Though many like to switch to an alternative source for nicotine, such as electronic cigarettes, not everyone is moving to them with a plan to continue using them. In fact, some switch as a way to ween themselves from it.
With out a doubt nicotine is toxic and of course is very poisonous. Although GuideToVaping.com would never encourage any person(s) to continue using nicotine, but for those who do enjoy it and wish to continue, we recommend electronic cigarettes as the primary source. For those who are looking to quit, we simply recommend our (what we believe) perfect and easy guide to quitting nicotine completely.
Electronic Cigarettes aren’t only a great way to continue using nicotine without the 4,000 chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes, but it’s also a great source for removing nicotine from your life completely. We believe that weaning yourself from nicotine, while at the same time taking the same approach with the actual act of smoking, is the best plan of action, rather than other methods like going cold turkey, patches, pills or gum. Electronic Cigarettes provide the same smoking cessation and gives you the ability to move at your own pace by allowing you to select the nicotine dosage. Follow this guide and you’ll be nicotine free in no time!
1. Construct A Plan
First, you’ll want to construct a plan. By following this guide, you’ll need to purchase an electronic cigarette, multiple sample bottle sizes of e-liquid in your selected nicotine dosage amounts (milligrams), and set a start date and end date.
Here is an example of our plan:
- July 1st – 10th: 24mg
- July 11th – 19th: 18mg
- July 20th – 25th: 12mg
- July 26th – 28th: 6mg
- July 29th – 31st: 0mg
Your plan can be much longer. Whatever length of time you feel more comfortable with and depending on how long you’ve smoked and how much you smoke will need to be a major factor in your choosing. Above is just an example of how you would wean yourself from using nicotine while using electronic cigarettes.
2. Choosing An Electronic Cigarette
Choosing the right electronic cigarette can be a make it or break it deal for your switch from tobacco cigarettes. Some say that the disposable e-cigarettes from retail chains and gas stations work great, while others disagree. It’s up to you to choose an electronic cigarette that you think will hold you over and give you a satisfied experience throughout your time. There are many guide’s, how-to’s and general information about electronic cigarettes and purchasing them here at GuideToVaping – so start reading! – Here’s a little bump to get you started:
- Guide To Vaping – Basics Category
- Guide To Vaping – Beginner Category
- Vaping Guide
- The Guide To Electronic Cigarettes 101 – And Then Some
- Getting Started With Your E-Cig
3. Choosing E-Liquid And Nicotine Dosage
The e-liquid you choose is very important to being successful with electronic cigarettes as you first use them. Being that you’re a smoker, you’ll want to probably go with a tobacco flavor being that you’re more used to it than other fruit, candy and beverage flavors. If you’re a menthol smoker, choose an e-liquid that has menthol in it so you’ll feel more comfortable. Depending on how long you’ve planned this out (for example, start using e-cigs on the first day of July and ending it at the end of the month.), will be how much e-liquid to purchase. For using an electronic cigarette for 1 week, I would suggest a 5ml to 10ml bottle depending on how much you previously smoked.
Choosing your nicotine dosage is easy when purchasing your e-liquid. Typically electronic cigarette companies will have a drop down menu on their website for you to choose the nicotine strength (dosage). These strengths are usually 24mg (milligrams) being the highest, 18mg, 12mg, 6mg, and 0mg being the lowest. Some online e-cig sites may vary in strengths and some offer and do not offer 0mg strengths. Choosing what dosage to start at will depend on how much you previously smoked. For a 1 1/2 to 2 pack a day smoker, I would suggest 24mg strength. For a 1 pack a day smoker, I would suggest 18mg strength.
You do not have to purchase all the e-liquid at one time, but you will need to purchase them in advance to your date set to start using a certain nicotine strength. If you have an electronic cigarette store near you, you can of course just take a drive and grab what strength you need to continue with your plan.
4. Start Using Electronic Cigarettes
Being that you’re used to smoking tobacco cigarettes, you’ll still get some sense of cravings, but don’t get discouraged, they’re not nicotine cravings. The cravings you’ll receive are from all the other chemicals in tobacco cigarettes that you’re used to and now not giving your body. With each person, these cravings differ in length of time. To become successful with this plan, do not pick up another cigarette, not even 1 or 2 pulls from one. No matter how bad you may want a tobacco cigarette, just force yourself to use the e-cigarette instead. I promise, once you’re past the first day or two, this will become much easier.
If you feel that you’re having trouble continuing with your plan, please read the link below as well as visiting our forums for help.
5. Continuing With Your Plan
At times you may want to give up because it’s much easier or you’re having trouble with your electronic cigarette and think it’s too frustrating… coming from a now electronic cigarette user of over 2 years, my advice would be to of course continue. And, to help you with that, here are a few pages we’ve written to help you along the way.
- A – Z E-Cig Glossary
- Random Questions Answered
- New To Vaping Electronic Cigarettes FAQ
6. Nearing The End
You’re getting closer to the end of your planned date and things are much easier now. If you’ve already started using your electronic cigarette without nicotine in your e-liquid, it may be a bit tough getting used to. If you’re not comfortable with removing yourself from the act of using your e-cig, it’s okay to continue using it until you feel comfortable stopping. Surprisingly, there are many electronic cigarette users who use e-cigs without nicotine, simply because they enjoy it.
7. Our Goodbyes… or Maybe Not
We’re glad that you found our Guide To Quitting Nicotine Completely interesting and we hope that you’ve accomplished your plan easily and comfortably. If you’ve found that you’re more comfortable to keep using the electronic cigarette without nicotine, then I hope you’ll read more of our articles and reviews about these amazing devices we call e-cigs. If this guide has helped you in any sort of way, please comment below to motivate other smokers in their plan. Also, we would love to see some feedback… what worked, what didn’t? Is there any part of this article that you think we should change or should we add something else? – We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for visiting the Guide To Vaping!
Thanks for this post! I switched to ecigs two weeks ago with something like this in mind. I’m currently using 18mg liquid and plan to move down once my current supply is finished. I’m also going to try to help my mother through the process and this guide should prove extremely useful.
Great post, Blake! E-cigarettes are definitely a great way to quit smoking. Vaping is way better and cleaner than smoking.
Where can I find info on how to compare the nicotine in a pack of cigs compared to a certain amount and strength of e-juice? I have no idea if I’m smoking less or more nicotine since I switched.
Nicotine is overly vilified. It is no worse than caffeine.
It has many medicinal uses such as the treatment or prevention of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.
(I’m not saying to use it.)
I’m 47 years old and, with the exception of a few months in boot camp when i was young, I’ve been smoking a pack a day for 31 years or so. I recently was introduced to e-cigs by a man at my home office in south Florida who was using an eVod and had quit smoking about a month before. He offered it to me to try but that seemed kind of “familiar” so I declined. But when I returned back home to the Florida panhandle after the meeting, I ordered an eVod to try, along with a couple of different liquids. That was a week ago today and I’m happy to say I haven’t had a cigarette since, even with a fresh unopened pack or Marlboro I strategically keep on my bar at home in case I went through some weird withdrawels or something. I never did though… As far as nicotine delivery, the eVod seems to work well and the only time I really think about having a regular cigarette is after I eat. When that happens, I just take a few hits of my eLiquid and the feeling passes. Thanks very much for making this blog available. I can see that it would be beneficial to have a planned “end date”. Now that I know a little more about this, I’ve ordered a couple of different eLiquids in lesser nicotine dosages so I can continue to taper off. This has been pretty amazing, and I didn’t think it would be this easy to quit as I was a person who really enjoyed smoking. And I can say with all honesty, if I can do it anyone can.