As the addictive psychoactive substance in cigarettes and e-cigarette vaping ejuices, nicotine causes a number of adverse health effects. Increased heart rate and high blood pressure are just two of the dangerous conditions linked to nicotine addiction.

Seizures and Nicotine Overview

In the spring of 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a special announcement that several reports of young people who have vaped have suffered seizures. The FDA acknowledged that an onset of seizures can indicate nicotine toxicity.

The FDA analyzed data from poison control centers between 2010 and early 2019 and found that 35 reports of seizures mentioned vaping, too. The reports are voluntary, which means there could be more instances of seizures after vaping that are unaccounted for, said the FDA.

E-cigarettes often have a higher nicotine level than regular cigarettes, according to the Truth Initiative, which explains that newer versions of e-cigarettes such as Juul boost the hit by using nicotine salts.

Nicotine salt formulas not only deliver a higher level of the addictive substance, but also deliver it more efficiently with less throat irritation when compared with the first e-cigarettes that debuted years ago.

The burning “hit” to throat felt when smoking regular cigarettes forces the user to pause between puffs. Without that irritation, the person vaping an e-cigarette can take puffs one right after another, which when combined with the already more potent nicotine, can lead to nicotine toxicity.

According to 2019 data, Juul Labs holds more than 75 percent of the vaping market, and most Juul pods contain more nicotine than found in an entire pack of cigarettes.

Does Nicotine Cause Seizures?

Nicotine may increase the risk of seizures, especially when the amount of nicotine in the body reaches a toxic level.

A 2009 study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School determined cigarette smokers are at a “significant risk” of seizures after adjusting for other possible confounding factors such as stroke, brain tumor and hypertension.

A study published by Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2017 found that nicotine caused seizures in rats and mice when the nicotine was introduced in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain associated with experiencing emotions and perceiving them in other people. It’s also the part of the brain that is associated with the onset of seizure activity.

Researchers wrote, “We confirmed that nicotine dose-dependently caused convulsive seizures in rodents.”

What are the Warning Signs of Seizures?

While most people envision uncontrollable trembling throughout the body as the typical seizure, the FDA says the sudden lack of electrical impulse control in the brain can be indicated in other ways.

Warning signs of seizures may include a sudden lack of awareness or consciousness during which the person suddenly stops whatever movement they may have been doing or stares into space with a blank expression.

A seizure may result in a person falling down, but not always. A majority of people who suffer seizures will only experience them for a few seconds. After the seizure, the person may suffer from a headache, drowsiness, confusion or simply not remember what they were doing before the seizure struck. Other people who suffer seizures may seem perfectly fine right afterwards.

Have Any Nicotine Seizure Lawsuits Been Filed?

Plaintiff Kimberly Mays filed a lawsuit against Juul Labs Inc. and Altria Group after she says she had two “devastating” seizures immediately after using a Juul vaping device, both of which occurred in the summer of 2019. Mays alleges she was hospitalized and now needs help caring for herself due to further seizures, short-term memory loss, and mood changes. In her seizures and nicotine lawsuit, Mays blames Juul for the “permanent altering of her brain.”

She also alleges that Juul downplayed any dangers of its e-cigarettes in order to increase its own profits regardless of the effects of vaping on consumers’ health.

What Should You Do if You Have Been Affected?

If you have suffered a seizure that may have to do with vaping, it’s helpful to track the date and time of the seizure, what your symptoms were and how long you had been vaping that day prior to the seizure’s onset. Keeping track of the brand, the flavor and the nicotine content of the device you were using could help you prove your case.

Can You Seek Legal Help?

If you have used Juul or any other vaping device that indicates a link between seizures and nicotine, you could be eligible to participate in this class action lawsuit investigation. Even though vaping devices have not been around for a long time, evidence regarding the dangers of these devices is collected daily, and an experienced attorney could help you hold the manufacturer responsible.

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.