In order to find a loophole in the tightening restrictions on vapes, Chinese vape manufacturers came up with a new idea: put a nicotine analogue in e-liquid. As a result, Nixodine vapes were developed. This blog focuses on what is nixodine, is nixodine safe and an expanding list that includes nixodine vapes, e-liquid and brands that manufacture them.
Table of Contents
1. What is Nixodine?
Nixodine is a mixture of nicotinamide and the nicotine analogue 6-MN. Nicotinamide (NA) is a form of vitamin B3. NA has no known pharmacological activity at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and generally does not produce effects similar to nicotine. The nicotine analog, 6-MN, is the main active ingredient.
6-MN is also known as 6-methyl nicotine. It is an analog of nicotine with similar structure. 6MN was synthesized by chemically modifying nicotine in 1967. In the 1980s, Philip Morris studied the chemistry of 6-MN and did not decide to replace nicotine with it in cigarettes.
2. Nixodine vs Nicotine
Nicotine is a well-known, highly addictive chemical and to blame for the form of smoking habit. It is also often mistakenly considered a carcinogen, although it is not one. Through decades of study, we understand both the negative and positive effects of nicotine. As to nixodine, we barely know its formulation. The table below compares Nixodine with nicotine:
| Feature | Nixodine | Nicotine |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A marketed nicotine alternative; its composition may vary | A naturally occurring tobacco alkaloid |
| Main ingredients | May contain nicotinamide, 6-MN, or both, depending on the product | Nicotine |
| Chemical status | Usually marketed as nicotine-free, although some formulations may contain 6-MN, a nicotine analogue | The actual nicotine molecule |
| Product formats | E-cigarettes, e-liquids, and some oral pouch products | Cigarettes and other tobacco products; nicotine patches, nicotine pouches, nicotine gum, nicotine strips, e-cigarettes, and e-liquids |
| Nicotinic receptor activity | Nicotinamide has no known activity at nicotinic receptors. 6-MN can activate these receptors and may be more potent than nicotine in some animal studies | Activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain and nervous system |
| Nicotine-like effects | Cannot be assumed; effects depend on whether 6-MN is present and how much the product contains | Well-established stimulant and reinforcing effects |
| Addictiveness | Unknown for nicotinamide; potentially significant if 6-MN is present | Well-established as addictive |
| Safety evidence | Limited evidence exists on inhaled use and long-term effects | More extensively studied, although nicotine remains addictive and carries health risks |
| Legal status | Not uniformly regulated; regulation may be unclear or still developing, depending on the jurisdiction and formulation | Generally regulated, with strict restrictions often applying to sales, marketing, age, labeling, and product composition |
In short, nixodine, with its prominent ingredient 6-methyl nicotine, lacks research and could be more addictive than nicotine.
3. Is Nixodine Safe?
In 2024, one of the suppliers of nicotine alternative products marketed as nixodine, nixamide and other brand names updated its page for nicotine alternative and stated that Nixodine is a combination of nicotinamide and the nicotine analog 6MN. Nixodine is a product family/brand other than a chemical with a fixed formulation. Let’s assume that nixodine is a mixture as Nicotine River states and evaluate the two known ingredients separately.
(1) Is Nicotinamide (NA) Safe to Vape?
The safety of nicotinamide for vaping is little known compared with nicotine. E-juice is vaporized and inhaled in the form of aerosol. Although nicotinamide is a form of vitamin B3, it doesn’t mean it is safe to vape. A report in Chemical Research in Toxicology on March 31, 2026 mentioned that 3-CP is a byproduct when NA is vaporized at the working temperature of e-cigarettes. 3-CP shows lung toxicity, which indicates the potential harm brought by NA vaporization.
(2) Is 6MN Safe to Vape?
There is no evidence for the safety of 6MN use for vaping. It is concerning as the US vape market is filled with vapes and e-juice containing 6MN and nicotine analogs. With extremely thin human evidence, I can safely conclude that 6-methyl nicotine is nicotine-like and produces similar or stronger effects than nicotine. 6MN is potentially addictive and not safer than nicotine.
(3) What is 6MN (6-methyl nicotine)?
6-methyl nicotine, short for 6MN, is a structural nicotine analog. Since the 1970s, the tobacco industry has conducted studies on the nicotine analogs, including 6MN. It is expected to replace nicotine in the face of regulations in the future. However, nicotine analogs have never been commercialized until now. And it’s more and more common in states with vape bans, such as Virginia.
4. Updating Nixodine Vape List and Other Products
After seeing reports from Reddit about possible discomfort caused by nicotine analog in ejuice and disposable vapes, I’d like to make a list of these products for vapers who might be misled into choosing unwanted products. This nixodine vape list also includes nicotine analog of other brand names. You can check the brand name, product name, nicotine analog type and one picture of the package here.
5. How to Identify a Nixodine Vape?
From the product list, we can see most nixodine vapes are not produced by reliable manufacturers. Most of them are white-label products with the models of A and E-juice of B. You can hardly expect after-sales service from these “brands”.
It takes effort to identify nixodine vapes, especially when you buy vapes online, where pictures are limited. Here are three tells of nixodine vapes that help you avoid them. Follow this guide and you can identify nixodine vapes and products with ease.
(1) Different Health Warning Label
Nicotine Vapes/E-liquid: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. (US) / This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. (UK)
Nicotine Analog: This product is intended for adults (only). This product may be addictive/habit-forming. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing.
The health warning label for nixodine vapes are more ambiguous and does not mention nicotine. Real nicotine-free vapes come with simpler labels, such as “Zero Nicotine” or “This product does not contain nicotine”.
(2) Nixodine Trademark
Manufacturers who want to label their products with Nixodine need to pay for this blue trademark. If you see this big N trademark, think twice.
(3) Check the specifications
On the back of the package, check the ingredients. X% nicotine is the normal case. Made-up words like “nixotine” or “nex6” before percentage are signs of nicotine analog.
6. Adverse Effects of Nixodine (6MN)
Despite the lack of human research, 6MN may be more potent and thus potentially more addictive than nicotine. A few Reddit posts also mention awful side effects like nausea, dizziness and increased heart beats.
For some vapers, they can’t handle their withdrawal symptoms with nixodine vapes. As the MOD wisely recommended in the post of subreddit “disposablevapes_“, be on the lookout for Nixodine/NoNic6/Metatine/Nixamide/6-MN and other nicotine substitutes.
7. Is Nixodine Legal in the United States?
Nixodine is an unknown substance and commercialized mainly to evade the regulation and exploit the legal loopholes. These vape companies believe that vape with nicotine analog will not be seized by the customs and can’t be taxed like nicotine products as it’s “nicotine-free”.
Nixodine is not illegal in most states temporarily. Some righteous experts, such as this former top law enforcement official, have noticed this. Former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Deputy Director Edgar Domenech told Fox News that changing ingredients of disposable vapes creates confusion and no enforcement is responsible for such products now.
It’s worth noting that, according to the FAQ about California’s flavored tobacco products retail law, flavored nicotine analog or alkaloid products have been prohibited under the state law since 2025 in California.
8. Is Nixodine Banned in Other States?
Vape companies and manufacturers must be disappointed at their foreseeable failure at playing with the law. There are more and more states including nicotine analog under regulation. Here is a table of states banning or taxing nicotine analog products:
| State | Effective Date | How Nicotine Analogs Are Regulated |
|---|---|---|
| California | January 1, 2025 | AB 3218 expressly includes nicotinic alkaloids and nicotine analogs in California’s flavored-tobacco and Unflavored Tobacco List framework. This is the earliest state-level law identified in this comparison. |
| Illinois | July 1, 2025 | The Preventing Youth Vaping Act defines nicotine to include nicotinic alkaloids and nicotine analogs, bringing them within the Act’s electronic-cigarette regulations. |
| Nebraska | January 1, 2026 | LB 9 includes nicotine analogues in the definition of electronic nicotine delivery systems and applies tobacco-product taxation and manufacturer-directory certification requirements. |
Till July 2026, nixodine vapes and ENDS with nicotine analog is regulated in California, Illinois and Nebraska.
9. Is Nixodine Banned in Other Countries?
Nixodine and nicotine analog might be added to nicotine pouches first to avoid being seized by customs. Not surprisingly, other countries have regulated such products ahead of the United States:
| Country | Date / Status | How Nicotine Analogs Are Regulated |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | May 4, 2026 — In force | Resolution 549/2026 establishes registration and marketing requirements for tobacco and nicotine products. It requires tobacco-derived nicotine for regulated e-liquid products and excludes synthetic nicotine and nicotine analogs. |
| Australia | Proposed October 1, 2026 — Not yet in force | The federal Therapeutic Goods Administration proposes placing 6-methylnicotine, a synthetic nicotine analog, in Schedule 9 of the Poisons Standard. |
| Canada | No enacted nationwide analog-specific rule identified | Health Canada’s 2026 review records a suggestion to establish a framework for nicotine- and nicotine-analog-containing products. The suggestion remains under consideration and is not enacted law. |
10. Conclusion
Nixodine is not anything new but old wine in a seemingly new bottle. It was developed to exploit a loophole and evade tobacco taxes, but it is now marketed by Chinese vape manufacturers as being unregulated by the FDA. However, there is a lack of research on 6MN and so-called nicotine analogs. For your health, choose nicotine vapes or nicotine pouches instead. 6MN or nixodine, no matter how the brand name changes, is not a safe alternative to nicotine.
