If you’ve ever gone a few hours without reaching for your vape and suddenly found yourself rereading the same sentence over and over, there could be more going on than simple distraction.
For people who regularly use nicotine, going without it can bring on a range of physical and psychological symptoms. Irritability, cravings and trouble sleeping are among the better-known ones, but difficulty concentrating can also be part of the picture.
It turns out that hazy, unfocused feeling may have a surprisingly straightforward explanation. As pointed out by Cleveland Clinic and VicHealth, nicotine acts on receptors in the brain and triggers the release of dopamine: a chemical messenger involved in reward, motivation and pleasure — as well as concentration, learning, memory, mood and sleep.
With repeated nicotine use, the brain becomes accustomed to that stimulation. When someone who has developed nicotine dependence suddenly stops or cuts down, those receptors are no longer being stimulated in the same way, and the brain releases less dopamine.
That disruption can contribute to withdrawal symptoms — including the frustrating feeling that your brain simply isn’t firing on all cylinders.
What’s more, nicotine withdrawal can start between four and 24 hours after the last dose in people who have been using it long-term. Symptoms are generally at their most intense on the second or third day without nicotine, before gradually easing. For some people, withdrawal symptoms can continue for several weeks, although they should improve over time.
Trouble concentrating isn’t the only cognitive issue linked with vaping, either. University of Rochester Medicine says researchers analysing two large national surveys found a statistical association between vaping and self-reported cognitive difficulties in adults and adolescents.
People who vaped or smoked were more likely to report problems with concentrating, remembering or making decisions than people who did neither.
The effect of nicotine may be particularly important for younger users. VicHealth also noted that the human brain continues developing until around the age of 25, forming huge numbers of new connections along the way.
Nicotine exposure during that period can interfere with processes involving attention, learning, memory, impulse control, emotional regulation and executive function.
So, whilst taking another hit from a vape might seem to make the fog lift, for someone who is dependent on nicotine — it may instead be temporarily relieving withdrawal symptoms created by the dependence itself.
That cycle can make the connection feel counterintuitive: nicotine may appear to help you concentrate in the moment, whilst going without it leaves you struggling to focus because your brain has become used to receiving it.
Nicotine withdrawal itself isn’t harmful and fades with time, although quitting can be difficult. Nicotine replacement therapy, behavioural support and help from a healthcare professional are among the approaches that can make withdrawal easier to manage.
In addition, if brain fog persists for weeks, gets worse or begins interfering with everyday life, you should make it a priority to speak to a health practitioner, as difficulty concentrating can have many causes beyond nicotine.