Vaping
How long does vaping withdrawal last?
Short answer
The worst nicotine withdrawal symptoms from quitting vaping last only a few days to a couple of weeks, according to Smokefree.gov, and they fade the longer you stay vape-free. Common symptoms include irritability, restlessness, low mood, anxiety, trouble sleeping or concentrating, hunger and strong cravings. Most detailed withdrawal timelines come from smoking research; studies of people stopping vaping are few and small, but they do find real withdrawal symptoms.
Key takeaways
- Smokefree.gov says the worst nicotine withdrawal symptoms after quitting vaping last a few days to a couple of weeks.
- Symptoms can include irritability, headaches, low mood, anxiety, tiredness, poor sleep, extra hunger and intense cravings to vape.
- Health Canada calls these symptoms common and not dangerous, and says they improve as long as you stay vape-free.
- A single craving lasts only a few minutes if you resist and delay, and cravings get fewer, shorter and weaker over time.
- Withdrawal timelines mostly come from smoking research; vaping-specific studies are still limited.
What are the symptoms of vaping withdrawal?
Most vapes contain nicotine, which is very addictive, so stopping can bring on nicotine withdrawal. Health Canada describes the symptoms of cutting back or quitting vaping as common and not dangerous, and says they improve over time as long as you stay vape-free.
Smokefree.gov lists these symptoms for people quitting vaping:
- Feeling irritable, restless or jittery
- Headaches
- Feeling sad, down or anxious
- Feeling tired or groggy
- Trouble thinking clearly, concentrating or sleeping
- Feeling hungrier than normal
- Intense cravings to vape
How long does vaping withdrawal last?
Smokefree.gov's quit-vaping guide says the worst nicotine withdrawal symptoms only last a few days to a couple of weeks. Its general guidance on nicotine withdrawal, which is written mainly about cigarettes, adds that for most people symptoms are strongest in the first few days or weeks, then get weaker and happen less often. That same guidance says the first week after quitting is when people are most at risk of slipping.
Individual cravings are much shorter. Health Canada says that if you resist and delay, a craving will only last a few minutes, and that cravings become fewer, shorter and weaker over time. Smokefree Teen puts it simply: the uncomfortable feelings of withdrawal fade over time if you stay away from vapes.
Is vaping withdrawal the same as smoking withdrawal?
Probably similar, but the vaping evidence is thinner. CDC says quitting vaping is likely similar to quitting smoking because both involve nicotine addiction and quitting may lead to withdrawal symptoms. Researchers studying e-cigarette withdrawal describe the research base as limited.
In a clinical trial of former smokers who vaped daily (Hughes and colleagues, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2020), withdrawal symptoms rose and then fell in the typical pattern of a withdrawal state after participants stopped vaping. The authors judged the severity to be only somewhat less than withdrawal from daily cigarette smoking, and concluded that stopping e-cigarettes abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
A newer study of 16 people who only vaped (Pierce-Messick and colleagues, Preventive Medicine, published online ahead of print in 2026) monitored seven days without vaping and found craving measures began improving from the third day. The authors say withdrawal followed a relatively rapid course, but with so few participants it is an early signal, not a firm timeline.
How can you get through vaping withdrawal?
Smokefree.gov's suggestions are practical: drink plenty of water, prioritize sleep, choose healthy snacks, reach out for support, be ready for cravings, and quit all tobacco. When a craving hits, try breathing in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth 10 times.
It also helps to ask a doctor or other health professional. CDC says a provider may suggest medicines to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, although the FDA has not approved nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline or bupropion specifically for quitting vaping. In the U.S., trained quit coaches at 1-800-QUIT-NOW help at no cost.
How Vow can help
Vow's free streak counter and daily check-in help you track the first days and weeks off nicotine, and your personal reason for quitting resurfaces during cravings. Craving Shield (Premium) offers a guided urge-surfing timer of about 3 minutes with breathing modes such as box breathing, and logs whether the urge passed.
Sources
Each source below was read when this answer was reviewed. Open a source to see the passages the answer relies on.
Smokefree.gov — Nicotine Withdrawal and Vapingsmokefree.gov
The worst withdrawal symptoms only last a few days to a couple of weeks.
Feeling irritable, restless, or jittery
Having headaches
Feeling anxious
Feeling tired or groggy
Feeling hungrier than normal
Having intense cravings to vape
Drink plenty of water
Prioritize sleep
Quit all tobacco
Having trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
Ask for help from a doctor or health care professional
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved these medications to help people quit vaping, but if you are struggling with quitting, talk with your doctor or another health care professional
Open the sourceSmokefree.gov — Quit Vapingsmokefree.gov
Most vapes contain nicotine, which is very addictive.
Open the sourceHealth Canada (Canada.ca) — Quitting vapingcanada.ca
Cutting back or quitting vaping may cause some symptoms of nicotine withdrawal such as having cravings, feeling restless, angry, or sad, and having difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
This is common and not dangerous. Symptoms will improve over time, as long as you remain vape-free.
You may get cravings to vape, but if you resist and delay vaping, the craving will only last a few minutes. Over time, the cravings will become fewer, shorter, and weaker.
Open the sourceSmokefree.gov — Managing Nicotine Withdrawalsmokefree.gov
for most people, symptoms are strongest in the first few days or weeks, and then symptoms get weaker and happen less often over time.
The first week after quitting is when you are at most risk to slip up and smoke a cigarette or return to smoking.
Open the sourceSmokefree Teen — Vaping Addiction and Nicotine Withdrawalteen.smokefree.gov
the uncomfortable feelings of withdrawal will fade over time if you stay away from vapes.
Open the sourceCDC — Vaping and Quittingcdc.gov
Quitting vaping is likely similar to quitting smoking because both involve nicotine addiction and quitting may lead to withdrawal symptoms.
They may suggest medications to help you manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Trained quit coaches are available via 1-800-QUIT-NOW to provide confidential help at no cost to callers.
Open the sourcePreventive Medicine (PubMed) — Pierce-Messick ZJ et al., Preliminary characterization of the timecourse and magnitude of e-cigarette withdrawal among exclusive e-cigarette userspubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Withdrawal from e-cigarettes may provide a barrier to quitting use; however, there is limited empirical research
Sixteen regular e-cigarette users completed a seven day, monitored abstinence period in Baltimore, MD (January 2024-May 2025).
Prev Med. 2026 Aug 5:108642. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2026.108642. Online ahead of print.
craving measures showed significant changes (consistent with reduced craving) beginning on Study Day 3
These findings indicate that e-cigarette withdrawal symptoms follow a relatively rapid trajectory
Open the sourceNicotine & Tobacco Research (PubMed) — Hughes JR et al., Withdrawal Symptoms From E-Cigarette Abstinence Among Former Smokers: A Pre-Post Clinical Trial (2020)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Former smokers who are daily e-cigarette users transfer physical dependence on tobacco cigarettes to dependence on e-cigarettes.
Symptoms showed the prototypical inverted U time pattern of a withdrawal state.
The severity of withdrawal from e-cigarettes appears to be only somewhat less than that from daily tobacco cigarette use.
potential and current e-cigarette users should be informed that abrupt cessation of e-cigarettes can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Open the sourceSmokefree.gov — Dealing With Vape Cravingssmokefree.gov
Pause to breathe. Breathe in slowly through your nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth. Repeat this 10 times to help you relax until the craving passes.
Open the sourceNHS Better Health — How to quit vapingnhs.uk
You should only quit vaping if you are confident you can do it without smoking cigarettes.
Open the source
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace care from a qualified professional. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. Vow is not a medical service.