Vaper's Insomnia - Some Questions

[revco]

Hi all,

In the last few nights, I've been having pretty severe insomnia/sleeping issues that I never got with ciggies. I've had a total of about six hours of sleep in the last 96 hours and it's really starting to mess me up something fierce. A search of ECF turned up that I'm not the only one and many others have reported insomnia as a side effect of vaping. I'm fairly certain it's the ecigs...not much else has changed, otherwise.

I've heard it said that 18mg is about similar to a PAD, light ciggies...but I'm thinking that information might be inaccurate. My new juice orders are all in the 11-12mg range, so I'm stepping it down all ready to see what happens. I've been making a conscious effort not to vape before bed, but it seems not to help...I'm starting to think there's differences in how nicotine absorption occurs when vaping vs cigarettes. I may start to experiment with 6mg as a full/part time vape, or maybe even 0mg for late evenings...but I kind of want to find my tried & true ADV before I do that.

I can't have this issue, so my questions are...are previous PAD+ smokers satisfied with 6mg strength all day? Is it satisfying without chain vaping all day or withdrawls fairly early on? Could this be a sign of aversion to PG or VG? If you've experienced this, did it eventually go away or did you find a sure-fire fix? (Most posts I read didn't have reports back...just various recommendations.)

Cheers! Just passed my 2 weeks...still can't believe it!

 

[TheReign]

I have been fine sleeping after vaping, no kind of insomnia here. Although i recently got into a car accident and i believe the insomnia is because of that. Never started since i picked up vaping though. But, i have been having some ridiculously lucid dreams since i started vaping.. don't know if anyone else has had that experiance, seems like every night give or take i have some wild dreams that oddly enough i remember vividly the next morning.

 

[Rickb119]

I vape 18mg during the day and switch over to 10mg in the late afternoon. Otherwise I too have trouble sleeping.

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I sleep just fine, conk right out, even when I was hitting 24 mg juice. I'm down to 12 now and I vape right up until bedtime. I just wish I could sleep longer, but that's a dirty trick Mother Nature plays on you when you get older...curses!!

 

[Grimwald]

I also experienced insomnia for the first few months. At first it seemed that I had a lot more energy, more oxygen because I was breathing better. Later I had to cut back on the nicotine level and I had to cut back on other stimulants like caffeine and sugar. I agree that if it continues to be a problem, cut back the nic level in the evening if you can. Some folks say they vape 18-24mg in the morning and 6-12mg in the evening.

 

[Bolivar]

I was a PPD+ smoker. Started out with 18 mg and had a lot of trouble sleeping. Backed down to 12 within the first 2 days cause the 18 kind of had me buzzing. That helped, but still not sleeping real well. Got some 6, started using that after supper and have been sleeping much better.

I'm going to try 6 for all day, still have 12 if it isn't enough. Don't know what I am going to do with that 18....

 

[vaperature]

I've never slept better than when I started vaping. For a while I was plagued by vape dreams but that's just because I spent so much time learning about it that it was still on my mind at night. Actually, I don't know if everyone knows this, but nicotine is both a stimulant and a sedative. When you take short quick puffs it acts like a stimulant, but if you you take big deep long puffs it acts like a sedative. This is probably why I sleep so good. I vape huge clouds.

 

[SamNapolitanke]

weird. I sleep better now! my guess would be to do what you mentioned and lower your nic level. big time!

 

[RoseB]

That would probably be from quitting the cigarettes. In July of 2012 I went from a can of chew a day back to 1 1/2 packs of smokes a day. I could not sleep. Even chain smoking before bed didn't help. After just a few hours of sleep I'd wake up with nicotine withdraws. It took about a month. Then went through it again is Sept. of '12 when I switched to e cigarettes. Same thing happened in '05 when I went on the nicotine patch for 3 weeks. That was worse, because when I did sleep it was vivid nightmares. Try drinking some sleepy time tea from Celestial seasons that might help. Hope you get some rest soon.

 

[Butters80]

I sleep a bit better with a 6mg in the late evening. As for the 18 mg, you could buy the same juice in a zero nic and mix the two 50/50.

 

[Buggainok]

I've always been a different sort of sleeper, a true night owl and that hasn't changed with vaping. I have a terrible time going to sleep, but once asleep, I am really out and sleep well all night.

I so love being retired because now I can stay awake and read as long as I want, knowing that the dreaded alarm will not go off in three hours! I think when I was working, I was always sleep deprived, because I stayed up late knowing full well I would suffer the next day.

 

[Bolivar]

I so love being retired because now I can stay awake and read as long as I want, knowing that the dreaded alarm will not go off in three hours!

Isn't it wonderful not being a slave to the clock anymore ?!?

 

[Rickajho]

If you have only recently quit smoking this is far more likely a quit smoking withdrawal problem than a vaping connected issue. You are putting your brain though withdrawal from a pile of chemicals - including MAOI's - that it is no longer receiving. Again - this isn't just about the nicotine. I had sleep pattern disturbances for nearly two months when I quit smoking. It had nothing to do with vaping.

 

[Bunnykiller]

With all of the "stop smoking" applications I tried, some of the side effects listed are "inability to sleep", insomnia, restlessness, strange or reoccuring dreams. It may not be the vaping, but the reduction/cessation of the ciggies. Vaping and the patches were the 2 main methods that reduced my sleeping patterns and when I did sleep, the dreams were bizzare or even so realistic I had problems deciding if they were dreams or memories.

 

[Storm52]

I started with 20mg nic, recommended by the shop. 15 ml bottle to begin. Sleeping wasn't a problem and I was doing "okay". Went back 4 days later and said bump me to 24 mg. So I got 20 mg refill and 10 ml with 24mg. Vaped on the 24 all day and evening and could not sleep at all. Holding the 24mg for when some sample with 6mg come in and I'll mix 'em. You might be getting too much nic. My 2¢

 

[revco]

Thanks for the responses, this has been a fairly serious (potentially vape-ending event) problem for me the last few days. I really appreciate this forum since I don't know very many vapers, so your feedback is essential to me to be successful with this. I'm not unfamiliar with nicotine, but it's never affected me like this.

I was a PPD+ smoker. Started out with 18 mg and had a lot of trouble sleeping. Backed down to 12 within the first 2 days cause the 18 kind of had me buzzing. That helped, but still not sleeping real well. Got some 6, started using that after supper and have been sleeping much better.

This is perfect, sounds like the advice I've read works. I'll make sure to get some 6mg in on one of my next orders. Sadly, I can't get 6mg in my local shop, so it'll have to wait. Hopefully I can sleep in the meantime with 12mg.

That would probably be from quitting the cigarettes. In July of 2012 I went from a can of chew a day back to 1 1/2 packs of smokes a day. I could not sleep. Even chain smoking before bed didn't help. After just a few hours of sleep I'd wake up with nicotine withdraws. It took about a month. Then went through it again is Sept. of '12 when I switched to e cigarettes. Same thing happened in '05 when I went on the nicotine patch for 3 weeks. That was worse, because when I did sleep it was vivid nightmares. Try drinking some sleepy time tea from Celestial seasons that might help. Hope you get some rest soon.

And to the others suggesting it may relate to the quit...

I took a shot of cough syrup last night and that helped, but not what I wanna do long term. I'm not so sure it's from quitting, since this isn't my first rodeo. This is my 4th significant quit attempt, with two "cold turkeys" behind me, and I can't recall ever experiencing insomnia this bad. It's pretty odd how this quitting thing affects different people in different ways. I won't discount the possibility, but it's not consistent for me and my body...you know?

I sleep a bit better with a 6mg in the late evening. As for the 18 mg, you could buy the same juice in a zero nic and mix the two 50/50.

Brilliant. I've noticed my SO, who doesn't smoke, has been puffing on my vapes more than she ever did my ciggies. (She'd take a puff every so often, I had to take my old cigalike away from her the other day!) I've been thinking the 0mg would be a wise choice, if only for her, because I do NOT want her on the nic at all. This would be more economical and potentially solve both issues.

I so love being retired because now I can stay awake and read as long as I want, knowing that the dreaded alarm will not go off in three hours!

Wanna know what's worse? Three alarm clocks because you're terrified of sleeping in from no sleep! Wanna trade? Hahaha.

For a while I was plagued by vape dreams but that's just because I spent so much time learning about it that it was still on my mind at night.

You might have a point. I've been excited about it and do spend my "recovery" time on here and elsewhere learning as much as I can. Still, I've been excited about plenty before and can still sleep pretty well. It's one thing to stay up 'til 1AM for me (which I do sometimes), it's an entirely different thing to see 6AM on your clock and know you have to get ready for work an hour later. Please tell me an addiction to ECF is completely safe?

Thanks all. I'll try to isolate the symptom as much as possible, but my gut is telling me it's something with vaping and nicotine. I have some 12mg coming in tomorrow, so if I see improvement, I'll know. If I do, I'll get some 0mg to cut with for an evening vape. If not, I guess I'll just grin and bear it with whatever it takes until the symptom recedes.

 

[Contains.Whsky]

nicotine withdrawal .. can cause excessive or more than normal sleeping or insomnia .. dependent on the person .. i have horrible insomnia normally .. and didn't find that e juice had any effect on it .. until i found my "crack juice" .. i normally vape 24 mg nic .. and found that this particular e juice at 24 nic .. caused me to bounce off the walls at bedtime .. switched it 6mg at night .. and i sleep better than i ever have .. even with my normal insomnia .. so as others have said .. switch your nicotine level and you should be okay ..

 

[distantreality]

I would definitely reduce the nic intake!! or try some of that Valerian e-juice saw a link on the forums this is to the forum page http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...root-natural-relaxant-sleep-aid-e-liquid.html
Good Luck hope it helps!! Lemme know if you decide to try it I could always use a sleep aid lol

 

[stowaway]

I agree with most posters, lower nic juice at night helps sleep. It's like switching to decaf in the afternoon. Best of luck finding that sweet spot!

 

[revco]

Just an update here folks, so this thread has some resolution.

I received my 12mg yesterday and immediately switched to it shortly after noon. For the first time almost 5 days, I was able to get some sleep last night. I'm still not 100% sure if it was the fact that I couldn't stay up any longer or whether it was the nicotine, but I feel "normal" on the 12mg anyway. I can tell a big difference today...it's after work and I don't feel completely wired, like I haven't the rest of this week. I think I'll still get some 0mg to mix down to lower levels for the evening, but I can at least work with this for now.

Appreciate all the responses...looks like I can continue vaping, thank goodness! I'm a little surprised it didn't force me back to ciggies...but I think I'm at a point in my quit where I prefer e-cigs now.