If electronic cigarettes have become so successful in recent years, it’s because they’re incredibly effective for quitting smoking, on top of being much safer than tobacco.
In order to quit smoking, you have to choose the right nicotine content for your e-liquid. This is what will allow you to continue absorbing the nicotine you need, all while getting rid of the dangers caused by tobacco combustion.
However, many vapers try to lower their nicotine level too quickly after switching to vaping, which puts them at risk of going back to their old cigarette. We’ll tell you how to lower your nicotine level without risking a relapse, and thus increase your chances of giving up nicotine entirely.
Starting with the right nicotine level
As we said in the introduction, it’s crucial that you pick the right nicotine level when starting out with an electronic cigarette.
With the suitable level, it’ll be much easier to quit smoking, as you won't be craving nicotine and you’ll still get a ‘hit’. The latter is a muscular contraction that occurs in the throat when the vapour passes through. It's a very important feeling for smokers, and the nicotine inside e-liquids can recreate it.
Here’s a rough estimate of what your nicotine level could be, depending on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day:
- If you don’t smoke, don’t vape
- If you smoke fewer than 5 cigarettes per day, go for a 3 mg/ml level
- If you smoke 5 to 15 cigarettes per day, choose a 6 mg/ml level
- If you smoke 15 to 25 cigarettes per day, pick a 12 mg/ml level
- If you smoke more than 25 cigarettes per day, opt for a 16 or 18 mg/ml level
It’s hard to know right away which nicotine level is best for you when you start vaping. Therefore, each vaper has to experiment and trust his feelings in order to adjust his nicotine level. But don’t worry, A&L is here to help! You can visit one of our shops or contact us if you need advice or have any questions.
It’s important that you start with a suitable nicotine level for your needs, as it’s thanks to this that you’ll be able to say goodbye to your traditional cigarette. The main goal at first is to successfully transition from tobacco to your electronic cigarette, before you even try to lower your nicotine intake!
When is the best time to lower your nicotine level?
To improve your chances of success, it’s best to lower your nicotine level at a time when you aren’t stressed. The difference between nicotine levels can leave you wanting at first, which will probably make you a bit tense.
Holidays, for example, can be a great time to lower your nicotine level. These quiet moments will allow you to focus on yourself and peacefully tackle this change.
It’s important to remember that you may not succeed the first time round. Don't get discouraged and try again as soon as you feel ready!
The vaping gear’s impact on nicotine
The type of equipment you use has an impact on your nicotine intake, which can influence the nicotine level you need to start with, as well as how long you’ll have to keep it.
Indeed, powerful electronic cigarettes equipped with a clearomiser or a sub-ohm atomiser can vapourise a lot of e-liquid and, therefore, a lot of nicotine.
For example, if you usually vape with an indirect inhale (Mouth-To-Lung) at a low power and with an 18 mg/ml nicotine content, and decide to lower your nicotine to just 12 mg/ml, using a sub-ohm clearomiser at 40w with a direct inhale, you’ll feel like you’ve easily lowered your nicotine level without feeling any craving. But actually, you’ve increased the amount of liquid that’s being vapourised. So, in the end, you’re inhaling the same amount of nicotine with each puf.
In other words, sub-ohm vaping will make you feel like you’ve lowered your nicotine level, but in reality you’ll just be vaping more liquid.
Thus, we recommend you continue using the same equipment, or an electronic cigarette that allows you to vape at a reasonable power range with a relatively tight draw, so that you can more easily manage your e-liquid consumption and therefore your nicotine reduction.
Take your time and gradually lower your nicotine level
If you want to definitely quit smoking using an electronic cigarette, you need to gradually transition from tobacco to vaping. First, you need to find the right equipment and the right e-liquid. Follow our advice if you need help getting started.
The same can be said for the nicotine withdrawal, you must take your time!
Don’t rush it, it’s best to gradually lower your nicotine level when you feel ready.
Then, you must take time to get used to your new dosage, be it several days, weeks, or even months, depending on your needs.
Each vaper is different, so there are no rules or schedules to follow. Trust your feelings, your body will tell you when you’re ready to lower your nicotine level.
Sometimes, you might feel a stronger nicotine craving, during a night out with your friends or after a nice meal, for example. It’s a good idea to keep a bottle of slightly stronger e-liquid for those particular situations.
For example, if you were on a 12mg/ml dosage and have lowered it to 6mg/ml, keep a 10 or 12mg/ml bottle close by for those difficult situations, just like you used to keep a cigarette handy if ever you needed a quick nicotine hit.
Now, you have all the information to progressively lower your nicotine level, but remember, take your time to maximise your chances of success!
More information about nicotine
- Find out what your tobacco consumption is in terms of e-liquid