Can quitting vaping cause anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety is one of the most common nicotine withdrawal symptoms, along with cravings, irritability, restlessness, poor concentration and trouble sleeping, according to MedlinePlus. Many people who vape also use nicotine to cope with stress, so stopping can make anxious feelings more noticeable at first. For most people these feelings ease as withdrawal passes.

How long does vape withdrawal last?

MedlinePlus says withdrawal symptoms appear within 2 to 3 hours of your last nicotine and peak about 2 to 3 days after you quit. They then ease gradually over the following weeks, although cravings can come back now and then for longer, especially in situations where you used to vape. Nicotine replacement products and stop-smoking support make this easier.

How do I know if it's withdrawal or anxiety?

Timing is the best clue. Withdrawal starts soon after you stop, comes with cravings for nicotine, and slowly improves. Anxiety that was there before you quit, keeps going for months, or is getting worse may be an anxiety disorder that deserves its own treatment. If you're not sure, a doctor can help you work it out.

Can vape withdrawal cause chest pain or a racing heart?

Withdrawal can make you feel jittery and anxious, and anxiety can make your heart pound. But chest pain is not a symptom you should put down to withdrawal. Call 911 for chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, fainting or severe breathlessness. For a racing heart without those signs, see our palpitations guide.

Can quitting vaping cause panic attacks?

It can trigger them in some people, especially those who've had panic attacks before. A panic attack comes on suddenly, often with a racing heart, breathlessness, tingling and intense fear, and usually passes within minutes. Slow breathing helps. If you've never had one before and have chest pain, get checked rather than assuming it's panic.

Can I walk in to Emergency Plus if I feel unwell after quitting?

Yes. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, west Amman has emergency doctors on site 24/7 and walk-in care with no appointment. The doctor will listen to your symptoms, check your pulse and blood pressure, examine you, and may request tests from the on-site laboratory. For chest pain, fainting or thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 or come straight in.

Quitting Vaping: Withdrawal or Anxiety? How to Tell

You decide to quit vaping, and two days later you're tense, snappy, can't sleep or focus, and your heart is pounding. Is it anxiety, or your body asking for nicotine? This guide helps you tell the difference and explains when symptoms point to something that needs the ER. If chest or breathing symptoms are why you quit, see can vaping cause chest pain? and can vaping cause shortness of breath?.

What are the symptoms of vape withdrawal?

The nicotine in a vape is the same nicotine as in cigarettes, and withdrawal from it is similar. According to MedlinePlus, withdrawal symptoms appear within 2 to 3 hours of your last nicotine and peak about 2 to 3 days after you quit. Common symptoms include:

Strong cravings for nicotine.
Anxiety, low mood, or feeling tense, restless and frustrated.
Trouble concentrating.
Drowsiness or trouble sleeping, and bad dreams.
Headaches.
A bigger appetite and weight gain.

If headaches or dizziness are the main thing, read can vaping cause dizziness or headaches?.

Withdrawal, anxiety, panic attack or your heart?

What it may be	Typical signs	Timing	What to do
Nicotine withdrawal	Cravings, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, poor concentration, headaches, trouble sleeping, bigger appetite	Starts within hours of stopping; peaks around days 2 to 3	Usually eases over the following weeks. NRT and support help
Anxiety (ongoing)	Worry that's hard to control, feeling on edge, tense muscles, poor sleep, most days	Was there before you quit, or lasts for months	See a doctor; talking therapies and other treatments help
Panic attack	Sudden intense fear, racing heart, breathlessness, tingling, shaking, feeling of doom	Sudden; usually peaks within minutes and passes	Slow breathing; see a doctor if attacks keep happening
A heart or breathing problem	Chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, fainting, severe breathlessness	Any time, unrelated to your quit date	Call 911 or go to the ER now

How can I tell if it's withdrawal or anxiety?

Ask yourself three things: did the symptoms start soon after you stopped or cut down? Do they come with cravings for nicotine? Are they getting a little better each day? If yes, withdrawal is the likelier cause. If the anxiety was there before you quit, has lasted months, or stops you working and living normally, it may be an anxiety disorder. The NHS describes generalised anxiety as feeling restless or worried most days, and says it's treatable with talking therapies and other treatments.

Panic attacks are different: they come on suddenly with intense fear, a racing heart and breathlessness, and usually pass within minutes. Because they can feel like a heart problem, read panic attack or heart attack?, and for a racing heart see heart palpitations: when to go to the ER.

When should you go to the ER after quitting vaping?

Call 911 or go to the ER now if:

Chest pain, pressure or squeezing, especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw or back.
Fainting, or feeling like you're about to pass out.
Severe breathlessness, or blue lips.
A very fast or irregular heartbeat that doesn't settle with rest, or comes with dizziness or chest pain.
Thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life.
Sudden confusion, a sudden severe headache, or weakness on one side of the body.

See a doctor soon if:

Anxiety or low mood hasn't improved after several weeks.
You keep having panic attacks.
Sleeplessness or irritability is affecting your work or relationships.
You take medicine for mood or a mental health condition; your doctor may want to review it after you stop nicotine.

Usually fine at home if:

Irritability, anxiety and cravings in the first days and weeks that are slowly getting better.
A mild headache or trouble sleeping, with none of the signs above.

What helps with vape withdrawal?

Ask a pharmacist about nicotine replacement (patches, gum or spray); the NHS says these ease withdrawal and cravings.
Step the nicotine strength down gradually instead of stopping suddenly, if that's easier for you.
Try slow breathing: in through the nose and a longer breath out through the mouth for a few minutes.
Move: a short walk eases cravings and tension.
Cut back on coffee and energy drinks, which can add to jitters and a racing heart.
Tell people around you that you're quitting, and ask for their support.

For how caffeine affects your heart, see can energy drinks cause heart palpitations?.

What happens when you come to Emergency Plus?

At the emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, emergency doctors are on site 24/7 and you can walk in without an appointment. The doctor will listen to your symptoms and when they started, check your pulse and blood pressure, examine you, and may request tests from the on-site laboratory. The team will explain the right next step for you, including where to find support for quitting nicotine or for anxiety.

Feeling like something isn't right?

For chest pain, fainting or thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 and don't drive yourself. If symptoms are milder but worrying you, the emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 with no appointment, with an Arabic and English speaking team.

Call our 24/7 ER: +962 79 247 1313

Sources

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 — +962 79 247 1313.