Reports that some people who used e-cigarettes had seizures prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to launch an investigation into the devices, the agency announced in August 2019.

That investigation is ongoing, according to the FDA, and no final report has been made public.

What was the reason for the FDA investigation into JUUL pods?

The FDA announced in April 2019 it had received reports of some consumers having seizures following their use of e-cigarettes, most of them “youth or young adult users” and because of that it was issuing a public warning and conducting an investigation. Agency officials said they were going to try to identify risk factors and determine what, if anything, about the e-cigarettes was causing seizures.

The FDA investigation “was triggered by a handful of people who reportedly used JUUL devices” who had seizures and those instances were shared with the FDA through its online Safety Reporting Portal, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg said the FDA was unable to verify the seizures were tied to JUUL devices and noted that the company’s e-cigarettes are so dominant in the market that the brand name is often used to refer to any kind of vaping.

Publicly, the FDA has not mentioned JUUL in association with the investigation, but Bloomberg’s report was based on internal agency documents the news service obtained through public records requests, it said. Those documents included an email sent from the director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products to Scott Gottlieb, who was the agency’s commissioner at the time. It said, “no proof of causality, but at a minimum, an association with Juul.”

The documents gathered by Bloomberg also showed the FDA’s investigation began in October 2018, after the seizure reports were submitted to the administration’s online portal. The portal is a means for consumers to communicate directly – by filing voluntary adverse experience reports – with the agency regarding any adverse reactions or other safety concerns they have with tobacco, drugs and food.

In making the investigation public and warning e-cigarette users about the potential safety risk, the FDA said it found the seizures had been reported by both first-time and experienced smokers. Some had a prior history of seizures. The FDA also noted that some of the reports same from consumers who had seizures after just “a few puffs” and others after a day of vaping.

FDA issued update on investigation

In August 2019, the FDA issued an update on the status of its investigation, revealing a total of 127 reports of seizures or other neurological symptoms associated with vaping had been filed. The reports covered incidents dating as far back as 2010, the administration said.

The FDA said the seizure reports “do not necessarily indicate an increase in frequency or prevalence of such incidents.” It also pointed out that some of the incidents submitted through the online portal described fainting and tremors, “which may or may not be related to seizures.”

All of the reports are posted online as part of the FDA’s quarterly updates.

In a move separate from the investigation, the FDA reportedly plans to remove JUUL products from the market completely. According to the Wall Street Journal, the official ban could come at any time.

What were the results?

Food and Drug Administration officials said in the agency’s latest online update that the FDA investigation is ongoing, and consumers are still being encouraged to share any relevant experiences.

“The FDA is continuing to seek more information to better understand whether there is a relationship between e-cigarette use and neurological events and is asking that any unexpected health or product issues experienced with e-cigarettes or any tobacco product be reported …  through the Safety Reporting Portal.”

Are JUUL pods safe to use?

Whether e-cigarettes, or JUUL products in particular, are safe to use remains a hotly contested question. In addition to the FDA investigation regarding the possible seizure risk, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into a rash of vaping related lung injuries reported starting in the fall of 2019. By February of 2020, the CDC said more than 2,800 people had suffered the same kind of lung injuries, to varying degrees, and 68 of them died.

In its article, Bloomberg reported that CDC officials are investigating 193 cases of severe lung illness possibly linked to vaping in 22 states.

E-cigarettes use battery power to heat liquid to the point it forms a vapor the user can inhale. The liquid can contain a variety of ingredients, from nicotine to cannabis oils and other additives. First introduced to the American market in 2007, e-cigarette sales have been on the rise, especially among young people, according to the Pew Research Center.

Although e-cigarettes have a dubious safety profile, some professionals argue that these devices still have merit as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Professionals often focus on “risk reduction” when arguing in favor of e-cigarettes. According to these groups, an e-cigarette is a safer way to get a nicotine dose than traditional cigarettes.

However, the safety of JUUL pods has still prompted concern and even legal action from consumers.

Have any lawsuits been filed regarding JUUL and seizures?

Consumers, particularly parents whose children suffered from JUUL addictions or side effects, have taken legal action against the company.  According to many complaints, the company put young consumers at risk.

One Connecticut mother filed suit against JUUL Labs after her teen-aged son suffered two seizures that she claims were related to his JUUL vaping habit.

Catherine Faulds said her son was just 14 years old when he began vaping with JUUL in October of 2018. Her son is identified in court documents by his initials of G.F.

Faulds said her son tried JUUL in the first place because the mint and mango flavors both appealed to him, and that he didn’t know then that the JUUL pods contained high amounts of nicotine. Even though he only used his JUUL about every other day when he first picked up the habit, Faulds says the nicotine caused her son to become addicted and to use it more often as time went on.

According to the JUUL lawsuit, G.F. had his initial seizure in July 2019 while on vacation with his family in the state of Virginia. The lawsuit claims G.F. underwent a lumbar puncture, CT scan, chest X-ray, blood work and other tests while hospitalized at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Va.

Despite the seizure, G.F. allegedly continued to be addicted to nicotine, which caused him to keep using the vaping device. The lawsuit says he had another seizure, but this time he was in the locker room where he attends school, after which he was taken to New Milford Hospital. That seizure reportedly occurred Oct. 19, 2019.

The lawsuit alleges, “Plaintiff G.F.’s seizures and nicotine addiction from JUUL have permanently injured and altered his developing brain.”

In April 2021, plaintiffs secured a small victory when a multidistrict litigation of consolidated JUUL lawsuits escaped a dismissal attempt mostly unscathed. A year later in April 2022, JUUL lost its final attempt to dismiss the first trial it faces. The plaintiff in the case claims that her daughter developed a nicotine addiction after starting to use JUUL products at age 12.

If you or someone you love has suffered from JUUL seizures or other side effects after using e-cigarettes, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free JUUL E-Cigarette Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or your child suffered seizures after vaping with a JUUL e-cigarette, you may benefit from participating in a free JUUL class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented 
for informational purposes only.