Vape-Free in 2026

[Noreeen]

Hi - I am looking for others who are quitting vaping.

I have quit multiple times, for months at a time, but I always start again. My DH vapes and is not interested in quitting which is difficult as I always know there's a vape in the house. Although, on the bright side, I have learnt something new each time I have "quit" and now I hopefully know how to be successful.

I really want this time to be different and would love to find some people in a similar position for support and encouragement. Whether you have quit, are currently trying to quit, or just thinking about it. All welcome.

Today is my Day 1.

You're probably over the worst of it now @MidlifeConfusion1 but I used to get a ring of red where the patch was, and it itched for the first 10 mins or so. I found it settled if I could hold out, and it was much worse with the clear patches. The skin coloured ones were fine.

So today's the day ARGH. I've got my patch on but I'm twitchy AF already and trying to tell myself "tomorrow!" Or "one puff won't hurt". Might have to scribble some notes down to remind myself why I'm doing this.. I should've done this before 🤭

Thank you for the replies @Karmatime @Vapeaddict

@Vapeaddict you can do it
You sound quite lighthearted
I was sort of furiously angry and couldn't wait to get rid of them and I was wondering why I started - I really don't know why I started and I really wonder what's sloshing around in my lungs

What's your reasons for stopping? Embarrassingly, I was convinced that I was getting bad breath problem. Someone at the start of the thread mentioned it being uncouth. I'm embarrassed to do it in front of anyone but in stressful situations, I'm embarrassed how quickly I feel the need to run outside and vape

I stopped vaping in front of my boyfriend because he clearly hates it but when we're together for hours and hours, I do feel like oh my God, I really need to vape. It's ridiculous.

I bet not a lot of people on this site vape
That's not a bad thing, but when I was scrabbling around trying to find someone to talk to last night, I suddenly realised! I don't actually see a lot of people vaping and my friends stopped smoking or vaping years ago! It's sort of embarrassing to be the last one

Yes, I probably am over the worst of it, which is a funny thing to think - I should be more excited really

I think I feel more worried about it today because it's a working day and it's a really stressful week

So I was fine over the weekend really, apart from suddenly cravings hit me quite hard yesterday afternoon

I think the fact that it was lovely and sunny and I was really busy. It was probably very helpful.

As well as the allergy to the patches, I don't really understand them, they're giving a constant delivery of nicotine which I didn't want

So I wasn't too worried when I couldn't use them, but it was annoying because I spent however much money on them they cost about 12 quid I think

Anyway, I'll have to try and get through today and make some plans for stressing

I have a couple of fidget toys somewhere, but I need to find them. Any fidget toy recommendations?

I’ve never felt comfortable about doing it and am much older than the average vaper! However it was realising I have chronic gum disease and will need very expensive treatment just to stabilise and then at least one implant, that has made me determined to stop for good.
The periodontist I saw told me it has been caused by vaping and that he would not be able to treat me unless I stop.

@Karmatime I’m in exactly the same position as you regarding chronic gum disease and needing to stabilise before implants. The fear of losing my teeth because of this was the thing that made me give up smoking 12 years ago but alas…I switched to vaping.

I was read the riot act by the gum clinic back in January who said no treatment unless I give up vaping.

I am 55 days vape free with using Desmoxan/cytisine. I urge you all to look into this. I don’t know why it’s never talked about. It’s like a plant based champix I suppose. It actually worked for me. Not a walk in the park but made withdrawals a lot easier.

Sorry to hear about people having trouble with their teeth and gums

While I worry about the chemicals I'm inhaling coating my lungs, I also feel like I'm coating my mouth with sugar!

The NHS website still says all sorts of things about vaping being better than smoking. I'm not convinced I can think of many reasons it would be worse.

I was actually quite shocked at how many products are available to help you come off vaping

This is a really big problem and the NHS is still talking about it being a good solution?

I don't feel very light-hearted @MidlifeConfusion1! This isn't my first attempt at quitting though and I've already gone through a lot of the "stages". I'm really annoyed at myself for starting in the first place, and starting again after quitting. When people do those "what's your biggest regret" threads, vaping is the first thing that comes to mind. And I'm divorced 🫣 so there's plenty else to go at!

My DC hate vaping. That's my biggest motivating factor- although they think I quit properly on my first time last year. I hate the secrecy but the thought of them finding out I'm still doing it fills me with horror. I realise "for other people" isn't a good reason for quitting but that's the crux of it.

My DH doesn't care at all and just wants me to be happy 😊 which is lovely and one of my absolute favourite things about him is how he loves me for me, not on conditions. But that doesn't help me stop! My mood absolutely tanked on my longest quit and that's actually what made me pick it back up so I'm a bit worried about that but I'll deal with it when I get there.

Similarly to a lot of you, I wonder about health later down the line, it's socially unacceptable/looked down on, I hate how dependent I am on it in stressful/any situation really and I want to be free of it. It costs me pennies really with the set up I have/had so I can't use financial incentives, but I'm sick of hiding away to vape and feeling so damn guilty all the time!

Craving hard now 🤪

Oh sorry I meant to add to @izzy2076 I've looked into desmoxan/cytisine. I have a bit of history with mental health and after doing a lot of reading, I decided it wasn't for me. I can't risk it. Sounds absolutely amazing for those that can take it though- DH still wants to quit and is looking at this route!

The NHS website has quite an enabling approach to vaping. I fear there could be a lot of people accusing them of playing down the risks in the future.

@izzy2076 Good luck with your treatments, I’m waiting for my treatment plan but it’s going to be complex and I will eventually need a front tooth implant which is terrifying.
It is however a massive incentive not to vape!

The desmoxan seems to be a constipation remedy also! Which makes you think!!!

@Vapeaddict you say your mood was affected when you gave up

I'm worried about that too
I ate much more over the weekend as well found it very noticeable.

well, I have survived until the end of the working day! I find it hard going past the shop you know. I know a lot of places where you can buy Vapes are really horrible. But our two local vape shops are really nice! And I associate going in there and stocking up with being a nice thing to do so that's gonna be hard

However, all these stories have gum disease, yeah that is scary - I mean seeing people actually living through that experience is scary you hear about it, but it's different when you know someone isn't it

I don't wanna go down that road

Feel really embarrassed saying I'm gonna step out for a vape so I'll be glad not to be doing that anymore

yeah, I'm really puzzled by the NHS pages on vaping I don't know if I'm missing something but I feel like they're not up-to-date with how big a problem it is

locally, I know we have school age kids who are looking for help stopping vaping and I don't believe all those kids were smoking cigarettes before not 12-year-old or whatever

It'll be interesting to see what the future holds in terms of long term risks of vaping. I generally read how it's so much safer than smoking but obviously that doesn't make it safe! I pray my DC's hatred of the vape carried on, for their own sakes. It's such a hideously addictive habit. @MidlifeConfusion1 my mood was horribly affected I'm sad to say, the most crushing depression descended over me and I spent a lot of time crying. I really hope that doesn't happen again. I've learned a lot about dopamine since and would hope that I can use that to help me through.

Ok so today has been a bit of a disastrous learning curve. I downloaded an app (Quit sure?) and have kept a track of my cravings and, er, 'oops moments' as they call it. There have been 9 in total 🫣 which certainly isn't ideal.

BUT- it's not the end of the world and it's a bloody good start (I'm trying to be nicer to myself!). I've also resisted and worked through hundreds of cravings, with the help of a packet of mints and a straw. Onwards and downwards, I have Allen Carr for bedtime reading. It didn't work when I read it before but it can't hurt to read it again can it?

@Vapeaddict that is a very good start
Sometimes the book will make more sense on second reading that has happened to me before

About the mood, you said it's about dopamine
I've had restless legs the last three nights really bad
that is something to do with dopamine
But I don't know what that means
I would normally have vaped quite a bit in the evening it became a bit of a hobby like a grandpa with his pipe and slippers!

So does that basically mean I need something that produces a dopamine hit before I go to bed? The explanations didn't make any sense. That's the only thing that's changed in the last three days and I've never had it before.

i'm going to get online and look for another fidget toy this evening

Eek I'm not too sure actually @MidlifeConfusion1 my only experience of RLS was when I was pregnant, I seem to remember tonic water helping? Or the placebo effect did anyway.

I think the dopamine thing is about trying to create new pathways as the nicotine isn't lighting up the old ones anymore. I know exercise is supposed to be great for it so was planning to incorporate a walk to my day tomorrow. I'm generally on my own with DC midweek so can't get outside on an evening and after dinner I can't be arsed doing a YouTube video 🤣 but I'm going to pick up my knitting needles/something crafty with my hands, once I've finished my reading that is. Also making an effort with diet/hydration and sleep where possible!

At the risk of making this into a bigger thing than necessary, I think as a society we're becoming hardwired to chase instant dopamine all the time with scrolling/tiktok and having the world at our fingertips. I think I'd be happier in the long run if I could cut my phone usage down and live properly in the real world too, but one thing at a time hey?

@Vapeaddict I think it's a fair point

But I would be very surprised if this RLS relates to dopamine in that way, so I don't think I could get the same thing from scrolling online

It must be something to do with how the nicotine was affecting my system physically

It's actually been starting while I've been sitting on the sofa on the evening

I think knitting or something is a very good idea but until I actually sit down and learn something I thought of fidget toys

I gather the RLS is quite common after quitting, a quick Google told me that it's in response to a lack of stimulation. Makes sense I suppose. Could you try a bit of yoga/a brisk walk? It's a really annoying sensation, hope it settles for you soon!

Fidget toys are a good call. I fiddle with a hair bobble or bit of blutack on an evening when I'm watching something so can't read/knit.

Today's a bit tricky- I have my patch on but have still slipped a few times. Really trying not to slip as many times as yesterday! I've noticed a few things:

My cravings don't come in waves. They're just there, all the damn time. I do notice sometimes that I'm not craving as strongly, but it's just a constant presence.

I'm absolutely ravenous.

I've got a really bad stomach ache (not actually from eating too much- I'm not giving in to the urge to eat!).

Also struggling to concentrate but work is especially boring today so that's not unusual 😬

How's it going @blankcanvas3, @Karmatime ?

I’m on day 6 now and it’s ok, I do get cravings but they are fleeting. I only ever used 3mg liquid so I think that might be why.
Weirdly I’m sleeping better and waking up more refreshed.
I just know I have to keep it up and not think. Oh that wasn’t so bad, I’m not really an addict, perhaps I’ll start having the odd one as a treat. I have done that so many times and it ALWAYS leads to me starting smoking or vaping full time again.

@Vapeaddictmanaged to not vape again since that night so i’m happy, but was v v tempted. We’ve made up now! How are you getting on?

@Vapeaddict yeah I ate a lot more than usual over the weekend
It seems to have settled down

I really wish I could get on with patches. Is anyone aware of a non-itchy nicotine patch? I even find plasters unbearably though

Then again, after five days quit I shouldn't really be thinking about substitute should I?

Nicotine has uses ...
I don't feel the need for a constant supply of it which I guess is another weird thing about a patch I suppose you don't have to wear it all day though

The hand mouth action and the habit is probably the hardest bit to break

I seem to be here and I haven't chosen a fidget toy yet -? They don't do much do they - or at least the ones that do seem to be a bit price

Nothing compared to what I was spending on vaping though

background is that although I'm doing well on paper, I do feel very stressed and irritable.

That's great news @blankcanvas3 really thrilled for you- that slope can be so very slippery! Well done for not caving and going back to it. And well done to @Karmatime too! I think the habit/crutch of it is hard to break regardless of the nic strength- you've done so well. Don't fall for it, you know it isn't a treat! (I slept like the dead when I quit too- as a lifelong insomniac it was amazing 😅).

@MidlifeConfusion1 I'd have thought by day 5 the patches wouldn't be worth it- although I think they're recommended for the first 12 (?) weeks after quitting so you could try if the alternative is going back to the vape? I find the clear ones were worst for giving me a red patch- the ones that are beige didn't at all. That said, I've got Boots own clear ones and they've been fine if ineffective
I've seen fidget toy magazines before, could that be worth a look?

Really bad, terrible in fact. I can't put a positive spin on it. I thought I could live with the fact my vape is stuffed in a cupboard upstairs like I did last time but clearly not as I've been up and down to it all day, so it's going to have to go. I've been reading EasyWay again tonight and need to "kill the Big Monster" but I can't even tackle the Little one! Feeling disappointed and a bit hopeless but tomorrow is another day.

@MidlifeConfusion1 lollipops saved me with the hand to mouth stuff

@Vapeaddict oh there is no way I could have one in the house

How are you feeling now? I find the evening the worst.

After five days, I can't see the point of patch and to be honest I think the tools for giving up an industry in themselves

I was really thinking about it in case it helps when I'm feeling super irritable. I ignored a couple of calls from nice colleague today. She's just getting on my nerves for no reason at all. I did get back to her after about an hour. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel better. To be honest, five days I've probably gone better than I think.

interesting point about the beige versus the clear I wonder if they've got different ingredients I can use hydrocolloid plasters, but I can't use the other kind.

@blankcanvas3 I wouldn't want lollipops. It's funny, isn't it - I don't get attracted to sweets and things but for some reason the sweet vape seems attractive strange

after all the scary stories here about teeth, I really don't think lollipops are a good way to go. But I definitely will choose a fidget toy tomorrow. Or maybe a few.

@MidlifeConfusion1 I only used them for about 5 days but fair enough if you don’t think they will work! I do have a sweet tooth though. I dont think the patches will be worth it if you’re 5 days in already. My irritability lasted weeks!

@blankcanvas3 yeah I can imagine it would last weeks
That's what I was thinking. Is that nicotine is a very powerful drug and to some extent it's what keep me balanced. That's why I thought perhaps a patch might be an idea.

Things to think about. It's interesting that somebody said you've got to ride out the first 10 minutes of the itchiness. I don't know if I did that well I might have lasted 20. Perhaps I've got to be more patient with it.

I'm the opposite @MidlifeConfusion1 and find evening much easier than 9-3. That's my hardest time, and obviously quite a significant portion of the day! Agree that the tools are an industry in themselves, I know a few people hooked on Zyns/pouches now. It was me that said ride out the first 10 mins with a patch but I think if you're not likely to go back to the vape without then keep going!

I'm trying to use mints as I vaped mint flavour but nothing is helping, none of my previous tricks, it's like my brain is just saying "not yet" even though I'm desperate to quit. It's hard to explain 😢 if I could get to 24hrs I think I'd have something to work with, it just feels impossible! Tomorrow's job is to get rid of the vape in a public bin and give this a proper go, no back ups!

@Vapeaddict so how long have you done?

And just out of interest, have you done anything recently where you really couldn't vape e.g. long flight? So you know you can do that.