How drugs are classified

Pharmacological drug classification is based on effects on the central nervous system:

Stimulants. Speed up CNS activity:

• Increase heart rate plus blood pressure.
• Increase alertness plus arousal.
• Reduce appetite.
• Increase body temperature.
• Examples: caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine.

Depressants. Slow CNS activity:

• Decrease heart rate plus blood pressure.
• Reduce alertness plus arousal.
• Can produce sedation plus sleep.
• Reduce muscle tone plus coordination.
• Examples: alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, sleep medications.

Hallucinogens and other classes have different effect profiles beyond simple stimulant/depressant axis.

Nicotine fits the stimulant profile clearly: measurable increases in heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol plus alertness. It does not fit the depressant profile.

What nicotine actually does

Nicotine effects on the nervous system:

Acute effects:

• Heart rate increases 5-20 beats per minute.
• Blood pressure rises 5-10 mmHg.
• Adrenaline release.
• Cortisol release.
• Increased alertness plus focus.
• Mild appetite suppression.
• Vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels).
• Increased metabolic rate.

These are clearly stimulant effects. Acute nicotine exposure activates the sympathetic (“fight or flight”) nervous system. This is the opposite of a depressant which activates the parasympathetic (“rest plus digest”) system.

Why nicotine feels calming to many users

Despite being a stimulant, many users describe nicotine as calming or relaxing. Three mechanisms explain this:

1. Anxiolytic effects at moderate doses.

Nicotine has some anxiety-reducing effects at moderate doses through:

• GABA system modulation (GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter).
• Serotonin system effects.
• Some direct receptor effects that can have calming components.

These effects are real but are secondary to the primary stimulant effects. At higher doses plus during acute effects, stimulant effects dominate. Subtle anxiolytic effects may emerge at moderate steady doses.

2. Withdrawal relief in dependent users.

This is the single biggest reason nicotine feels calming to regular users:

• Chronic use creates dependence.
• Between sessions, blood nicotine drops.
• Withdrawal symptoms develop including anxiety, irritability plus restlessness.
• Next vape session relieves withdrawal.
• The relief of unpleasant withdrawal feelings feels calming even though nothing has truly relaxed.
• Users often mistake withdrawal relief for actual relaxation.

This is the main reason dependent users describe vape as calming. What they experience is not nicotine reducing their baseline anxiety. It is nicotine removing the withdrawal-induced anxiety created by earlier nicotine.

3. Ritual and breathing effects.

Vape sessions involve:

• Pause from activity.
• Deep slow breaths.
• Focus on oral sensation.
• Routine plus ritual.
• Possibly social connection.

Deep breathing alone reliably reduces stress. Taking breaks reduces stress. The ritual aspect of vape incorporates stress-reducing behaviours independent of nicotine itself. Users often attribute the calming effect to nicotine when it partially comes from these associated behaviours.

The stress-relief illusion

A crucial distinction for understanding nicotine plus stress:

What feels like stress reduction:

• Withdrawal anxiety drops when nicotine levels rise.
• Relief of unpleasant feelings equals perceived relaxation.

What is actually happening:

• Nicotine is increasing baseline stress response (cortisol, BP).
• Withdrawal between sessions is creating the anxiety that subsequent sessions relieve.
• Overall stress levels may actually be higher than baseline non-use.

Research consistently shows that quitting nicotine improves anxiety plus stress levels over time. If nicotine were actually stress-relieving, quitters would feel more stressed. The opposite is typically observed after the initial withdrawal phase.

Long-term mood effects

Beyond acute plus withdrawal effects, chronic nicotine use has complicated relationship with mood:

Association with depression.

• Smokers plus vapers have higher rates of depression than non-users.
• Cause and effect complex: depression predicts nicotine use, nicotine use may worsen depression.
• Both directions likely contribute.

Cortisol dysregulation.

• Chronic nicotine flattens daily cortisol rhythm.
• Morning peak reduced, evening low less pronounced.
• May contribute to low mood plus fatigue.

Reward system changes.

• Chronic nicotine affects dopamine regulation.
• Natural rewards may feel less rewarding over time.
• This “anhedonia” can contribute to low mood.

Quitting effects.

• Initial mood effects worsen during withdrawal.
• After 2-4 weeks mood usually improving.
• By 3 months most ex-users report better mood than when using.

These long-term patterns are sometimes called “depressant-like” effects but they are different from the pharmacological definition of depressant. Nicotine is not sedating like a true depressant.

Nicotine vs true depressants

Direct comparison:

Alcohol (depressant):

• Decreases heart rate.
• Decreases blood pressure acutely.
• Reduces cognitive function.
• Produces sedation at higher doses.
• Reduces muscle coordination.
• Clear CNS depression.

Nicotine (stimulant):

• Increases heart rate.
• Increases blood pressure.
• Increases alertness.
• No sedation.
• Does not reduce muscle coordination.
• CNS activation.

The mechanisms are opposite. Someone using both (alcohol plus vape) experiences competing effects. Alcohol wins at higher doses producing overall CNS depression.

Clinical implications

For people with anxiety disorders:

• Nicotine is not evidence-based anxiety treatment.
• NHS plus clinical guidelines recommend other approaches.
• Chronic use may complicate anxiety management.
• Withdrawal between sessions adds to anxiety burden.

For people with depression:

• Association with higher depression rates.
• Cessation improves mood long-term after initial adjustment.
• GP can assess plus recommend appropriate treatment.
• Nicotine is not antidepressant though some feel short-term improvement.

For people with PTSD or trauma:

• Nicotine can be used as emotional coping but does not address underlying issues.
• Evidence-based treatments (trauma-focused therapy, EMDR) address root causes.
• Cessation plus therapy combination usually recommended.

What actually helps anxiety or stress

NHS-recommended evidence-based approaches:

• Exercise. Well-established mood plus anxiety benefit.
• Breathing techniques. Slow deep breathing reliably reduces acute stress.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Highest evidence base for anxiety disorders.
• Mindfulness plus meditation. Evidence-based for stress plus anxiety.
• Sleep improvements. Sleep quality strongly affects mood plus stress.
• Social connection. Meaningful relationships support mental health.
• Professional therapy. Via NHS mental health services or private.
• Medication if indicated. SSRIs, SNRIs plus others have strong evidence base.
• Reducing alcohol plus other substances. These complicate mood.

These produce sustainable improvements without dependence risk. Unlike nicotine they do not create withdrawal-anxiety between doses.

Practical approach

• Nicotine is a stimulant not a depressant. Classification is clear pharmacologically.
• Calm feelings from vape are usually withdrawal relief not true relaxation.
• The ritual and breathing contribute to calm feelings independent of nicotine.
• Long-term mood effects complicated. Chronic use associated with higher depression.
• Do not use vape for anxiety or stress management. Non-addictive approaches safer.
• GP assessment for mood concerns. NHS mental health support available.

For those already using vape for nicotine needs, our nicotine salts collection covers every UK compliant strength from 20mg down to 3mg supporting gradual step-down as part of reducing dependence.