No more smoking

[jackolantern]

I go through about one can of loose every two days. When I started it was more like one can every three days, and that was after quitting smoking (smoked about 1 pack per day). I guess my pris got bigger. Keep in mind too that I also use portions during the night (usually one while falling asleep and one midway through sleep) and during meetings (about a can of portions a week; the rest loose). I think the most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and use as much as you need to. Definitely preferable to smoking.

You snus in your sleep? :shock:

And on topic, you are doing the right thing by just doing snus when you feel the need. I tend to go overboard with these types of things, and can use a can of portions up in 2 or 3 days max.

[MrAbstracto]

You snus in your sleep? :shock:

I do! It keeps me from waking up after an hour or so craving a cigarette.

[Sal1000us]

Sagedil, I think you are right about trying it for myself. I have tried General loose and I really liked it and I read some threads where some didn’t care for it. I tried Knox loose and I thought it was ok and I know that a lot of people don’t like it, so I’ll keep trying.

Jackolantern, never tried snus in my sleep. LOL, although I see some have tried it. I was a little tipsy couple of nights ago and almost fell asleep with the snus in my mouth, but woke up and thought I might get choked so it came out immediately.

I also did an experiment yesterday, kept about 1.5 grams of loose Ettan under the lips for about 4.5 hours and I do believe Ettan was releaing nicotine the entire 4.5 hours since I didn’t feel any nicotine withdrawal. In the absence of nicotine, I usually feel the need after 15-20 minutes.

[sagedil]

Sal1000us, one thing you have to remember with snus, not only is the nicotine uptake slower, far more importantly, the release of nicotine from the bloodstream is FAR slower. When you smoke, you are hit with a blast of nicotine, but it also leaves the bloodstream almost immidiately, that is why you have the up and down cravings. Snus use results in a far more subdued nicotine plane. So, even when you stop using a snus, you won't feel that same drive for another one nearly as quickly. ocassinally, i will forget I don't have a snus in. I might go two hours before I dimly become aware that I need more nicotine. Honestly, that was te reason I came to love snus, and ended up leaving cigarettes.

Sure, the health stuff is good and I am glad i don't smell like an ashtray. But that never stopped me from smoking for 30 years. Snus was just a WAY more pleasant way to manage my nicotine intake.

[Sal1000us]

Sagedil, thanks for the very precise and scientific explanation. So based on your explanation, snus releases nicotine slowly (and possibly somewhat steady rate for a certain period of time) and also the nicotine stays in the body for a longer period of time compared to smoking.

[mercvrivs]

Yeah, I know that nicotine from cigarettes starts to leave the central nervous system within 20 minutes.

I do snus in my sleep, although less than I used to. It helps me sleep better. I used to wake up 1-2 times nightly for a smoke, so doing one snus in the middle of the night is fine by me. I do portions at night because I figure it's probably better for my teeth since I brush them before bed, and also because if I miss the trash can I don't end up with loose snus all over my bed or floor.

[sagedil]

Sagedil, thanks for the very precise and scientific explanation. So based on your explanation, snus releases nicotine slowly (and possibly somewhat steady rate for a certain period of time) and also the nicotine stays in the body for a longer period of time compared to smoking.

Yes

I finally found some science I wanted to post for you earlier. This is from Swedish Match.

http://www.swedishmatch.com/en/Snus-...cotine-uptake/

[Sal1000us]

Sagedil, very interesting link. It is just the kind of information I was looking for.

The following text from the link:

“Only 10-20 % of the nicotine present in a pinch of snus is absorbed via the mucous membrane and reaches the systemic circulation. This means that only 1-2 mg of nicotine is absorbed into the blood from a one gram pinch containing ca 10 mg of nicotine.”

is really interesting when comparing the amount of nictotine in snus vs. cigarettes in my case. I have been using about 3 grams of snus per day and I am fairly satisfied (perfect daily fix). According to the link, 3 grams (or 3 pinches) of snus corresponds to 3 – 6 milligrams of nicotine which is equivalent to smoking 3 – 6 cigarettes (if I remember correctly one Marlboro lights had about 1 mg of nicotine), so my daily nicotine fix which I receive from snus is equivalent to smoking 3-6 cigarettes daily. It is really amazing since I used to smoke 30 cigarettes a day and still wasn’t too happy since I really never got as nice nicotine fix as snus.

[sagedil]

Then let me point you to something else in that very same article.....

In contrast to cigarette smokers, snus users do not compensate their nicotine uptake when switching to a low nicotine product. A decrease of the nicotine content of snus by 50 % results in a decrease of the nicotine uptake by about 50 %.

When snus users switch to a lower nicotine snus, they reduce the nicotine they use. This seems counter intuitive, and from what I have found so far, has not really been researched why. But I have a theory that also helps explain what you are experiencing. Studies show that cigarette smokers smoking a lower nicotine cigarette, will smoke more and hold the smoke in longer, basically compensating to make sure they retain there desired nicotine level. but the same doesn't happen with snus users because, I believe, the unique way nicotine from snus stays in the body.

In essence, since nicotine from cigarettes leaves the body so fast, you are constantly chasing it, compelled to replace it as soon as possible. but snus use doesn't create that replacement drive, thus a perhaps smaller, but much more steady rate of nicotine simply doesn't need nearly as much to maintain your satisfaction. When they reduce snus users nicotine, habitual use is maintained so they simply get less nicotine but don't seem to notice