What to Expect When Switching From Smoking to Vaping

In Australia, vaping is a second-line treatment, which means it may only be considered after other smoking cessation tools have proven unsuccessful. 

If you wish to use nicotine vaping products (NVPs) to stop smoking and have tried nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to no effect, you’ll need a doctor’s permission to do so. They can provide you with valid prescriptions to use pharmacy NVPs. 

If you’re a smoker considering vapes as a smoking cessation tool, it’s important to know what happens when you quit smoking and start vaping. 

For most motivated smokers, it might be their first time to know about nicotine vaping products. For instance, you might think it’s completely safe (which it isn’t) and it can help your body and lungs improve.

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You’ve certainly got plenty of questions about NVPs — and those are the ones we’ll try to answer in today’s post.

Let’s take a comprehensive look at what to expect when you switch from smoking to vaping.

What to Expect When You First Start Vaping

When you first switch to vaping, you may notice that you cough as you inhale, as the experience of vaping and the throat feeling can take some getting used to. 

But can you get the smoker’s flu from vaping? 

We do know that the dangerous chemicals of cigarette smoke is the primary cause of many ailments you might be feeling right now. And, we can say for certain that much of smoker’s flu is caused by cigarette smoking.

While vaping might not directly cause smoker’s flu, switching from smoking to vaping can potentially cause certain symptoms such as dryness and irritation in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches.

Since some of these symptoms resemble those of the common cold, they are sometimes referred to as smoker’s flu. 

The side effects of switching from cigarettes to vapes are temporary and will subside over a short period. 

How Long Does It Take to Adjust to Vaping?

Adjustments and changes aren’t easy, but when switching from smoking to vaping, we’re confident that the initial strides are the only difficulties you’ll face. In just a few days to weeks, you’ll be feeling right as rain.

There are various factors to quickly ease you in when switching from smoking to vaping.

One of these is finding the right combination of device and strength of liquid may require experimentation or a prescribing doctor’s assessment.

Furthermore, getting used to the ‘sensation’ of vaping may also take time. 

Vaping provides a different sensation than smoking; you’re switching from inhaling smoke to breathing in a slightly thicker aerosol (also known as vapour). This may take time to get used to.

Remember, you’ve been smoking for years; switching from cigarettes to vapes is going to take at least a few days. 

Benefits of Switching from Smoking to Vaping

You won’t be switching from cigarettes to vaping if you didn’t hear about the health benefits others around you and the media might have talked about.

Some of it is true, but let’s see what the studies say.

Research has found that people who switch from smoking to vaping experience a range of health benefits.

According to a study conducted by King’s College London, switching from smoking to vaping significantly decreases exposure to harmful substances that lead to cancer, lung disease, and cardiovascular issues. 

While NVPs aren’t 100% safe, they do not expose you to the thousands of dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke, which means you’ll have less of the problems and ailments you’ve felt when you used to smoke.

In simple terms, this means your breathing improves, as does your heart health. 

One of the authors of the report even suggested that helping people switch from smoking to vaping should become a government priority in England.

Another study found that individuals who switch from smoking to vaping may not only pick up healthy habits in the short term but also build more wholesome routines in the future. 

Of course, these are only possible if you’re fully motivated to stop smoking for good by using NVPs (and then weaning off of them and nicotine later on) and with the help of a stop-smoking GP to guide you through the process.

What Happens in the Body as You Switch from Smoking to Vaping?

What does vaping do to your body? Its effects depend on how long a person has been smoking and how eager they are to kick the habit. 

It also greatly depends if your prescription provides the correct level of nicotine suitable to your history of cigarette consumption, among other factors your GP may discover during your quit-smoking consultations.

But for most people, 8 hours after stopping smoking might cause oxygen levels in your body to rise and improve your breathing; in 24 hours all CO will be flushed from your system; in 48 hours your sense of taste and smell will improve; and in 72 hours you’ll notice enhanced respiratory functions. 

But, we’re talking about stopping smoking — what if you’re using NVPs to stop smoking?

As mentioned, the effects of vaping for long-term use is not fully known. But, you can guess that the lack of exposure to cigarette smoke daily will help your body recover faster and give you motivation to quit smoking and nicotine for good.

While it’s relatively harmless, becoming nicotine-free is the goal. In this light, high-quality e-cigarettes are vastly preferable to traditional cigarettes if you’re finding other quitting methods unsuccessful. 

This is because traditional smoking delivers nicotine by burning tobacco, which is proven to cause smoking-related illnesses, and vaping can deliver nicotine by heating a liquid in a much less harmful way. 

Short-Term Effects of Vaping

What do vapes do your body in the short term?

Again, there are limited studies in 2024 to assess its full potential to stop smoking and keep motivated smokers out of harm’s way and temptation to smoke a cigarette.

However, for the short term, vaping is designed to mimic the hand-to-mouth ritual of smoking and gradually nudge smokers away from the habit. But as you move from smoking to vaping, you may experience some short-term side effects. 

In some cases, the immediate physical effects of vaping may include headaches, coughing, dryness or irritation in the mouth and throat, nausea, and shortness of breath.

These symptoms lessen with continued use.

Long-Term Effects of Vaping

Let’s talk about what vaping does to your body as you keep on using it.

As of 2024, there is no conclusive research pertaining to the long-term harmful effects of vaping.

But we do know that, because of a marked reduction in exposure to toxic substances, what vaping does to the body is significantly less harmful than what smoking does to it.

But it doesn’t mean it’s completely safe — it’s best used with the guidance of a stop-smoking GP who can assess your needs and keep you on track to quitting cigarettes for good.

Remember, vaping isn’t intended for long-term use. It’s a temporary measure to aid you on your quitting journey.

Vaping and Addiction

Here’s a controversial topic: will NVPs cause you to replace cigarettes with e-cigarettes instead?

With nicotine, there is always the possibility of addiction. After all, it’s a highly-addictive substance that’s relatively harmless but is the main draw of cigarettes.

However, when high-quality e-cigarettes from pharmacies are used in consultation with a doctor and as part of an overall smoking cessation plan, long-term or sustained use is not a likely outcome. 

In fact, a study that looked into this matter found that e-cigarettes with nicotine increase quit rates compared to e-cigarettes without nicotine and compared to NRTs. 

Today, there is general agreement that vaping exposes the user to fewer toxicants compared to traditional smoking.

It further stated that it is plausible that e-cigarettes may have contributed to the higher quit rate observed in England during part of the study period.

In 2024, all of these information are highly likely still true. With the guidance of a GP, motivated smokers can use NVPs as a way to contain their withdrawals and stop smoking for good.

Is It Hard Switching From Smoking to Vaping?

This differs from person to person. Some find switching from smoking to vaping easy, others take longer to get used to it. 

The most important thing when switching from smoking to vaping is to stick with it. You will feel the initial symptoms, but over time they will pass.

Endure it, and you’ll have a tool that will help you quit smoking and keep yourself out of harm in no time, even if you’ve smoked for years.

Having the right attitude and being committed to quitting smoking will aid your transition. It’s important that you stick with it and give yourself the best chance at success.

Should I Start Vaping?

If you’ve decided to use NVPs, you should have the right mindset, which is to quit nicotine altogether while using e-cigarettes as a tool to quit.

That also means you’re motivated to use NRTs to see if you can curb your withdrawals. It’s only after you’ve used NRTs to no avail that a stop-smoking GP can assess and recommend you use NVPs to quit.

Only a TGA-approved GP can determine if you should be vaping. They will look at your smoking and medical history and decide on the right course of action for you. 

Is It Ok to Vape Every Other Day?

It’s easy to say that you can vape every other day, but the best use case for NVPs is to present a substitute to smoking a cigarette when you feel a strong urge to buy a pack.

As long as you’re within a GP’s smoking cessation plan, you can use your NVPs at regular intervals to curb your urges — it’s the safest path.

For the intervals of using NVPs, this will be up to your doctor. They will create a smoking cessation plan for you, which will outline how often you should vape. 

Generally speaking, vaping every other day is not considered problematic, as long as you aren’t still smoking. 

Do Your Lungs Heal When You Switch to Vaping?

After 3 to 9 months of quitting smoking and only vaping, you may notice an improvement in your lung function. This is because you have stopped exposing your lungs to the tar, carcinogens and toxins present in tobacco smoke.

Tips for a Smooth Transition

Once you’ve been vaping for 2 weeks (without smoking), your body will get used to this new way of receiving nicotine. With preparation, you’ll be better equipped to manage any smoking to vaping withdrawal symptoms.

A few tips to help you transition smoothly to vaping:

• Vape when you feel like a cigarette. 
• Keep your vape with you at all times to prevent smoking on impulse. 
• Address your nicotine cravings with vapes.
• Remember to regularly charge your vape.
• It’s recommended to get a spare battery and device in case your vape fails or you run out of charge.

Another thing of note: cigarette prices are still rising, but pharmacy NVPs, ones that you’ll use for weeks or a few months, won’t see price increases. You’re also saving money while helping yourself get healthier — it’s a win-win.

Vaping as a Stepping Stone to Quitting

Vaping is considered one of the most effective smoking cessation aids. Switching from smoking to vaping leads to all-around improvements in health. 

We know you’re reading this post because you’re eager to know what to expect when switching from smoking to vaping.

Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around!

If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.

Resources and Links:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-khan-review-making-smoking-obsolete/making-smoking-obsolete-summary
• https://www.washington.edu/news/2022/05/12/smokers-who-switch-to-e-cigarettes-may-adopt-other-healthy-routines/
• https://vapingfacts.health.nz/the-facts-of-vaping/side-effects-of-vaping.html
• https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub5/full
• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684963/Evidence_review_of_e-cigarettes_and_heated_tobacco_products_2018.pdf
• https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/
• https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-ciqarettes/about-e-cigarettes.html