Completely off of nicotine thanks to snus

[Sugarman]

It was easy to switch from cigarettes to snus. So many brands and flavors to try. Once I jumped in I completely forgot my 15 year smoking habit and just snussed like a madman.

I loved snus for 2 years. As time went on and the novelty wore off I used it less and less. It got to a point I was snusing once or twice a day. the craving for a snus was NOTHING like the craving you get for a cig. I could take it or leave it, and if I didnt need it...why not just leave it?

I noticed that my blood pressure was getting high, so to bring it down I experimented with skipping snus altogether. Surprisingly, it was easy. My blood pressure dropped to normal levels and I soon felt more relaxed during the day. I havent had nicotine for a week now. Not even the slightest craving. I have no interest in buying more snus or anything that contains nicotine ever again. Snus added years to my life and helped me kick an addiction that few are able to kick.

Just thought I'd share my little success.

[upperlipper]

That's a great achievement, no doubt about it. However I think the success depends entirely of one's personal preferences. I, for example, found it very easy to get rid of smoking. And why not, it's a filthy habit. :wink: But when it comes to snus it's an entirely different story.

I guess it is mainly about the context of the habit. If you associate smoking with pleasant situations like coffee breaks at work or bar trips or whatever that might give the habit a larger than life appearance. Whereas snusing is mainly (at least for me) a whenever wherever kind of thing. But that is exactly why I like it so much.

From a purely chemical perspective, in my opinion the nicotine kick from a cigarette is like a football (the American one) hitting the groins, but the sensation from the snus is like a gentle and tireless hand of a lady with many virtues.

[Premium Parrots]

the sensation from the snus is like a gentle and tireless hand of a lady with many virtues.

oh god oh god oh god.......baseball baseball baseball. Now you've done it. Dam...now I need some tissues..........again. :wink:





congrats on quitting nicotine altogether.

[TheOneandOnly]

So you feel more relaxed without nicotine?

[GoVegan]

Thanks Sugarman for sharing your success story and congratulations on kicking the nicotine habit. 2 years sounds about right to me. I am always amazed when I read directions for nicotine replacement therapies that advise people to stop using those products after 2-3 months. I wonder if the nicotine replacement companies actually want people to fail. Quitting smokes is tough for the majority of people and I am starting to see that giving up nicotine is a process that takes a lot of time and patience. I am really hoping to be where your at now in the near future. I am grateful for finding snus and I think thought our medical community ought to wake up and start looking at realistic ways, like snus, to get people to stop smoking.

[LHB]

I can relate to the original poster. I started using snus to get off cigarettes, and was therefore using the strongest stuff I could find, and pretty frequently. Now, I use regular Los and Portions about 3-4 times per day, and several pinches of nasal snuff whenever I want a little pure sensual pleasure. It acts as a stimulant for me.

It's amazing to me how easy it is for me to go to sleep if I don't use tobacco an hour before I go to bed, whereas before I thought I HAD to have a smoke before I went to bed or I wouldn't be able to sleep. I'm also much more relaxed throughout the day with much lower levels of nicotine in my body than when I was smoking or chain snussing, and find that I eat far LESS than I used to since I don't constantly have a nervous stomach.

It's like alcohol. Having a whiskey and a couple of beers at night relaxes me. Having 4 whiskeys and the better part of a twelve pack is not relaxing at all. It depends on quantity. I really enjoy the snus and snuff I do use, but for some people like myself nicotine is very much a stimulant, although I never would have believed it or known it if I hadn't quit smoking. Whenever I went for an hour without a cigarette, my nerves were writhing to the extent that it felt like a sedative when I took the first few hits off a just-lit smoke.

To each his own, though. In my case, it's been MUCH easier to cut down on snus than it was on cigarettes. I had a 37 year Jones, so I tried lots of times. I love tobacco more than ever now that I can use it in a way that makes me feel better rather than worse. I couldn't do that with 1 1/2 packs of Kools or Newports per day.

[Veganpunk]

Congrats. I hope to get to that point at some time as well.

[Brad Rodu]

I believe that this series of posts illustrates the value of this forum, and the enormous potential benefits and flexibility of substituting snus for cigarettes. This strategy works for everyone because the health benefits of switching are almost equal to quitting all nicotine and tobacco. However, switching also is compatible with a goal of nicotine abstinence, because it provides a way to gradually reduce consumption while maintaining full control.

[snusjus]

I believe that this series of posts illustrates the value of this forum, and the enormous potential benefits and flexibility of substituting snus for cigarettes. This strategy works for everyone because the health benefits of switching are almost equal to quitting all nicotine and tobacco. However, switching also is compatible with a goal of nicotine abstinence, because it provides a way to gradually reduce consumption while maintaining full control.

I have a hypothesis that replacing cigarettes with snus will lead to higher rates of nicotine abstinence among tobacco users.

The key component is the delivery method of nicotine. Cigarette smoking is the most addictive way to ingest nicotine, since its inhaled directly into the lungs, causing rapid spikes in blood serum levels with ten seconds.

Snus, on the other hand, delivers nicotine at a much slower rate, since it must enter the membrane mucosa and reach the brain through blood circulation.

Snus acts as a highly efficient form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. It raises the blood nicotine levels to satisfy tobacco cravings while it conditions the brain into accustoming a slower method of nicotine delivery.

Over time, whether it be six months or five years, the neuro-chemical composition of the brain will eventually be accustomed to a slower delivery of nicotine. While the amount of nicotine delivered is the same, the absorption rate in which the drug is delivered will make nicotine withdrawal and cravings much easier to handle, as opposed to quitting cigarettes "cold turkey" or with the aid of inefficient NRT products.

[tom502]

I'm still enjoying snus, and don't wish to quit at this time, but, I honestly believe I could quit easily if I choose to.

[Sugarman]

I'm still enjoying snus, and don't wish to quit at this time, but, I honestly believe I could quit easily if I choose to.

I didn't really have quitting altogether in mind either. I Still think snus is awesome, but after a while I found myself using it so little I figured, 'you know what? Maybe I can save some money and drop my blood pressure by just seeing if I can quit buying it'. So I did and it was no challenge at all. So I figure being on this side of the nicotine fence is probably better overall for my health and wallet so I'm just gonna stay here.


At least if I ever relapse someday it will be with snus and not cigs so I wont have to battle THAT again. I spent so many years beating myself up about smoking and I feel like I got a get out of jail free ticket. Who knows if I'll get that lucky again. I dont want to push it.

[Santafechestnutred]

quitting snus

I don't think it would be easy for all the dedicated snus addicts on this site to give up snus....To replace smoking with snus was a very easy transition for me....But giving up nicotine altogether is something that will NOT be easy for me...Red

[sagedil]

So are you planning on giving up snus??

I know some folk see snus as a transitional device. their long term is to stop nicotine permanently, and I am happy for those folks if it works.

But many of us here have no intention of ever giving up nicotine. As I have posted at least a hundred times, I use nicotine for medicinal reasons and would simply not be able to function without it. So for me, I am grateful I found snus as my permanent nicotine delivery device. the safest way I have ever found that delivers an adequate dosage for what I need nicotine for..

But I will never quit.

[Sugarman]

Yeah, done as in done. Not planning, doing. I already got rid of the 9 cans of snus I had laying around. I have no intention of returning. Oh nicotine addiction was just a blast for the 15 years it lasted, but you know, the roller coaster of laughs has to come to an end sometime. I'm glad snus was there to help. I dont think I could have kicked nicotine without it. I will always love snus for that.


I think we all know about harm reduction and the benefits of snus. That's why we all like it and post messages here. We also know that you like it 6700 posts worth and dont want to quit. That's just fine and dandy too. Sure beats smoking by a mile. Cheers.

[sagedil]

Sugarman, I knew you wanted to, and am happy for you. My post though was directed at Santafechestnutred who posted directly above me talking about ALL the snus addicts on this site quitting nicotine. I was just making a point for him, had nothing to do with your post. Perhaps I should have quoted him but generally won't when I am following immediately behind the post I am refering too. Sorry for the confusion.

You are doing what you need and want to, I support that 100 percent.