You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks!

[Ld3441]

I have been a smoker on and off for nearly 40 years.
I have quit several times but always went back. I am still in the early days but vaping is awesome! I was able to completely put those nasty things down and I don't even want one. I am amazed! I hope to eventually wean myself off the nicotine but if I don't that will be ok too. Knowing my history with those things I wonder if someday I will want one again, I certainly hope not.

Any suggestions on the best way to wean yourself off nicotine? I don't want to go too fast and fail. I am using 18mg of nicotine to start.

 

[IMZed]

Hello, Ld3441! Welcome to ECF. Congratulations on quitting smoking!

Don't be in too big a hurry to quit vaping or weaning yourself off nicotine. Take it gradually. After all, the body needs some nicotine (and not just because of addiction.) You've changed nicotine delivery systems. That's great, and soon you will start feeling the physical improvements associated with quitting smoking. But trying to wean yourself off nicotine too quickly may result in increased vaping and frustration. Whatever you do, you don't want to go back to analogs! But when your body is ready you can start stepping down the nicotine levels in your e-juice, by either diluting what you have with plain PG (or VG), or by adding more flavoring. When you start feeling like you don't need to vape as much, you can start stepping down. But if you feel like you need to vape more that may be a sign you need higher nic levels. Just do what your body tells you, and don't get discouraged if you need to vape more or are not stepping down as fast as you might like. Hey, if you spent the money on the toys enjoy them for a while! Congratulations and best wishes.

 

[Ld3441]

I'm not in any hurry and I don't think I will give up vaping even if I make it to 0 nicotine. I do want to be cautious because I don't want to go back to those things.

 

[CreepyLady]

I have cut down my nic rather fast, however it was what worked for me and it was important to me health wise to get the amount of nic lower that I was taking in since it is a stimulant to the heart and I have IST. Nicotine in higher doses also contributes to an irregular heart beat. I started about 8 weeks ago at 24, after I cut out the stinkies 100% (I was having 0-3 analogs per day the first 3 or 4 weeks- and I am a little past a month with zero - YAY) I started mixing 18 and 24, and then 0 and 24 to make sure I was good with 18 - once I felt comfortable I dropped to 18 and I did the same with dropping from 18 down to 12. The biggest factor for me was making sure I was comfortable with the adjustment prior to doing it. I also still keep 24 and 18 on hand "just in case"...lowering nic fast or slow is a matter of why and what you are comfortable with - just follow your body's directions and signals and you will find what is best for you!

 

[denmonkey]

congrats. I'm hoping to get my father off the fags and he is 73 and smoking for probably around the 60 year mark. I will be using your success thus far to help motivate him.

I'd quit for 3 years after smoking for 20 years. but i didnt do it with vaping. I've been picking a pack up every few weeks or so for special occasions and decided to try vaping to stop me taking it back up again.

good luck

 

[wharr]

Do what is right for you. Try your current level of nic for a bit and when you feel the timing is right then step down to the next level etc etc... The only thing I can suggest is do it at your pace.

Congratulations and Good Luck,
Vape On!!!

 

[DetraMental]

Congratulations! As mentioned in the above posts do take it slow and listen to your body. There's no time limit on when to cut your nic intake. No need to stress needlessly, that's why we vape, Good luck to you!

 

[AgentAnia]

Welcome, ld3441, and congrats on joining the Wonderful World of Vaping!

One of the main benefits to ecigs, IMO, is that you can tailor your juice to suit *you.* Be realistic in your goals, and remember there's no such thing as failure. What I'd suggest is, when you think you're ready to step down, to order your favorite juices in several strengths and use them in rotation until you find what satisfies.

Eleven months ago I started vaping, at 18mg/ml. Now I vape mainly 18, but also 12, and 6. Sometimes one strength satisfies and sometimes it doesn't. I don't beat myself up if 6 doesn't do it, I just move on up to 12. Definitely 18 in the AM, even 24 when stress level hits the ceiling.

Listen to your body. Vape!

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

I wouldn't even consider stepping it down until you have vaped long enough to know that you won't go back to smoking. Try a tank at a lower level (generally 6 mg/ml increments), and see if it satisfies. If you feel a little squirrelly, you may be able to stay at the lower level. If you feel like you're going up the walls, stay at the higher level. This whole process is self-correcting because your body is going to dictate where you need to be. In stepping down, I found it to be a little uncomfortable when I was ready. When not stepping down, lower nic was VERY uncomfortable. Very low levels of nicotine, particularly delivered via vaping, is just not in the same galaxy as smoking. First of all, you're not getting the other 4,000 compounds in the smoke, you're not using combustion to get your nic, and the mechanism of action in vaping is about 1/6 that of smoking, in terms of hitting the brain. As such, the nicotine is far less addictive in vaping. Just making the adjustment to vaping is conquering nicotine, say, more than 50% of the way, so let your body adjust to vaping comfortably first, before even considering lowering the nic. The body knows. Trust it and enjoy the Journey. Good luck to you. Thank you for sharing your story. Listen to all the earlier posters urging you to take it at your own speed, and only then, when you're ready to do so. Best to you! Power up and Vape On!

 

[Shannon Grube]

When I would try to quit smoking the lack of nicotine would send me into a bad depression. I started out with 24mg e-liquid and am now down to 3-6 in four months. I didn't rush, just took my time. One day I went with 0 and no problems at all. When I ran out though I forgot I was using 0 and just threw something in, it was a 6. Since then I kinda bounce around but never more then that.

 

[Zee2006]

Personally I think you'll find it's more the hand to mouth thing that most people are addicted to,
more so then the nicotine...... If I were you I'd just not even worry about the nicotine right now and just
drop down as you feel like it... I think you'll be surprised how easy it is....

but be careful in the 1st couple months of the head games... the "oh just one won't hurt" mind games....
For me those were the hardest..... I just kept reminding myself that all I was allowed was my e-cig... if I cheated
it could only be with it.... silly cause I used it all the time anyway...


Good luck, you got this

 

[Bassnorma]

I have been a smoker on and off for nearly 40 years.
I have quit several times but always went back. I am still in the early days but vaping is awesome! I was able to completely put those nasty things down and I don't even want one. I am amazed! I hope to eventually wean myself off the nicotine but if I don't that will be ok too. Knowing my history with those things I wonder if someday I will want one again, I certainly hope not.

Any suggestions on the best way to wean yourself off nicotine? I don't want to go too fast and fail. I am using 18mg of nicotine to start.

Congrats on your experience!

I would say don't put pressure on yourself to quit nicotine right away. You can do that whenever you are ready.

I would think a logical approach if that is a goal would be to gradually step down the nicotine concentration in your juice and at some point get some nic free juices. But if along the way, you start craving analogs, step it up again. Don't let nic withdrawal force you back to dangerous habits....Anyway, that is just my 2 copper.

 

[anit77]

This is exactly where I am too.

Everybody is different and can handle the stress of quitting smoking/nicotine differently. If you want to cut the nic then I would start now. Get some juice that is nic free and fill a cart, tank or whatever you use while keeping some others filled with the juice you've been using. Then start hitting the nic free stuff once and a while and go back to the other stuff. Yes your body will tell you but keep trying to push yourself, just not so hard you're temped to pick up an analog.

Good luck.