either. It simply helps you figure out the level of throat hit to start with. This is why many manufactures label there products as low/none, med, high, extra high (0/4mg,10/13mg, 16/18mg, 22/24mg). How long you have smoked and how many packs/puffs you actually take will determine the amount of E-liquid you will consume, per day. Just because you smoked 500 puffs a day, does not mean you should get the highest dose available. Again the dosage should be where it is most comfortable for you.

While I am new to this site, I am not new to this industry. I have toured many factories and owned Ruyan stock before they were out of China and it became Dragonite. I was vaping before you could buy this technology, outside of China. There are many companies who operate in an ethical fashion and there are just as many who are only concerned with making a buck or just down right ignorant.

 

[wolcen]

...
I'm still working on the idea that juice makers make higher nic juices to get people hooked.

Ditto. All, or nearly all places offer 0mg juice. What for? I'm guessing people that have reduced and/or eliminated their poison consumption are still enjoying their vape, and still making the juice suppliers money (I've read posts from plenty of people here that switch off between 6mg and 0mg juices). The suppliers would make more money per unit selling 0mg in fact - plain old VG or PG is cheaper than 3.6%+ PG/VG bases, but the prices they sell the resulting juice at is typically the same (there are a number of exceptions, but by and large, 0mg juice price = 24mg juice price).

 

[JimmyA]

Once again you all have helped answer questions. The different takes on each of your comments and I just read The Wonderful World of Vaping, has actually led me to this...

1 I purchased a upper end MODEL that produces the most vapor and TH
2 I still need to confirm PV or VG in my juice
3 I WILL LOWER MY NIC LEVEL because I just don't need some thing that strong
4 The longer I sit here and vap, the less TH I get that is bothersome

I agree it comes down to my "personal Preferance" (SP?) and I will find it. Just as long as it keeps me away from analogs!