Can Vaping Affect Sleep?

Switching to vaping can be a great way to quit smoking, but if you’re finding it hard to sleep, nicotine might be the culprit. 

Vaping still contains nicotine, which is a stimulant that can make it harder to relax and fall asleep, especially if you vape close to bedtime.

To improve your sleep, try reducing your nicotine intake in the evening, opt for lower nicotine levels, and establish a calming bedtime routine. 

If sleep issues continue, speak to your GP for guidance on adjusting your nicotine use while staying on track with your quit journey.

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You can also check out this post to explore more about how vaping might be affecting your sleep and find answers to common questions.

How Does Vaping Affect Sleep?

Let’s start with traditional cigarettes. 

When you smoke tobacco, harmful chemicals like aldehydes and carbon monoxide enter your body, which can severely affect your sleep quality—and even worse than nicotine vaping products (NVPs) from pharmacies. 

Pharmacy-issued NVPs are thoroughly tested and made to high medical standards and GMP guidelines, ensuring every ingredient is safe and the entire process is carefully monitored by professionals.

While nicotine itself isn’t particularly harmful, it can give you a small energy boost by stimulating your adrenal glands. This causes a spike in adrenaline, keeping your body more alert. 

So, if you use your prescription NVP shortly before bed, the nicotine can raise your adrenaline levels, heart rate, and blood pressure, which might interfere with your sleep.

Vaping Makes Me Tired. Is This Normal?

When you first start using pharmacy-issued NVPs, you might notice a few common side effects like coughing, lightheadedness, dry mouth, or some throat irritation. 

Feeling a bit lightheaded is also normal and can feel similar to being tired, but it’s only temporary and usually fades within five minutes after your last puff.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, it could be down to withdrawal symptoms rather than the nicotine itself. Your body is likely adjusting to life without tobacco, and that might be what’s behind those restless nights.

Can Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Affect Sleep?

You might struggle with sleep if you use nicotine gum or an inhaler too close to bedtime. 

For example, nicotine patches, which you can wear while you sleep, give a steady dose of nicotine and could also affect your sleep quality.

If you’re finding it happens often, especially without a GP to guide you, your withdrawal symptoms might be stronger than what your current NRT dosage can handle. 

In this case, consult a GP to review your previous tobacco use and adjust your treatment plan.

How to Reduce Vaping’s Effects on Sleep

Keep an eye on your vaping times, especially around bedtime. 

Nicotine can trigger adrenaline, raising your heart rate and blood pressure for a short while, which can disrupt your sleep.

To improve your sleep while using pharmacy-issued NVPs on your quit journey, you could also try a few of the tips below to help wind down and rest easier.

No Vaping Hours Before Sleeping

Your GP will likely prescribe using your prescription NVPs when you feel a strong craving for tobacco and take only a few puffs. But, do not vape at least 3 to 4 hours before your sleep schedule to help your adrenaline levels and blood pressure settle down and help you sleep.

Consult a GP

If your sleep quality hasn’t improved after doing the first step, we recommend seeing a GP if you haven’t yet. Your GP could assess your nicotine intake and help you find a solution to improve your sleep quality throughout your quit journey.

Reduce Overall Stress

Have you been feeling stressed lately? Admittedly, quitting smoking even with NRT and NVP can be extremely stressful. You might be able to reduce overall stress by trying meditation and mindfulness – ways to help you confront various aspects of your life that are causing you stress.

Reduce Alcohol and Caffeine Intake

Alcohol and caffeine are two of the most well-known disrupters of sleep for anyone. In addition, alcohol is known to be a factor for smoking relapse alongside social smoking. Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake while on your smoking cessation journey. Better yet, limit your intake of these two even after you successfully quit to experience better sleep quality.

No Devices Before Sleeping

Taking your portable computer to sleep is a common practice for many people. However, if you’re trying to get better sleep quality, limit your use of devices before sleeping.

The release of melatonin encourages better sleep quality in the body, and smartphones emit blue light that limits its release. So, attach your unit to a charger an hour or two before sleeping and see if you can get better sleep.

Take Up Physical Exercise

Lastly, physical exercise is the best way to get better sleep. Your body craves physical stimulation, and you can get better rest by tiring yourself naturally. A 15-30 minute walk per day (once you can manage it in your smoking cessation journey), can do wonders for your sleep.

And if you can manage to go beyond, you can expect immense improvements in your sleep quality.

Summary

Does vaping affect sleep? It can, but with the right use of your pharmacy NVP and with the help of a stop smoking GP, you can correctly assess how your treatment tool is affecting your sleep and the best way to go about using prescription vaping to quit smoking.

We know that quitting with NVPs can be confusing at first, but we can help.

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 friendly Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good, including via the use of pharmacy NVPs.

Click here to book in with a doctor today.

Link Reference:

• https://www.iso.org/iso-13485-medical-devices.html
• https://www.tga.gov.au/good-manufacturing-practice-overview
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-smoking-make-you-tired
• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/blue-light