What is a Nicotine Rush?

The brain is a vital organ that acts as the key cog of the central nervous system. It plays a significant role in how we feel and activates our reward system, which is released by dopamine. There are a variety of stimuli, including chemicals such as nicotine, that can trigger this response.

Nicotine, a chemical which derives from the tobacco plant acts as a trigger, but does it give you a rush or a 'buzz' of energy or a shot of adrenaline?

How long nicotine takes to reach our system, the length of time the ‘buzz’ feeling stays and the strength of nicotine all play a part in this triggered stimulation. Let’s conclude once and for all the answer to this important question with our definitive guide.

Nicotine Can Create a Rush – But Not for Everyone

What nicotine does is speed up the amount of brain chemicals released, which are called neurotransmitters.

These chemicals help to regulate your behaviour and even how you feel, impacting your mood. This surge of increased chemicals is also the cause of enhanced adrenaline, increasing heart rate an§d blood pressure to create that ‘buzz’ feeling, known as a nicotine rush.

The effect of nicotine is almost instant, reaching the brain within roughly 30 seconds. It typically lasts anywhere between 30 seconds up to 30 minutes, depending on the individual and tolerance level plus the frequency and nicotine strength they vape.

But do all humans feel the same way when they vape or smoke nicotine?

The answer is no. It keeps you interested in the product, due to the addictive nature of nicotine, but not all people have the same tolerance level or desired initial effect.

How Do People Build an Intolerance to Nicotine?

Losing a buzz from nicotine can happen just as suddenly as becoming addicted. This occurs over time, like with most habits. Somebody addicted to caffeine in coffee may have withdrawal symptoms or side effects such as headaches when they opt for a decaffeinated coffee.

The body and mind familiarise themselves with the stimulant and slowly the brain does not recognise the receptors as frequently or as effectively, causing a ‘desensitisation, as explained further in this medical review.

Once your body gets used to nicotine, eventually it builds an intolerance so the initial effects felt more by someone new to nicotine will wear off, with the reward via the dopamine effect reducing.

Unfortunately, this leads to the addiction to smoking which makes it very difficult to stop. As you become addicted to smoking which causes nicotine, you keep rewarding yourself without actually feeling any significant positive effect.

And that’s exactly why vaping was created, so you have more of a say in how much you vape. Plus, when you feel the time is right, you can slowly ease off nicotine by reducing the levels.

What Can Happen When You Lose the Rush?

Because you’re losing that adrenaline kick often found in nicotine, a person who previously relied on an addictive habit will seek a replacement.

The feeling that’s often found when the nicotine buzz goes can range from frustration to irritability and mood swings. It can overwork the mind, by increasing anxiety, creating thoughts of cravings for things like food or even feelings of depression.

Plus, it may impact your levels of fatigue and awareness, which is what some feel when they don’t have coffee.

To combat this, fear not, as there are other methods to switch your focus. Nicotine replacement therapies such as patches or gum could act as a slow release alongside vaping – all acting as safer options than tobacco cigarettes.

It’s not recommended to up the nicotine dosage, as you should try to stick to gradually dropping your levels when vaping. Therefore, it’s better to start at the same equivalent as you smoked, and only drop when you’re ready.

What Nicotine Strengths Are There When Vaping?

A benefit of switching to vaping as we stated before is the variety of nicotine strengths on offer. They are available at a maximum of 20mg with smoother-containing nic salts and are often found in disposable vapes. However, they’re typically suited just to heavy smokers looking to quit and needing a similar nicotine hit.

With those who are classed as social smokers, you can pick between strengths of 12mg and 18mg depending on previous cigarette use.

For something less in strength, there are also options of 6mg and 3mg. Going up in strength may cause an initial stronger buzz, but in the long run will only make you more addicted and find it more difficult to quit.

To get the vape buzz back, while keeping to the same strength, and hopefully eventually reducing, try:

• Taking longer pauses between vaping
• Avoid chain vaping
• Focus your attention on another task, such as cleaning your vape kit more often where required or adjusting the wattage slightly
• Adjust the vaping style from mouth-to-lung to restrictive direct lung or direct lung, reducing the nicotine level where possible, slowly reducing the throat hit

Final Thoughts

The buzz from nicotine is very momentary and quick. It does not last for a very long time but is very difficult to quit. While it’s understandable you want to chase that buzz feeling, inevitably you will be left only with the sensation of vaping and carrying on that hand-to-mouth action, with some e-liquid flavour.

To manage it as best as you can, we suggest trying to drop your levels slowly but surely to try weaning yourself down to zero nicotine. That way, you should no longer be addicted to nicotine and instead only vape for familiarity and habit until the time is ready to quit. There are plenty of zero percent nicotine e-liquids available in a variety of flavours which should help you in your quit-smoking journey. These will contain natural flavourings and VG or PG at the base, which act as the chemicals needed to create a vapour sensation similar to smoking.