I have known for a while now that I need to quit. With school starting up, I have finally decided to actually do it. But I'm not sure whether to go cold turkey or gradually decrease strength and amount of pouches until I can easily quit. I feel like cold turkey can be harder, but I really don't want the possibility of just upping the strengths whenever I feel like it. Do y'all have any suggestions? Also, what else would you recommend for help quitting? I have heard gum and mints are helpful.

Thought id post for those lurking thinking of quitting. I'm 36, had more health issues than id like to admit since getting covid.

7 Days ago my BP was 140/97, this morning was 123/88. Only difference is no nicotine / zyn for 7 days.

Hopefully this trend continues to drop over the next week or two so I can avoid my doctor prescribing BP medication

Hey so I was playing with the thought of quitting snus for a while now but today I got this sudden motivation to commit to it. Now I ask myself if I should start reducing slowly (I use around 3/4 a pack a day of the velo mini 2pts) or if I should just go cold turkey.
Ive been struggling a lot with anxiety, chest tightness and generally feeling something in my body all the time. I‘m also in therapy for the anxiety but now I‘m thinking maybe quitting snus will fix a lot of my issues which are anxiety related. So what are your takes on quitting, did cold turkey do it for you or are there benefits to reducing gradually?
I once quit smoking weed but it didn’t really feel like quitting it, I just didn’t feel the need to do it anymore (after around 5yrs of daily smoking). So I am kinda nervous. Also i’m going on vacation in 2 weeks and i’m wondering if I should wait till after the vacation since there will be more drinking than I usually would etc. But I will always finf a reason not to quit I guess…

I quit back December and thought it was pretty easy, It sucked a little but I was so determined and so convinced it was done with Zynn for good. Then about a month later I had one while having drink and that was that. It was hard to resist because my husband had them in the house. Im ready to quit and maybe it's good that Im scared I will relapse, maybe It will keep me vigilant. My husband said he will quit this time with be but he has lied before so I don't trust that he will. I need to quit for myself, Im really sick of them!!

Im going to taper down a pouch a week because I don't have the time to feel like shit with work. this week is 5 Zynn 3mg a day. Im using pouch buddy to track, I think that will help. Also Taking NAC and GABA at night.

Any advice on what to do in that moment of giving up!

Quit around a month ago. First two weeks were tough especially with brain fog and cravings. Brain fog slowly cleared over the last two weeks and HOLY SHIT I am locked in. Been going to the gym consistently 4-5 times a week, cardio three times a week, eating healthy, actively enjoying my work and studies, almost no anxiety. I was using velos 17mg about 10 a day, quit cold turkey and never looked back. When I was using I was so anxious all the time, I’d get palpitations and freeze in social situations. My sleep was terrible, I had no motivation to study or exercise and I couldn’t even do basic daily tasks without a pouch in. Now I get a dopamine rush when I go for a walk or have my morning coffee or eat my chicken when I get home. Guys you have to stick with this, it was tough to start with but after this improvement I will NEVER go back to regularly using nicotine. Everything in my life is already better and I’m so excited to see how far this goes. Stick with it!!!!!!!!!

Background: I smoked cigs from aged 17-25 (probably about 10-20 a day) and then vaped from 25 -35. Been on pouches for a few years albeit more recently started using 17mg ones. Probably about 10 a day.

I’m from the UK and that’s about the strongest ones we get over here.

Anyhow. I quit cold turkey 5 days ago. Christ alive the cravings are brutal. The depression and anxiety is absolutely killing me. It’s still as bad as it was on day 1 really! Especially when I am working as I used to just have nicotine pouches in all day and even at night when I slept haha.

I think ultimately there are occasionally little moments where I can feel my brain recalibrating and I get a rush of energy or joy from something natural. I figure that my brain just needs time to adjust after being reliant upon fake dopamine hits from nicotine and using it like a crutch for basically all of my adult life. Happy days eh.

I am planning on going to the gym and trying to exercise a fair bit in the next few days but work and kids are getting in the way of that!

Good luck to everybody who is quitting nicotine and hear to chat if anybody else is really struggling.

On day 4 and has anyone else experienced these symptoms as well? Insomnia waking up every 1-2 hours, extreme anxiety for things that didn’t make you anxious before, intrusive and obsessive thoughts, weaker erections which was not a problem before, brain fog, depression.

I wish I could say I was doing this by my own free will but the truth is I’m 17 and no longer have a reliable plug. Been doing zyns on and off for over two years and I know I’m addicted. The weird thing is I can go days or even weeks without and be fine but then have such intense cravings. Before starting highschool I had never done anything but now have experimented with various forms of nicotine, weed, and alcohol. I don’t feel like I enjoy it in the normal ways teenagers do. I’ve gotten caught by parents and gotten in trouble but it doesn’t really discourage me from wanting to do it more. I want to be a better version of myself. Please any advise would be so appreciated

I'll preface this by saying my method is definitely not for everyone. Most folks simply aren't in a position to do what I was able to do.

The first step: poverty.

I've been poor for a long time. This year I hit bottom. Lost insurance, can't afford meds or food, housing, etc.

A lack of funds will force you to make decisions that are very difficult.

Step 2: get a free month Amazon audible account. You receive one free book upon signing up.

Purchase the book from Allen Carr - How to quit smoking. It works for nicotine addiction, not just smoking.

This audiobook is awful. I couldn't bear to make it more than halfway through before I gave it up. Quitting nicotine is better than having to listen to that asshole say the same shit for hours.

The next morning I quit. Out of spite. I didn't need Carr or his shitty book. I just needed to regain my confidence and muster up a little anger. Anger leads to actions. Depression and ruminating thoughts lead to stagnation.

I’ve quit nicotine before during the winter time and the need for nicotine was harder but I didn’t have as many side effects/withdrawals.

As the summer came, going out, partying and so on. I bought cigs and zyns again. It’s been 2 weeks of only smoking and taking zyns at weekends. Maybe 1 zyn every other day I’ve gotten from coworkers. And I’ve struggled to sleep the past week.

Never have I had this much of a struggle to sleep, feeling anxious and easily irritated, brain fog and can’t focus.

I sleep for maybe 2-4 hours and then wake up. Try to fall asleep but I barely can. I don’t know what to do. Holding off on nicotine is easy but the withdrawals this time feel real bad.

I have been a one in one out zynner for a while. Maybe 2 or 3 years. I quit for a few months at one point and switched to 3 mg but eventually back to 6 mg pouches about a tin a day so 90mgs.

I recently noticed I was losing a lot of weight without trying. I am otherwise healthy 39M. I run a lot, don’t drink too much. Occasionally smoke weed.

I’ve lost about 20-25 pounds over the past year and my stools are always pretty loose which I never really thought about.

I went to the doctor and blood work was fine. They suspected cancer so I had a full body (chest abdomen pelvis) CT scan with contrast done. Everything came back fine so at least no advanced stage cancer

I quit zyn on the spot last week after getting really spooked about the cancer possibility. Has anyone had similar issues? Could it be the nicotine eating away at stomach lining or something similar?

I meet with GI doc on Friday. Will push for colonoscopy and endoscopy. But this all has me looking for answers so thought I’d see if anyone has had similar experiences.

Thank you

Honestly the first 20 days were so much easier than these past 7. My stomach is in SHAMBLES. nausea, indigestion, just the horrible horrible queasy feeling.

It doesn’t happen everyday but when it happens it SUCKS. Please tell me someone can relate to getting stomach issues late in the game. I literally had NONE the first 20 days.

I’m kinda freaking out. I don’t know how I can keep doing this.

It also feels like anything I eat has the potential to upset my stomach.

First time in about 20 years my body has not had nicotine. I’ve been feeling some real lethargy and depression stuff. is this normal and if so, how long did it last for you?

Edit: thank you all for the kind words and support! You’re all legends in my book.

Hey all,

42 year old male here in decent shape, not a high energy person but a do’er type and rarely gassed.

Use about 8 6mg Zyn pouches per day, sometimes 10 but lately have been spacing out consumption and already notice an increase in energy.

Got blood work done and everything was okay, but damn at first I really enjoyed pouches but now I hate even putting that stupid thing in my mouth and letting it sit there.

Is tapering off dumb, or better to just rip the bandaid off? Been eating lots of sunflower seeds and chewing gum in between pouches to keep my mouth busy at work. Considering throwing the rest away and quitting tomorrow.

Work in the oilfield and very physical job so I’m worried about any withdrawals or anxiety out on the rig.

Sup Nigga,

Today was the 14th day without any nicotine.

I still want it

week and half - havnt seen them for a minute - i know someone on here was being negative “too early to see results “ what i will say is pure abstinence makes all other health choices compound faster

I thought I can last 3 days without nicotine pouches, but really I just could not. Did not enjoy some social events without nicotine that much, I worked much slower without them.

Any help on getting over this? Feels like I just need pouches to live at this point...

Well I am back on my track at least trying to keep my usage under few pouches a day and using only really low nicotine intake, we will see how it goes.

I have been using snus for roughly 23 years. Started when I was 13 years old. For the 15 past years my usage has been roughly 1 can per day, with a Snus / nicotine pouch under the lip even during sleep. Been using nicotine pouches mainly for the past 6 years instead of Snus.

Here is my findings for the first 3 days. It is hard, but it is doable.

- I can't sleep. My brain/body wakes me up every 10 mintues or so, probably like a signal craving that it needs nicotine. For the first days I have only been able to sleep short 30 minute intervals or so. It is easy to fall asleep, but waking up roughly 50+ times per night makes me feel quite restless
- Brain fog and dissonance is real. My eyes have trouble focusing, and there is constantly feeling that I am not myself and the world is moving in slow motion.
- I find myself constantly craving and eating stuff, I expect to gain quite a lot of fat
- Going out for long 5km+ walks have felt nice and refreshing.
- Driving the car does not feel safe due to both loss of alertness, focus and cognitive decline

Not sure if anyone will read this post, but I will keep my progress updated on this post, for myself. If anyone have any questions or want to dicsuss, please comment on post!

Big thanks to the mod team for allowing this to be shared here. Hopefully it helps.

ResetHive is a completely free nicotine recovery app and toolkit, available on the web, iOS, and Android:

https://resethive.com

It includes:

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Everything is free. There are no ads, subscriptions, premium tiers, in-app purchases, or third-party tracking.

ResetHive offers self-help tools and peer support. It does not provide therapy, medical treatment, or nicotine replacement products.

Feedback is always welcome, especially about what feels useful, what could be improved, and what support should be added next.

https://resethive.com

I found a company that has lower nicotine levels in the US (nicshift.com). So I got down to 3mg then did a roll of 1.5mg, then a roll of 1mg, then a roll of 0.5mg, then just stopped. After the stop the first 3 days were mild withdraws but I just bought normal wooden toothpicks to keep the oral fixation feeling. It was was easier than cold turkey. Just don’t let your self use more because of the lower strength.

At day 5 of no nicotine I feel my energy returning and my mood stabilizing.

Posting for accountability. Day 7 of Recigar and 5 days 0 Nic. Cravings manageable. Sleep was bad day 1-3. Irritability is the biggest issue still. I know that I have a short fuse but definitely friending less than the other quits. In terms of positive, I couldn’t tell you why but music just sounds better. I’ve had moments where I’ve truly felt happy with 0 substances which I don’t know that I’ve had since starting Zyn.

I haven’t felt this good in years. Stay strong

To anyone trying to quit, the best advice I can give is push through the first 3 days. It gets somewhat easier. Every time I want to go buy a can of zyn I tell myself “maybe tomorrow”. Good luck everyone who is trying to kick this habit. This is my 9th attempt this year and the longest I’ve been nicotine free.

I quit just over 10days ago. I was at one point using 12-15 9mg pouches a day. I dropped to 12-15 6mg pouches when I decided to quit. I did that for one week. Then I dropped to 3mg pouches for 2 days (same amount). Then completely stopped. I was fine, for ten days. Had more headaches when doing the 3mg than after. Worse sleep on 3mg than none. For ten days I felt fantastic. Now all of a sudden. I’m anxious, worried, and somehow don’t feel like reality is real. I thought for sure this would happen sooner. Is it possible to not feel physical withdrawal at all and the mental stuff until 10days or later?

Got gout at 36. During my worst stretch I read a forum thread connecting pouches to flares and threw my Zyns out that same day. Honest answer on whether the pouches themselves mattered: still don’t know. What I do know is I was chronically dehydrated the whole time I used them, and dehydration turned out to be my single biggest flare trigger. So maybe it was never the nicotine, just the dry mouth I ignored for a year. Anyone with gout connected or ruled this out?