e-cigarettes -- any one have experience? Comments?

[iansinclair]

So... I want to cut down on my (cough wheeze) pack a day (cough cough) habit of cigarettes.  But, having tried to quit before (easiest thing in the world -- I've done it hundreds of times -- Mark Twain) I am thinking of trying these e-cigarette things; the theory being that I can get the nicotine hit without the tars and other genuinely evil stuff in the smoke.

So -- the question is: any of you folks tried these things?  If so, your experience?  Suggested brands?  General comments?

Thank you all!

[j_menz]

Tried it (very) briefly. Turns out I was allergic to the flavouring agent. Sick as a dog. Never tried again.

[iansinclair]

Tried it (very) briefly. Turns out I was allergic to the flavouring agent. Sick as a dog. Never tried again.

oops... hadn't thought of that!

[sucom]

Hi
I'm good at quitting, and like you, have done it loads of times

I tried E Lites, didn't like the regular flavour (really not nice) but the menthol ones are actually quite pleasant.  They do give you a bit of a kick in the throat when you first try them but that soon passes.  I gave up for several months using these but unfortunately started up again later.  However, my husband did actually manage to give up with these so they do work. 

Nicotine patches don't like me at all - I was sick as a dog using these.  If you really want to quit, E lites are worth trying.

[thalbergmad]

When I gave up smoking, I simply got addicted to nicotine lozenges and it took me 5 years to give them up.

I am wary of all replacement therapies.

Thal

[theholygideons]

go cold turkey my friend.

[hfmadopter]

I quit decades ago, it was easy for me. I don't like being controlled and I viewed the cigarettes in a fresh new pack as controlling  me, they had control over me which is ridiculous to accept. They were sucking up money I could use for other things in life. So I put out the cigarette I just lit, crunched up the brand new pack and threw them in the trash. And that was that, the end.

So I quit, the first week being the worst of it, I was getting a bit dizzy wanting that hit. That passed, then for about a year or so I just wanted a cigarette after meal times but got up and did something else. Just don't think about it, go do something else. Now I can't stand the smell of them, the smell of a car interior of a smoker, the smell on someones clothing. They stink like a dirty ash tray, cigarettes suck.

[iansinclair]

go cold turkey my friend.

I would -- if actually quitting were my objective.  Which it isn't.  The objective of the exercise is to reduce the amount of tar and other goop, but not reduce the amount of nicotine (and at the same time keeping total control of the amount and timing of the nicotine).

Rather an odd situation, really -- I am severely dopamine deficient (borderline Parkinsons), but nicotine is an almost perfect dopamine enhancer; significantly better (fewer side effects) than any of the extremely pricey prescription meds. my doctor can find.

Sigh.  I think I'll give them a try and see what happens.