E cigarettes:

[ItsmeAnnC]

We can't - yet - until they are regulated. My husband did a lot of research on them when we got back from a Celebrity cruise, as he got chatting to someone who had nothing but praise for his, with the intention of using one to help his addiction. The research was frightening - there were some papers saying that SOME brands were worse than the real thing for your health.
Incidentally - a friend - an alcoholic who has been dry for ten years was telling me yesterday that he spent a year being treated by an addiction clinic. Alcohol, they told him is harder than heroin to give up. But the hardest of all, they said was nicotine. So, please bear that in mind when you post your views on smokers and their "filthy" habits. I'll bet a lot of them wish they hadn't started. I agree that some of them are not very considerate, but most are not out to upset anyone, just to live their lives without causing, or receiving any hassle.

[Kendhni]

Anyway, to get this thread back on topic, it has taken years to realise the dangers of conventional cigarettes. How can we be sure that e-fags are completely safe?

Very few things are 'completely safe' in this life ... and proper peer-reviewed testing still needs to be done on eCigs, but the general belief (at the minute) is that the 'purified' form of nicotine removes the main carcinogens for the smoker (although it does not remove the effect nicotine has in creating the conditions for other cancers to develop .. or the toxicity it has on the brain). One of the main issues though is some of the 'giving up' claims made by the eCig manufacturers which are totally untested and purely anecdotal.

However, in relation to passive smoking, when properly manufactured, the cartridges are considered to cause no more danger than the evaporation of an alcoholic drink.

But therein lies the problem ... 'properly manufactured' ... at the minute there are various cheap cartridges already coming onto the market which do not necessarily conform to the ideals of the eCig (for either the smoker or people nearby). Regulation and control of the supply of the cartridges is still required .. that is where the government could get its revenue stream from ... but still retain a significant monetary and health incentive to switch from traditional tobacco products to the eCig.

Assuming the eCig is properly regulated and cartridge quality is maintained and it meets the claims made, then the use of the eCig should be relaxed allowing people to use them in social situations (bars, clubs etc.) thereby providing additional incentives to switch to the eCig. Smokers are very habit driven therefore it is the hand-to-mouth movement that is like a comfort blanket to many ... I remember when I gave up I was actually eating about 3 plastic biros a day

[Kendhni]

PS: A few weeks back I read a report somewhere that they were looking at the effectiveness of this technology to deliver medication (e.g. asthma sufferers)

[Dark Knight]

Day 6
still going well, trying to cut down on the use of the e cig, to an, as and when basis, rather than as a like for like replacement for "real" cigarettes, I used to smoke around 10-15 cigarettes a day, so I hope the usage will fall over the next few days

[suespud]

Day 6
still going well, trying to cut down on the use of the e cig, to an, as and when basis, rather than as a like for like replacement for "real" cigarettes, I used to smoke around 10-15 cigarettes a day, so I hope the usage will fall over the next few days

You are doing so well.
Keep it going.
Sue
x

[Silver_Shiney]

Ann, I wish I'd never started but it's over 30 years since I kicked a (at one point) 70-a-day habit and even now my health is still suffering.

Kev, well done, mate

[oldbluefox]

Any other smokers out there who want to kick the habit?

[david63]

Any other smokers out there who want to kick the habit?

For a minute I thought you said - Hobbit

[GillD46]

Day 6
still going well, trying to cut down on the use of the e cig, to an, as and when basis, rather than as a like for like replacement for "real" cigarettes, I used to smoke around 10-15 cigarettes a day, so I hope the usage will fall over the next few days

Well done.

Our daughter is now on day 4 and has noticed no cravings and has also reduced the number of "puffs". As is common being a mental health patient she smokes quite a lot, and in the past when trying to give up, has suffered severe relapses of her illness. SO FAR she has had no problems using this replacement.

[Dark Knight]

Lady D is having trouble with me sitting in the chair with me e cig as I used to stand outside of the house to smoke
according to her, there is no smell or anything, it just looks odd

[Not so ancient mariner]

Our daughter is now on day 4 and has noticed no cravings and has also reduced the number of "puffs". As is common being a mental health patient she smokes quite a lot, and in the past when trying to give up, has suffered severe relapses of her illness. SO FAR she has had no problems using this replacement.

Be aware that smoking affects the metabolism of some drugs used in mental health, and may require a dosage adjustment if there is a major change in her smoking habit, so it may be worth letting her GP or CPN know.

(N.B. It is the hydrocarbons in the smoke that have this effect, NOT nicotine, so the use of nicotine replacement - in whatever form - makes no difference)

[GillD46]

Our daughter is now on day 4 and has noticed no cravings and has also reduced the number of "puffs". As is common being a mental health patient she smokes quite a lot, and in the past when trying to give up, has suffered severe relapses of her illness. SO FAR she has had no problems using this replacement.

Be aware that smoking affects the metabolism of some drugs used in mental health, and may require a dosage adjustment if there is a major change in her smoking habit, so it may be worth letting her GP or CPN know.

(N.B. It is the hydrocarbons in the smoke that have this effect, NOT nicotine, so the use of nicotine replacement - in whatever form - makes no difference)

Thanks for the warning.

Her meds can'tbe increased - or changed any more, as she has eventually found the right things for her - but whenever she has tried to stop in the past,whether with patches or after reading Alan Carr's book, she had psychotic symptoms within a couple of days, this time she has had nosymptoms whatsoever.

Her Mental Health team are all too aware that as a type 1 diabetic, she REALLY needs to stop.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Thanks for the warning.

Her meds can'tbe increased - or changed any more, as she has eventually found the right things for her - but whenever she has tried to stop in the past,whether with patches or after reading Alan Carr's book, she had psychotic symptoms within a couple of days, this time she has had no symptoms whatsoever.

Her Mental Health team are all too aware that as a type 1 diabetic, she REALLY needs to stop.

Just to clarify: The hydrocarbons in smoke increase the rate of metabolism of certain drugs, so lowering their plasma concentration. Stopping smoking will increase the levels of these drugs, in some cases doubling them: Even so, this does not necessarily require a dose change - it depends on the drug concerned.
Caffeine is also affected by this mechanism, with heavy smokers needing up to three times the caffeine intake of non-smokers in order to get the same effect.

[Admiral of the Humber]

Day 6
still going well, trying to cut down on the use of the e cig, to an, as and when basis, rather than as a like for like replacement for "real" cigarettes, I used to smoke around 10-15 cigarettes a day, so I hope the usage will fall over the next few days

Well done Darknightie, keep it up.

Did you understand a word of the other DK's post?!?

Regards
Your Ravenous Chum to the west of the wonderful Yorkshire City of Kingston upon Hull

[Silver_Shiney]

Your Ravenous Chum to the west of the wonderful Yorkshire City of Kingston upon Hull

Is one trying to wangle an invitation to dinner?

[Admiral of the Humber]

Your Ravenous Chum to the west of the wonderful Yorkshire City of Kingston upon Hull

Is one trying to wangle an invitation to dinner?

yes.....

[Silver_Shiney]

you could always try dropping a subtle hint

[Not so ancient mariner]

you could always try dropping a subtle hint

Not sure 'subtle' is a concept DK is familiar with....!!

[Admiral of the Humber]

you could always try dropping a subtle hint

Not sure 'subtle' is a concept DK is familiar with....!!

even his tattoos aren't subtle...

the other DK wouldn't be amused....

[Dark Knight]

Ta Dah
one whole week off the fags and so far not a dismembered corpse or a tantrum to be had,

AOTH
If you want to go out for food, then find me a decent indian in town and we are offski, or we could partake of the michelin starred delights of Yorkshire, should you wish

[Silver_Shiney]

Ta Dah
one whole week off the fags and so far not a dismembered corpse or a tantrum to be had,

Good man!!

[Not so ancient mariner]

great Stuff. Keep up the good work

[Dark Knight]

i have noticed I am using the E cig a bit more than I thought I would?
not sure if it because I can, as the smoking restrictions don't apply to the same locations with an E cig
or that the E cig does not seem as strong as real cigarettes and lacks the "taste" associated with the additives in a real cigarette, so more useage is needed to get the same effect ?
however I will keep going as I do feel the benefits and I dont have to stand outside to have a smoke

[Ray Scully]

:

i have noticed I am using the E cig a bit more than I thought I would?
not sure if it because I can, as the smoking restrictions don't apply to the same locations with an E cig
or that the E cig does not seem as strong as real cigarettes and lacks the "taste" associated with the additives in a real cigarette, so more useage is needed to get the same effect ?
however I will keep going as I do feel the benefits and I dont have to stand outside to have a smoke

[Not so ancient mariner]

i have noticed I am using the E cig a bit more than I thought I would?
not sure if it because I can, as the smoking restrictions don't apply to the same locations with an E cig
or that the E cig does not seem as strong as real cigarettes and lacks the "taste" associated with the additives in a real cigarette, so more useage is needed to get the same effect ?
however I will keep going as I do feel the benefits and I dont have to stand outside to have a smoke

It maybe that because they are unregulated ( and quality control is not always what it might be) there can be quite significant variations between brands - or even different batches of the same brand - in the amount of nicotine delivered by the device.