Too much nicotine or not enough?

[Thia26]

I know this will be a hard question to answer but I'm hoping some other quitter here will have figured this out in the early days. I'm three days off the stinkies and I'm smoking Blu disposables until my kit arrives in the mail. I bought the disposables just to try them out and see if I could smoke less and I haven't had a ciggy since. I've kept up my routine - out on the patio or smoking section to "smoke", approximately the same number of times per day and the same number of drags although I changed my "form" after reading the FAQ here and take longer gentler pulls - but I feel like azz! I have a dreadful headache, my eyes feel unfocused, I feel a smidge dizzy, and I have a strange (possibly coincidental) red rash under my eyebrows. I know that last one sounds very strange but I've never had it before and it started the day after I made the switch and has continued to get rashier. But I don't feel like I'm having a traditional nic fit.
What I'm wondering is how do I know if I should vape more or less?
Anyone had a crazy rash from ecigs?
Thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions!

 

[Pampaflyer]

I had some headaches for the first four or five days. Some people are allergic to the PG that the flavors is based/diluted, but I really don't know what is going on with you. Normally the amount of nic that your body absorves in a vape is less than a regular cigaret (if inhale same amount of nic). Why you don't stop using a few days to see if you get better?

 

[frusciante3]

I am very new to this also, and I had some major headaches the first few days.. and it was mostly 100% VG juice so it wasn't a PG reaction. I was down to two analogs a day before I switched, and kind of overdid it with the vaping so I think it was a mild nicotine overdose for me. Its too easy to just puff on the thing all day long..since I don't even have to go outside. After a few days I got used to the vape, but still had to be careful not to overdo it (only a couple puffs at a time, then remind myself to PUT IT DOWN for a while). I got 1.8% juice (the second to lightest nic dose available) thinking it might not be strong enough, but based on the amount I have been vaping I think I'll step it down on my next order to 1.2%. The way I see it I would rather get weaker juice and vape more rather than take the chance overdoing it on the nicotine with a stronger blend. Give it a few days and see if you get used to it, if not maybe step down on the strength of your juice.

 

[Thia26]

I had some headaches for the first four or five days. Some people are allergic to the PG that the flavors is based/diluted, but I really don't know what is going on with you. Normally the amount of nic that your body absorves in a vape is less than a regular cigaret (if inhale same amount of nic). Why you don't stop using a few days to see if you get better?

I'd hate to do that though because I'd have to go back to cigs.

 

[Thia26]

The way I see it I would rather get weaker juice and vape more rather than take the chance overdoing it on the nicotine with a stronger blend. Give it a few days and see if you get used to it, if not maybe step down on the strength of your juice.

I would like to be able to err on the side of vaping more as well. Sadly I can't adjust mine until I get my kit in the mail and I think the cartridges that come with it are less than in the disposables. I read in the newbie info here that headaches etc can also be symptoms of nicotine withdrawal so maybe I'm not getting enough rather than too much...

 

[Stosh]

It's not unusual to have a few symptoms when first quitting smoking and beginning vaping, this post lists the common ones you may experience....http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/health-safety-e-smoking/3305-list-symptoms-when-quitting-tobacco-changing-ecigarette.html#post51773

 

[DetraMental]

^^^yes the headaches can be a result of nicotine withdrawal and also dehydration from the pg but also a pg reaction. I had the same problem when I started. I went to a 50pg/50vg mix and started drinking more water and this remedied my problems fairly quickly. Remember that your body is going to detox from all the years of smoking toxins and it's gonna purge somehow. Do moisturize your skin well! Don't lose hope this will pass . Keep us informed on how things go we're here to help, ask questions and share experiences!!

 

[Grimwald]

Most of my problems came at the 2-3 month period and not the 2-3 day period.

I was a very heavy smoker. After 2-3 months I was getting woozy followed with anxiety and sleeplessness...general running around like a headless chicken. I notice that my symptoms were worst ad mid-morning and mid-afternoon. This was also when I was most hyped up on caffeine, and probably had had sugar rather than a proper breakfast or lunch. I had a balancing act for a few weeks with coffee, nicotine and sugar. Something about how your liver reacts when it stops processing all of the chemicals in cigarette smoke...not a doctor, but sounded logical.

Anyway, it seems to me that symptoms after 2-3 days could be nicotine related, or PG, or hydration, or flavor. Rashes in particular, don't seem to point to nicotine, but dizzy and headaches do point to nicotine. So many possibilities. My suggestion is to get some VG from Walmart or CVS to dilute your liquid and order a few varieties of flavors and strengths. Then some experimentation. Good Luck.

 

[kinggirl]

Most of my symptoms in the beginning were from quitting smoking analogs and all the trash they put in them not from actually vaping although I thought it was.

 

[PhatRon]

I would agree that it can probably be attributed to the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting traditional tobacco cigarettes. There are some few thousand of ingredients in cigarettes that are not in your e-liquid and your body is detoxifying itself and those chemicals make you feel any number of different side effects/symptoms when your body is not getting them. I suggest that you drink more water and try to get through the first week or two and you will start feeling better. Once a month passes it becomes a lot easier. Just have the will power to not pick up a cigarette and take a vape whenever you feel a nicotine craving. Just stick to vaping and it will all get easier with a little bit of time.

 

[Glinda]

My transition between smoking and vaping was symptom free, but that may be because I went from smoking American Spirits directly to using glass tanks and tinkering with nicotine levels and PG VG ratios right off the bat. Regardless, I'm hoping that once you get your new gear that the discomfort you're currently experiencing becomes a thing of the past. Once you figure out what works for you, I'm willing to bet you'll be fine.

 

[djsvapour]

I bought a cig-a-like e-cig and puffed on it the same as a cigarette.

The cravings and withdrawal was probably worse than when I went cold turkey. I know it sounds mad, but I accepted my withdrawals better when I just didn't smoke.

I suspect the answer to the question here is not enough nicotine coupled with the classic tobacco abstinence symptoms.

 

[GPC2012]

You might consider going to a local B & M and get a cheap ego or something to get you by. Also What is the base for the ones you are using now PG or VG. Get a bottle or two of the opposite in probably 12mg That's where I started and if I felt I needed more I just vaped a little more, but for the most part the 12 was great.

 

[klynnn]

I haven't tried them but thought blue used mainly vg in their liquid.

 

[andylowe]

I know this will be a hard question to answer but I'm hoping some other quitter here will have figured this out in the early days. I'm three days off the stinkies and I'm smoking Blu disposables until my kit arrives in the mail. I bought the disposables just to try them out and see if I could smoke less and I haven't had a ciggy since. I've kept up my routine - out on the patio or smoking section to "smoke", approximately the same number of times per day and the same number of drags although I changed my "form" after reading the FAQ here and take longer gentler pulls - but I feel like azz! I have a dreadful headache, my eyes feel unfocused, I feel a smidge dizzy, and I have a strange (possibly coincidental) red rash under my eyebrows. I know that last one sounds very strange but I've never had it before and it started the day after I made the switch and has continued to get rashier. But I don't feel like I'm having a traditional nic fit.
What I'm wondering is how do I know if I should vape more or less?
Anyone had a crazy rash from ecigs?
Thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions!

The rash definetely sounds like an allergic reaction, I would avoid whatever flavor/brand of e-juice you were using. My personal favorite is Organliq, which is 100% organic vegetable glycerin + nicotine, smooth as silk when you draw. I get it here at a really dope price: strictlyecig.com/organliq/

 

[niane]

Hi, Im on day 4 of vaping, Im still smoking the stinkies but went from 2 packs a day to 11 a day, but Ive already got withdraw symptoms, but no headaches, just chest is heavy, dry mouth, coughing, wheezing and asthma seems to be coming back in the mornings, I know it's all withdraw symptoms but I still have hubby who is still smoking analogs, so I try to stay away when he's smoking outside. I think you have to find the nicotine level that satisfies you, I started vaping at 36mg but it's way to high, so Im slowing coming down on the nicotine level, Im at 18mg with 50% VG, 50%Pg seems to be all most right, no more coughing when I vape today, so keep with it and experiment to find the spot that is satisfying to you. Best Wishes Niane

 

[klynnn]

I can't use over 30% vg in my mixes. I have found some people are actually better off with a high pg mix. I suggest trying both before you decide. I get the heavy chest and wheezing with high vg. All my mixes are 70/30 pg/vg.

 

[AmandaD]

I can't use over 30% vg in my mixes. I have found some people are actually better off with a high pg mix. I suggest trying both before you decide. I get the heavy chest and wheezing with high vg. All my mixes are 70/30 pg/vg.

I have exactly the same experience with VG.

I had no trouble at all going from a 40-year, pack a day habit to vaping - sometimes I suspect people are a) not getting the right nicotine level, or b) having trouble with heavy VG. PG intolerance is pretty rare.

I had a friend who had to have an extremely high nic level to quit successfully, and others who needed much less. I started on 18mg and quickly moved down to 12mg. The symptoms you're describing might be alleviated with a switch from Blu (which I believe is all VG) and a different nic level.

 

[Bobbilly]

I found most trouble was from quitting the cigarettes and subsided after a couple of weeks

 

[Thia26]

Thank you all for your great advice. I tinkered around today and puffed on my disposable a little longer each time and that has helped. Not getting enough nicotine at first. I have to say I really love the Blu's because I haven't had a nic fit at all. In the past I was one of those people who couldn't even get to sleep at night with less than half a pack on hand. It would just make me so panicky I would always have to make sure to have a back up pack. What I did differently this time was a) the Blu's are so much like a cigarette in size and shape and now that I've read all the info on this forum about how to draw on them correctly I'm getting plenty of satisfaction out of them. One disposable has lasted three days. b) I just left my ciggies where they fell. I have some on the patio, some in the car, some by the front door etc. For some reason doing exactly the same routine, even going out to my normal spots for "smoke" breaks but replacing them with the vaper has worked wonders for me. Also leaving the ciggs around has alleviated my normal panic whenever I've tried to quit in the past. They're there if I need one but I don't right now sort of thing as opposed to the big ceremony revolving around smoking "the last one I'll ever smoke." Yeah right. Then panicking when I don't have any and making it about 4 hours.

I also realized, because I'm a dumbazz, that I had been drinking much less coffee because I was so focused on my vaping during breaks I wasn't making my normal cup of coffee to have with a smoke. I had at least in part a CAFFEINE headache. So after upping my vap time slightly on each break and making sure to get my normal amount of coffee I am symptom free except the craziest rash on my eyebrows you've ever seen. I look like I took a lipstick and just ran it over my eyebrows. Weird.

Blu's website says

We are constantly evaluating ways to improve our flavors. Propylene glycol, when combined with glycerin, enhances flavor delivery in some of our flavors. Propylene glycol is commonly used in electronic cigarettes as a base carrier and to help blend flavor ingredients. When combined with glycerin, it also enhances flavor delivery and aerosol density, and generally improves the overall product quality and vaping experience.

I've looked but there seems to be no way to tell which have PG and or VG. I guess I will just have to see if it goes away or hit the smoke shop and buy something else. I really love the cigarette like style of the Blu's though. Does anyone know if there is an apparatus that is shaped the same or similarly but that I could use to try different compounds and mixes to test for allergy? Sometimes I don't even draw on the thing but holding it between my fingers when I'm stuck on the phone or driving for example makes me forget I don't have a cigarette.