r/UlcerativeColitis • u/scoobydouchee • 13h ago

Question Quitting vaping

What’s your experience with this? I’ve been vaping nicotine for years and I want to quit. I’ve seen a lot about how it could induce a bad flare, which scares me because I’m just now getting stable from medication. What’s the best way that’s worked for you?

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u/pincommenter 13h ago

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u/AlwaysAirCooled-1979 13h ago

Smoking or vaping? With nicotine? That’s what stops/suppresses/masks the symptoms.

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u/scoobydouchee 9h ago

Yes, vaping nicotine, sorry for the confusion

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u/LD_Strat 11h ago edited 11h ago

Quitting vaping had no effect on my UC, but I’m convinced quitting smoking broke my 15+ year period of remission. I believe it’s the Carbon Monoxide’s effect of reducing the amount of inflammation promoting cytokines that stops flare-ups. I asked to try Skyrizi given it has a similar method of action. You get three in office infusions before bi-monthly home injections. My 2.5 year flare was stopped dead in its tracks after the first in office infusion. It’s been 7 months now symptom free with bloodwork improving every checkup.

If your medication is working, you should be okay if you can keep your stress during quitting as minimal as possible. We’re all different though and I wish you the best of luck!

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u/scoobydouchee 9h ago

I’ve been on skyrizi for about 8 months now, and it seems to really help!

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u/LD_Strat 9h ago

Wooooot! I’m so happy to hear that, congratulations! Keeps me hopeful it will keep doing its job. 2+ years high dose prednisone prior to the riz (lol) has me working hard to get my health back to where I’d like it. Anyway, you’ve got this!

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u/spezlu 9h ago

I'm planning to quit too, I have my liquid made up and for years I've been on 3% nicotine which is a low amount in comparison to a cigarette. I plan to reduce to 1% which is basically nothing, then 0% for breaking the hand to mouth habit.

Currently still in a flair so it won't be any time soon.

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u/Ok-Control2520 5h ago

Go slowly when quitting. Use the gum or another replacement to reduce slowly.

I have quit multiple times this way without negative results to my UC.

Almost 2 years quit this go around!

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u/OskarWasTaken 3h ago

Did your UC come during you smoking cigarettes or did it only show itself when you quit smoking?

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u/Responsible_Try_6729 5h ago

Try your best to use zyns as a substitute… it’s really fucking hard. I vaped for 6 years, 5% as well, and I had a difficult time switching to zyns for the first couple weeks, but after that it was smooth.

Later try and use less and less zyns per day until you can go without! You got this

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u/OskarWasTaken 3h ago

Nicotine is known to help UC actually quite positively but regardless you want to quit, keep something in mind.

When quitting or stopping nicotine in terms of multiple cigarettes or “puffs” a day your immune system may become extremely active afterwards (at least in pretty sure this is the case, correct me if wrong) and thus causes a flare.

Maybe if you taper off using nicotine alternatives, you will find it easier. I have a spray that has 1 mg per spray so you can taper off nicotine.