🔦 The role of nicotine in my e-liquid

The presence of nicotine in an e-liquid helps compensate for the cravings experienced during smoking cessation.

Nicotine from an e-liquid is mainly absorbed through the oral mucosa and respiratory tract, accounting for around 15% of total absorption. This absorption is therefore lower and more gradual than that from a tobacco cigarette.

Compared with cigarette smoke, which releases a large amount of nicotine with every puff, nicotine absorption through the lungs is much faster, resulting in peaks in blood nicotine concentration with each inhalation of cigarette smoke.

Nicotine plays a role in the “hit” sensation sought by former traditional cigarette smokers. The higher the nicotine strength, the more pronounced this sensation will be. Conversely, a lower strength produces a less noticeable hit. In some cases, the chosen nicotine strength is perfectly suitable for vapers. However, if the hit is not strong enough, the proportion of propylene glycol in the e-liquid can be increased to achieve a more intense hit sensation.

As mentioned above, the purpose of nicotine in an e-liquid is to support effective smoking cessation. It is essential to have a sufficient nicotine dose to successfully quit smoking.

At first, it is normal to feel that you vape more frequently, as the amount of nicotine inhaled with an e-cigarette is between 5 and 10 times lower than that inhaled with a tobacco cigarette. You will therefore need to vape more to compensate for this lack. Over time, your consumption will decrease until it reaches a stable rhythm.

Strategies for gradually reducing nicotine during smoking cessation

To reduce your nicotine strength, you need to gradually lower your nicotine levels. To do so, it is important to listen to your body. If you lower your usual strength and experience strong nicotine cravings, it means it is still too early to reduce your level.

Once you have managed to switch to a lower strength, you may notice a decrease in the “hit” sensation. To address this, you can adjust your base by using a higher proportion of propylene glycol (PG) or reduce the power of your coils.