ZYN nicotine pouches can keep you awake, it's why most people use them for a dose of mid-day productivity. While some people consider this is a benefit, others have a hard time falling asleep. After spending countless nights doing nothing but staring at the ceiling, they become tired.
We know that feeling, and it's why we think you need to read about the solutions. Sleeplessness is an epidemic because of various nicotine products. And we've covered some solutions that can help you get back into that sweet zone.
Does ZYN Keep You Up?
Yes, ZYN nicotine pouches can keep you up because nicotine has a stimulating effect. When the nicotine enters your body it stimulates your system and increases your metabolism. Naturally, you feel more alert and less sleepy.
Nicotine also affects your circadian rhythm by reducing your REM sleep periods. Nicotine users have a much lower REM sleep period and wake up more easily during the nights. This effect is mainly because of the addictive nature of nicotine.
How Does ZYN Nicotine Pouches Keep You Awake?
ZYN nicotine pouches, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International, contain the stimulant addictive nicotine which keeps you awake. Nicotine enters your body and reacts with the nicotinic acetycholine receptors, which triggers a dopamine and serotonin release. For all of the people who don't know, dopamine and serotonin are endorphins.
These two neurochemicals are what keep you happy, elated, and motivated. Naturally, when you use nicotine pouches, you feel a rush of good emotions. All of these endorphins have a counter effect on sleepiness.
It's why people report alertness and improved activity after using ZYN nicotine pouches and other products. Personally, I've used nicotine pouches quite often on long nights. It has a major toll on your body, especially when the nicotine starts wearing off.
Nicotines Effect of Sleeps of Stage
Nicotine effects the way you enter the 4 stages of sleep and how long you stay in them. When you doze off, your subsconscious starts driving your brain through 4 stages of the sleep cycle. These 4 cycles are:
| Stage Name | NREM or REM | Duration |
| N1 | NREM | 1 to 7 minutes |
| N2 | NREM | 10 to 25 minutes |
| N3 | NREM | 20 to 40 minutes |
| REM | REM | 10 to 60 minutes |
The table above shows the average time in each sleep cycle stage. Nicotine users tend to have a prolonged N1, N2, and N3 stage because of their dependence. Since they have a shorter REM phase, they wake up groggy, more disoriented, and slightly out of place.
Nicotine and Sleep: An Awry Affair
Nicotine and sleep are two ingredients that never mix well together. This is mainly because nicotine is a stimulant, which makes you more active. Naturally, you don't feel sleepy when you're overstimulated.
This effect applies to all nicotine products like tobacco, nicotine pouches, vapes, gum, lozenges, or other modern smokeless products. However, the intensity of the negative effects vary according to the products you use.
Cigarettes and Sleep
According to a concise study published in PubMed, smoking was associated with an increased risk of insomnia, sleep apnea, and short sleeping patterns. According to another study, smokers are twice as likely to develop sleep problems.
They wake up more regularly during the nights because of nicotine cravings. Yes, as surprising as it seems, your body subconsciously craves nicotine, which is why smokers have lighter sleep. Since the brain doesn't move into the REM period, your mind doesn't get the necessary rest it needs.
Vaping and Sleep
Vaping is similar to cigarette smoking because it effects your bronchitis. The only difference between vapes and cigarettes is a lower concentration of toxins. When it comes to sleep, vaping might have even more pronounced negative effect.
Vapes contain glycerin, which can significantly hamper your breathing capability. It induces a shortness of breath and increases the risk of asthma. Your sleep is dependent on your breathing habits, so when you don't get enough oxygen, your sleep quality takes a major blow.
Smokeless Tobacco Snus and Sleep
Snus or smokeless tobacco products contain nicotine and slew of other ingredients. The main ingredient is still nicotine, which has a significant impact on your sleep. Research in NCBI states that snus users have a hard time falling asleep compared to non-users.
The same research also concluded that people who use tobacco or previous users have a higher tendency to snore. At the same time, the nicotine from snus products reduces your sleep quality because of the cravings. These effects are the same for dipping and chewing tobacco.
Nicotine Pouches and Sleep
Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are much safer than cigarettes and snus, however, they have the same effect on sleep. VELO, LOOP, and ZYN pouches contain a significant amount of nicotine. When you use these pouches, your mind goes into an elevated state of hyperactivity.
Your body gets accustomed to this state and craves more when you stop using them. Naturally, nicotine pouch users also have a hard time sleeping. However, compared to cigarettes and vapes, nicotine pouches don't affect breathing.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Sleep
Nicotine Replacement Therapy is the substitution of alternative products like nicotine gum with cigarettes, vapes, or snus. Nicotine pouches aren't considered NRT products by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). All of these alternatives contain nicotine.
NRTs effect your sleep just like all other nicotine products. They effect your metabolism, alertness, cognition, and consequently affect the quality of your sleep. While these products can help you quit cigarettes or tobacco, they will make sleep harder.
Overall Analysis of Nicotine Sleep
Nicotine is used to stave off sleep and has a significant impact on the quality of your sleep. Prolonged used of nicotine is associated with cerebrovascular effects, which are counter productive for sleep and your overall health.
Cigarettes and vapes are by far the worst for people suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders. The lack of good sleep in users is often attributed to nicotine addiction. While every nicotine product produces these effects, health experts conclude that cigarettes and vapes are more pernicious.
Sleep More Easily: A Short Guide for Nicotine Users
There are somethings that nicotine users can do to sleep more easily. Let's look at some of the things that you should be doing for a more fulfilling night of sleep:
- Quit Smoking: Cigarettes and other smoke producing items are the bane of sleep and overall public health. You should quit smoking today to get back on track. It'll help you sleep better and live a healthier life overall.
- Stop Using Nicotine 4 Hours Before Bed Time: Nicotine has a half life of 2 hours. Nicotine stays in your system for 2 to 4 hours. Stop using nicotine 4 hours before bedtime so that it can get back to nomal and ready for sleep.
- Stop Eating or Drinking Before Bedtime: When you eat or drink before bed time, your digestive system starts working. It creates problems for your brain, which wants to shut down all non-essential functions for sleep. Stop eating or drinking 2 hours before bedtime.
- Environment Enhancement: The environment thats surrounds you also plays a crucial role in sleep. Always clean your surroundings, have a fresh sheet, and limit bright lights. For an even greater sleep experience, keep all distractions away from your bed.
- Do Not Use Your Phone Before Sleep: Using phones, playing games, or binge watching YouTube shorts, also amps your brain activity. For a great sleep experience, stop using your phone in your bed, before falling asleep.
- Exercise During the Day: Tiring out your body during the day is a great way to force your mind into sleep. Exercise is good for your body overall, and improves your everyday functions. Plus, with the right exercise, you can have your body ripped for the next beach season.
While these are general tips, they can significantly improve the sleep quality of tobacco and nicotine users.
Techniques to Induce Sleep More Easily
The biggest problem for nicotine users is actually falling asleep. It's like that one thought stuck in your mind that keeps you awake until 3 AM. Or when you start breathing manually and then just can't get to auto-breathing.
Here are some techniques that will help you sleep like a log in a few minutes:
1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
This technique was actually popularized when social media influencers started talking about it in 2023. Lay down on your bed and clench all of your muscles. while focusing on the sensation. Then start relaxing each part of your body after 10 seconds.
Keep your body relaxed and focus on the sensation. Don't think about anything else, the work, your friend from school, the dark abyss of the future, nothing. Be free and you'll doze in a couple of seconds.
It works for both nicotine and non-nicotine users. With this technique mastered, you can doze off into the realm of sleep.
2. 4-7-8 Relaxation Method
The 478 method is a relaxation technique to calm your body and prepare it for sleep. The method is generally used to induce a sense of ease or relaxation. The method uses a rhythmic breathing pattern to induce sleep and ease. Here's how you do it:
- Relax your body completely.
- Place your tongue on the ridge behind your upper teeth.
- Breathe in through your nose, while mentally counting to 4.
- Hold the breath for a mental count of 7.
- Release slowly through your mouth.
- Repeat the cycle 4 times and more if necessary.
Do not think about anything, keep your mind clean like a fresh slate. Practitioners of this method have reported falling asleep much quickly.
Extreme Sleep Problems? Quit Nicotine
People with extreme sleep disorders are better of quitting nicotine altogether. For example, people who are habitual insomniacs or have various sleep apneas will only exacerbate their situation with nicotine. While quitting nicotine pouches may seem like a daunting task, it's surprisingly easy with the right guidelines.
We have a complete guide that can help you quit nicotine. To make your journey easier, try using VELO Zero, nicotine free pouches made solely to help you quit. These products do not contain any nicotine and help you regain control over your sleep cycle.
Conclusion: ZYN Nicotine Pouches Do Keep You Awake
Popular research shows that nicotine use can keep you awake. This is a double edged sword because you feel more active during the day, but it also causes nicotine addiction. The secondary effect keeps you awake at night and decreases the overall quality of your sleep.
Overall, cigarettes and snus have a much dire health effects, including on your sleep. However, the effect of nicotine pouches cannot be ignored either. For the best experience, stop using nicotine products at least 3 to 4 hours before sleep.
Finally, follow good sleep hygiene to get your body prepped for a night of fruitful sleep. Use the 478 or PMR method to induce sleep more easily. Remember, a good nights sleep is worth it for your mind and body, so take the steps necessary to get it.
FAQs - How Nicotine Effects Sleep
1. Does nicotine affect sleep?
Yes, nicotine of all types and forms affects your ability to sleep. Nicotine is a stimulant that increases heart rate, alertness, and metabolism, which makes sleeping harder. It also makes your sleep much lighter and nights more restless because of cravings.
2. How long before bed should I stop nicotine?
You should stop using any nicotine product at least four hours before going to bed. It takes 2 hours for nicotine to decay, which means 4 hours are enough for the effects to wear off. Good hydration and food can also help flush the nicotine out to prepare you for a better nights sleep.
3. Does nicotine make you sleepy?
Nicotine makes you fatigued which may seem like sleepiness. Cigarettes and other forms of nicotine also give you an adrenaline rush. When the nicotine wears off, you feel worn down and much sleepier.
