When to Increase or Decrease E-Juice Nicotine Levels

Vaping gives us the ability to blow majestically billowy clouds and allows us to explore a wide range of yummy flavors without putting us at risk of packing on the pounds.  But most of us got started vaping because we were looking for a new way to take in nicotine as a new alternative to analogs.  And, therefore, it is particularly important that when we select our e-liquids, especially early on in our vaping careers, we choose the right nicotine strength.

For many, however, this is easier said than done.  It isn’t like cigarettes come with a nicotine strength, and we can therefore simply match that strength when shopping for vape juices.

Many of us find that after a certain point of vaping, we wish to change the nicotine strength.  So, when is the right time to do this, and how can we do it properly to make sure that we feel as satisfied as possible?  We’ll be discussing that today.

Nicotine Strengths: What They Mean

First, let’s talk about what nicotine strength means, in technical terms.  E-liquids consist of four primary ingredients: flavoring, vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG) and nicotine.  The nicotine strength refers to how many milligrams of nicotine are in the total vape juice formula.

Needless to say, higher milligram strengths indicate a more potent nicotine level, while lower strengths indicate a weaker nicotine level.

Choosing the Right Nicotine Strength Based on Your Former Nicotine Intake

So, let’s say you just quit smoking in favor of a new vaping endeavor.  How do you know which nicotine strength is right for you?  Everyone is different, but there are some rules of thumb that can help you figure it out.

Bear in mind that there are two types of e-liquids on the market today: one kind is made with freebase nicotine, and the other kind is made with salt-based nicotine.  Let’s break down the difference quickly to better understand each, as this plays a role in the various nicotine strengths that are available.

Freebase nicotine is a chemically modified type of nicotine developed by tobacco brands in the 1950s.  When vaporized, it can feel quite harsh due to its inflated potency.  Therefore, freebase nic e-liquids tend to come in a lower strength range – 0 to 24 milligrams, for most e-juice brands.

Then, there’s salt-based nicotine, which is a fairly new type of nicotine.  It’s simply the nicotine compounds of the tobacco plant combined with benzoic acid.  It’s less harsh as long as it’s vaped at low wattage levels, and it’s incredibly potent.  Most nic salt juices come in 50mg strengths, although some companies offer a wider variety – typically 30 to 70mg.

What Can Happen if Your Nicotine Strength is Too Low

Now, let’s talk about what you might notice if you’ve chosen a nicotine strength that’s too low, whether you opt for salt nic or freebase nic.  If you were a particularly heavy nicotine user and just switched to vaping, going with a concentration too low can leave you struggling to feel satisfied.  You might find yourself taking hits constantly throughout the day, and chain-vaping just to get in an adequate dose of nicotine like you’re used to.  This can lead you to running out of vape juice quickly, which can cost you lots of money in the long run.

What Can Happen if Your Nicotine Strength is Too High

Meanwhile, choosing a nicotine strength that’s too high can backfire too.  If you weren’t a very heavy smoker, you might find that your body has a lower tolerance to nicotine than you may have thought.  As a result, going with the highest strength available can leave you feeling physically unwell, temporarily.  Those who take in too much nicotine in a short period of time may feel dizzy, anxious and nauseous.  These feelings usually go away within an hour, fortunately.  But still, if you want to maintain a vaping hobby, you don’t want to go with a nicotine strength that’s higher than your tolerance will allow.

Signs You’re Vaping the Right Nicotine Strength

Then, there are those who chose the perfect nicotine strength right off the bat.  You’ll know that you chose the right strength if a few hits of vapor make you feel satisfied, regardless of whether you’re using salt nic or freebase nic.  You can enjoy a nice vaping session and feel like your nicotine cravings have been taken care of, without feeling edgy or unwell as a result.

When You Should Increase Your Nicotine Strength

However, a lot of people do find that at some point, they wish to change their nicotine strength.  Those who wish to increase their nicotine strength should do so gradually.  Go with the next higher strength that’s available and try it out for a few days.  If you feel satisfied, good.  If not, go to the next strength up, and continue until you reach your sweet spot.

When You Should Decrease Your Nicotine Strength

And sometimes, there are people who realized that they opted for a nicotine strength that was too high for them.  Adjusting your strength this way should be done in a similar manner.  Decrease it in small increments, allowing a few days with the new strength to see whether or not it’s working for you.  Then, continue to adjust until you feel satisfied.

When You Should Change Nicotine Types

Sometimes, vapers find that the key to feeling satisfied is changing nicotine types rather than strengths.  If you find that you’re not getting the potent buzz of nicotine that you crave, then you should consider going to salt-based nicotine.  If you are using salt-based nicotine and feel that it’s too strong, switch to freebase nicotine.  Note, however, that each type of nicotine requires a different vaping setup, so make the necessary adjustments to accommodate the e-liquid that you’re vaping.

What to Be Mindful of Before Switching Nicotine Strengths

Before you decide to switch your nicotine strength, consider some other issues that may be interfering with your ability to feel satisfied.  One major one is the output level.  No matter which nicotine strength of type you choose, if you’re vaping at the wrong output for your needs and setup, then you won’t enjoy your vaping experience.  Setting the output higher than your setup can allow will result in harshness along the throat and, in many cases, a burnt flavor.  Going with an output level that’s too low will barely create enough vapor to carry the proper amount of nicotine into your body.

Secondly, make sure that the coil that you are using is compatible with your output level.  Too many people use the wrong coil configuration for their setup and get hits that are either too weak or too harsh as a result, which can interfere with their ability to get in the amount of nicotine that they desire.  Check with the manufacturer’s instructions to select the proper coil for your device’s setup.

Final Thoughts

If you want to feel truly satisfied when you vape, pay careful attention to the nicotine strength that you choose.  When need be, adjust the nicotine strength gradually until you’re finally able to satisfy your cravings.