If you're asking, “Why does vaping make me feel sick?”, you're not alone. Many people experience nausea, dizziness, or tiredness after vaping—especially if they’re new to it or using strong devices. Below are the most common reasons why vaping might be making you feel unwell:
Understanding these causes can help you adjust your setup and avoid vape sickness. This blog will explain and help you find out the reasons why and how to avoid feeling sick while vaping.
To figure out why vaping might be making you feel ill, it helps to understand what you’re putting into your body. At the core of it, vaping involves heating up a liquid (called e-liquid or vape juice) that turns into vapour, which you then inhale.
Most e-liquids are made up of:
There are also different types of vapes out there:
The type of vape and juice you choose plays a big part in how your body reacts.
There isn’t just one answer. Everyone reacts a little differently, but here are some of the most common culprits:
If you're just starting with vaping, your body might simply need time to adjust. The first few sessions can feel strange, especially if you weren't used to nicotine before. Your throat may feel scratchy, your head might spin a little, or you might even feel slightly queasy.
This doesn't necessarily mean vaping isn't for you. It could just be your body reacting to something new. Start slow, use a low nicotine strength, and give yourself time to get used to the experience. Often, these early symptoms fade as your body adjusts.
Nicotine might be the main attraction in vaping, but too much of it can hit you like a truck. It can lead to something often called “nic-sick,” and it’s not pleasant. You might feel light-headed, get a headache, feel shaky, or even break out in a cold sweat.
Disposable vapes, in particular, often contain high nicotine levels. They’re easy to puff on without keeping track of how much you’ve had, and before you know it, you’ve gone too far. If your vape contains nicotine salts, those can be stronger too.
Other effects of overconsuming nicotine are:
Nausea
Headache
Dizziness
Sweating
Racing headache
Vaping first thing in the morning or without eating can make you feel off. That’s because nicotine can drop your blood sugar levels, especially if you haven’t eaten in a while. The result? Nausea, dizziness, or just a general sense of feeling unwell.
Believe it or not, vaping can dry you out. PG (propylene glycol) attracts water, and when you inhale it, it can dry out your mouth and throat. If you vape a lot without drinking enough water, you might start feeling tired, foggy, or even nauseous.
Some people are more sensitive to PG than others. It might not make you violently sick, but it could leave you feeling a bit rough. Think headaches, a sore throat, or even mild nausea. If your vape juice is high in PG, this might be why you’re not feeling great.
While most UK e-liquids are made under safety standards, not all products are created equal. Cheap or unregulated vape juices might include artificial sweeteners, colouring, or other additives your body doesn’t like. These extras can upset your stomach or make you feel off.
Not all vape products are created equal. Using low-quality e-liquids or cheaply made devices can seriously affect how you feel after vaping. Poorly manufactured e-liquids might contain impurities or inconsistent nicotine levels, which can throw your body off balance.
Likewise, unreliable vape devices might deliver inconsistent power or overheat the e-liquid, causing unpleasant vapour and irritation. Investing in reputable brands and tested devices such as Voopoo Drag can make a big difference in both how safe and how enjoyable your vaping experience is.
It’s easy to get carried away, especially if your vape tastes great. But chain vaping—taking puff after puff with no break—can push your system too far. It often results in a sudden rush of nicotine and heat that your body can’t handle all at once.
If you’re using a more advanced device, setting your wattage too high can deliver an intense hit of vapour. It might be too warm, too dense, or just too much. That can irritate your throat, overwhelm your senses, and leave you feeling dizzy or sick.
Some people might have mild allergic reactions to flavourings or other ingredients in vape juice. Reactions can show up as nausea, coughing, skin irritation, or even tightness in the chest. It’s rare, but worth keeping an eye on.
This ingredient is mostly linked to black market THC vapes and has caused serious lung issues, especially in the U.S. Vitamin E Acetate comes from Vitamin E, which is used to thicken e-liquids in vaping products. While it’s banned in legal UK products, always buy from reputable sellers and avoid imported or unregulated e-liquids. This can cause lung injury (EVALI). Other symptoms of this health condition are:
If you have asthma, anxiety, or conditions related to blood pressure, heart, or digestion, vaping might stir up your symptoms. Even if you haven’t noticed issues before, vaping could bring them to the surface.
If you're pregnant and experiencing nausea or dizziness after vaping, you're not alone. Many women report vaping making me feel sick pregnant during the early weeks due to heightened sensitivity to nicotine and other chemicals.
It's best to avoid vaping altogether during pregnancy, as the ingredients in vape juice can affect your baby's health and development. Speak with a healthcare provider about safer alternatives for quitting nicotine.
If you’re already feeling rough, the first step is simple: stop vaping for a bit. Then try this:
If the symptoms don’t ease or feel serious, talk to a healthcare professional.
You might be using more nicotine than your body needs. Try switching to a lower strength and see how you feel. For many people, 10mg or less is plenty. Check out IVG Nic Salts for either 10mg or 20mg options, allowing you to customize your vaping experience.
You don’t have to ditch vaping altogether—just be more mindful. Take breaks between puffs. Don’t use it first thing in the morning or late at night. And don’t let it become a habit you’re not paying attention to. Choose advanced vape kits that let you track your vaping habits by puff count or chain vaping prevention such as Vaporesso Pods.
Go for reputable brands such as R and M Vape. Look for e-liquids with cleaner ingredients. If you think PG is bothering you, try a 70/30 VG/PG mix or even max VG options. They’re smoother and less likely to irritate sensitive users.
Feeling sick while vaping from disposable vapes can be caused by many reasons. Some are:
Yes—especially if you’re using strong e-liquids, vaping without eating, or sensitive to ingredients like PG. Your stomach lining might not react well to certain chemicals.
Your body may be reacting differently to how nicotine is absorbed in vapour vs. smoke. Vapes can also deliver nicotine more efficiently. Plus, flavourings and additives in e-liquid might be causing irritation.
Start with a simple and beginner-friendly vape such as Xros 3 and familiar e liquid flavour such as lemon and lime Elux will make your body slowly adapt to vaping.
If you’ve been wondering, “Why does vaping make me feel sick?”, the answer usually comes down to a mix of factors—nicotine strength, how often you vape, your body’s sensitivity, and the quality of the e-liquids or devices you’re using. Vaping shouldn’t make you feel awful. If it does, there’s usually a reason—and in most cases, it’s something you can fix. By understanding how your body responds to different setups, ingredients, and habits, you can adjust your experience and enjoy vaping without the side effects.
You might feel sick after vaping from too much nicotine (nicotine poisoning), dehydration from PG/VG absorbing moisture, vaping on an empty stomach, sensitivity to PG or certain flavourings, chain vaping without breaks, or using nicotine strength that's too high for your tolerance.
To get rid of vape sickness: stop vaping immediately, drink plenty of water to rehydrate, eat a light snack or meal, rest in fresh air, avoid nicotine until symptoms pass (usually 30 minutes to 2 hours), and take slow deep breaths to ease nausea.
Feeling sick while vaping is not unusual, especially when starting out, using nicotine strength that's too high, chain vaping, or vaping on empty stomach. However, if it happens regularly despite adjustments, you should reduce nicotine or consult a healthcare professional.
Sudden nicotine sickness can result from built-up sensitivity or tolerance changes, consuming too much too quickly, dehydration affecting absorption, stress or health changes affecting how your body processes nicotine, or switching to stronger nicotine products without adjustment period.
Yes, vaping can cause morning nausea or vomiting, especially if you vape immediately after waking on an empty stomach, use high nicotine strength first thing, are dehydrated from sleep, or have developed nicotine sensitivity overnight.
Vaping causes tiredness from: nicotine crash after the stimulant effect wears off, dehydration leading to fatigue and brain fog, overuse or chain vaping overwhelming your system, sensitivity to PG or certain flavourings causing drowsiness, or disrupted sleep patterns from late-night vaping affecting nicotine metabolism.
Nicotine overdose symptoms include nausea and vomiting, dizziness or lightheadedness, headaches, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, sweating and cold sweats, stomach cramps, confusion or difficulty concentrating, and in severe cases, tremors or seizures. Seek medical help if symptoms are severe.
Prevent vape sickness by: using appropriate nicotine strength for your tolerance, staying hydrated (drink water before and after vaping), not vaping on empty stomach, taking breaks between puffs (no chain vaping), starting with lower nicotine if new to vaping, and listening to your body's signals.
Dizziness from vaping occurs due to nicotine rush affecting blood pressure and oxygen levels, standing up too quickly after vaping, dehydration, vaping too much too fast, using nicotine strength that's too high, or low blood sugar combined with nicotine intake.
Yes, some people have sensitivity or allergic reactions to PG (propylene glycol), certain flavourings, or nicotine itself, causing symptoms like throat irritation, skin rashes, breathing difficulties, nausea, or headaches. Switch to high VG e-liquids or consult doctor if symptoms persist.
Throat irritation from vaping results from high nicotine strength causing harsh throat hit, PG sensitivity (try high VG liquids), dehydration drying throat tissue, new vaper adjustment period, menthol or citrus flavours being particularly harsh, or vaping at too high wattage.
For ex-heavy smokers (20+ daily): start with 20mg nic salts. For moderate smokers (10-20 daily): use 10-20mg nic salts. For light smokers: try 6-10mg. For non-smokers or just flavour: use 0mg (nicotine-free). Always start lower and increase if needed—easier to add than reduce.
Yes, PG and VG in e-liquids are hygroscopic (absorb moisture), drawing water from mouth, throat, and body tissues, causing dehydration symptoms like dry mouth, thirst, fatigue, and headaches. Drink extra water when vaping—aim for 2-3 litres daily.
See a doctor if: symptoms persist despite stopping vaping, you experience severe chest pain or breathing difficulty, symptoms worsen over time, you develop persistent cough or wheezing, nausea continues for days, or you suspect serious nicotine poisoning or allergic reaction.
You can get expert advice on choosing appropriate nicotine strength, device types, and preventing vape sickness at WizVape, offering personalized recommendations, lower-strength options, and quality products for comfortable, safe vaping.
