Recently, the FDA reported that some people have experienced seizures after using e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes have gained popularity in recent years. CNN reports that though they are marketed as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other vaping devices have raised safety concerns, which the FDA’s latest announcement have intensified.

Can Nicotine Cause Seizures?

According to the FDA, nicotine poisoning can cause seizures. However, this does not mean that e-cigarette use necessarily causes seizures. More recently, vaping has been linked to seizures.

In April 2019, the FDA warned that they had received reports of seizures in connection to e-cigarette use. The FDA says it has received 35 reports of people experiencing seizures after using e-cigarettes, which raises concerns about a possible connection. However, it is not known e-cigarette use itself causes seizures.

Additionally, in the 35 cases, a range of factors could have been at play that led a person to develop a seizure. In some of the cases, the person who suffered a seizure had used other drugs before having a seizure, not just an e-cigarette.

The agency notes that they are unsure why the link exists and cannot pinpoint a common population, vape brand, or other factors. However, the FDA wants the public to be informed of the potential risks while they wait for more information.

“The FDA is seeking more information about seizures following e-cigarette use to identify common risk factors and understand if any e-cigarette product attributes such as nicotine content or formulation may contribute to seizures,” the FDA said in a press release.

“If you or someone you know experiences any unexpected health or safety issues with any tobacco product, please report it through the Safety Reporting Portal (SRP).”

What are E-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are hand-held electronic devices that deliver nicotine. They are advertised as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. Nicotine is delivered in a liquid that is then heated into a vapor by the device and breathed in by the user.

Most e-cigarettes are composed of the same components:

• A mouthpiece: this cartridge is fixed at the end of the e-cigarette and allows a user to inhale the vaporized nicotine.
• An atomizer: this heating element heats up the nicotine liquid which creates a thick vapor.
• A battery: either reusable or single-use, the power source allows the heating element to function.
• A sensor: this allows the device to detect when the user is inhaling or sucking on the device, prompting the production of vapor.
• A solution: this e-liquid or e-juice may be made with or without nicotine. Most liquids are made with a base of propylene glycol and contain a wide variety of flavors to make the experience more enjoyable.

Some e-cigarettes are reusable and others are single-use.

E-cigarettes have grown in popularity in recent years. They have reportedly been on the market for just over a decade. One of the most popular brands is JUUL.

Are E-cigarettes Safe?

E-cigarettes like JUUL have grown in popularity in recent years, and are often advertised as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. They are advertised as a safer way for people who already use traditional cigarettes to get their nicotine fix.

However, it is possible that the rise of e-cigarettes encourages people who do not already use other tobacco products to take up nicotine use via e-cigarettes. Experts worry that teens may be especially susceptible to the advertising around e-cigarettes like JUUL, and may be attracted to e-cigarettes’ flavors and ease of use.

The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that because e-cigarettes are fairly new to the market, having been on the market for just over a decade, the long term health effects of use are unknown. Experts including members of the Food and Drug Administration continue to worry about the effects.

Some studies have begun to investigate the short term effects of e-cigarette use, which reportedly include “rapid deterioration of vascular function, increased heart rate, and elevated diastolic blood pressure,” according to reports.

How Much Nicotine do E-cigarettes Deliver?

Though e-cigarettes are advertised as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, they can contain high levels of nicotine.

The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that JUUL in particular has a high level of nicotine, reportedly twice the amount of nicotine concentrate as many other brands of e-cigarettes. One JUUL cartridge, or pod, has reportedly the same amount of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes. This is particularly concerning since JUUL is one of the most popular e-cigarette brands.

What’s the Difference Between Smoking and Vaping?

When a person smokes a cigarette, the nicotine hit at the back of the throat automatically makes the smoker pause before taking another drag on the cigarette. JUUL pods are formulated with a type of nicotine salts that limit the throat hit, which allows the vape user to almost immediately take another inhalation off the device.

E-liquids used in vaping also deliver nicotine to the bloodstream at nearly twice the speed experienced through cigarette smoking.

A third aspect that makes vaping more intense than smoking cigarettes is there’s no finality to vaping. When someone smokes a cigarette, the cigarette eventually is used by smoking the entire cigarette or putting it out. With vaping, you’re never “done” because you can keep inhaling more and more vapor as long as you have e-liquids or replacement pods.

The combination of rapid puffs, quicker absorption, and continuous use could be a recipe for a nicotine overdose, which is generally marked by nausea, dizziness, shakiness, and anxiety prior to a seizure.

Traditional cigarettes and most vaping e-liquids contain nicotine, but e-liquids do not contain tobacco, which is a known carcinogen found in traditional cigarettes.

Vaping e-liquids are known to have toxic additives, including known carcinogens formaldehyde and benzene, plus acetamide, which a compound used in industrial solvents. The vaping delivery system also may deliver heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead to the lungs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even some vaping e-juices that have been marketed as containing no nicotine at all have been tested and found to contain nicotine.

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.