Quitting vaping side effects: what's normal and how long

Why does quitting vaping cause side effects?

Because your body got used to nicotine. Smokefree.gov explains that when you vape, "your brain and body get used to having nicotine", and when you quit they have to get used to not having it. Truth Initiative describes the cycle: nicotine triggers the release of dopamine, levels drop when the nicotine stops, and irritability, anxiety, headaches or restlessness follow while the brain adjusts.

That is also why vaping can feel like it calms you. Truth Initiative says it's the relief of withdrawal symptoms, not nicotine itself, that keeps people coming back.

What are the side effects, and how long does each one last?

Here is each common side effect, with what the sources say about timing and what helps. Most of the timings come from research on quitting smoking or tobacco. The CDC says quitting vaping is likely similar, because both involve nicotine addiction.

The "2007 review" is Hughes, a review that drew on 120 papers about tobacco withdrawal; its author notes the judgments in it were the author's own. It treats tiredness differently from smokefree.gov: it concluded drowsiness and fatigue are not abstinence effects, while smokefree.gov lists feeling tired or groggy as common when you quit vaping. Headaches split the sources the same way: smokefree.gov lists them as common when quitting vaping, while the National Cancer Institute's tobacco fact sheet lists them as less common. We show both.

How these stack up week by week is in the withdrawal timeline, and how long the whole quit takes is in how long it takes to quit vaping.

What are the less common side effects?

The National Cancer Institute lists "headaches, fatigue, dizziness, coughing, mouth ulcers, and constipation" as less common nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The 2007 review of tobacco withdrawal said constipation, cough, dizziness, increased dreaming and mouth ulcers "may be abstinence effects". Both are about quitting tobacco. Withdrawal isn't the only possible cause of any of these, so if one is severe, lasts, or worries you, a doctor is the right person to ask. Smokefree.gov also suggests talking to a doctor or health care professional about managing withdrawal.

Can quitting vaping cause depression or anxiety?

Mood dips are common and usually short. Smokefree.gov says "mood changes are common after quitting vaping", that you might feel sad or irritable, and that these changes "are usually temporary while your body adjusts to not having nicotine".

History matters. The National Cancer Institute says people with a history of depression often have more severe withdrawal, and some studies found many people with a history of major depression had a new episode after quitting. In people with no history of depression, it says major depression after quitting is rare.

Longer term, the evidence leans the other way. A 2021 Cochrane review of 102 studies with over 169,500 people who smoked found that quitting was associated with less anxiety, depression and stress than continuing to smoke. The certainty was low for anxiety, very low for depression and moderate for mixed anxiety and depression. The authors concluded that mental health "does not worsen as a result of quitting smoking". It is about smoking, not vaping.

If your mood gets extreme or won't lift, tell someone close to you and talk to a doctor (smokefree.gov). If you are in distress or having thoughts of suicide, get help now:

• US: call or text 988, or chat online, for free, confidential support 24 hours a day (smokefree.gov).
• UK: call 111 and select the mental health option, or call Samaritans on 116 123. Call 999 if someone's life is at risk (NHS).

Are the side effects of quitting vaping dangerous?

Uncomfortable, not harmful. Writing about quitting smoking, smokefree.gov says getting used to life without nicotine "can be uncomfortable, but is not harmful". Two real risks are worth planning for:

• Going back. Smokefree.gov says some people start smoking again to feel better. Withdrawal symptoms also show up in the relapse posts we coded (table below).
• Reaching for a cigarette. The NHS warns that withdrawal might make you want to smoke, and says you should only quit vaping if you are confident you can do it without smoking cigarettes. If you used to smoke, plan for this one.

We coded 143 posts and comments from r/QuitVaping and r/electronic_cigarette. Of the 23 posts that described a relapse, 13 named what set it off:

Small sample, collected from Reddit search results in November 2026, so read it as a pattern, not a statistic.

Does cutting down first make the side effects milder?

It may make it easier. The NHS says cutting down on nicotine vaping gradually "can make quitting easier" because it "gives your body time to adjust to lower nicotine levels". In trials of people who smoked, a 2019 Cochrane review found the data on side effects sparse, but said the available data "suggested no excess" of withdrawal symptoms before quit day in people who cut down first. Whether the side effects after quit day are milder if you cut down first: unknown. None of our sources compares the two routes on that. We compare both routes in cold turkey vs tapering, and the free taper planner turns your current number into a day-by-day limit.

Frequently asked questions

Do headaches from quitting vaping go away?

Smokefree.gov lists headaches among the common symptoms of quitting vaping and says withdrawal fades over time if you stay away from vapes. None of the sources we checked gives a timeline for headaches. If they are severe or don't ease, talk to a doctor.

Is coughing after quitting vaping normal?

It can happen. The National Cancer Institute lists coughing as a less common nicotine withdrawal symptom, and a 2007 review of tobacco withdrawal said cough may be an abstinence effect. Both are about quitting tobacco. A cough that lasts or worries you is one for a doctor.

Will I gain weight when I quit vaping?

You may feel hungrier. Smokefree.gov says your appetite may increase when you quit vaping. For people who quit tobacco, the National Cancer Institute says weight gain is usually less than 10 pounds. On its page about weight after quitting smoking, smokefree.gov says just 10 minutes of exercise a day can make a difference.

Can quitting vaping make me want to smoke?

Yes. The NHS says withdrawal symptoms might make you want to reach for a cigarette, and that you should only quit vaping if you are confident you can do it without smoking.

What is the typical timeline for nicotine withdrawal after quitting cold turkey?

For people quitting tobacco, the National Cancer Institute says symptoms are usually worst in the first week, peak in the first 3 days and usually ease over the first month, though some people have them for several months. Smokefree.gov says the worst symptoms last a few days to a couple of weeks. The CDC says quitting vaping is likely similar. The week-by-week version is in our withdrawal timeline.

Where can I get free help with withdrawal?

In the US, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), text QUIT to 47848 for SmokefreeTXT, or chat with the National Cancer Institute's LiveHelp (smokefree.gov, CDC). In the UK, NHS Better Health has a guide to quitting vaping, and Every Mind Matters has free support if you're stressed or anxious about quitting. We don't give dosing advice.