Potential seizures from vaping have been overshadowed by the reports of serious lung injuries, but medical experts warn the risk of seizures cannot be dismissed.

Ramie Fathy, a medical student in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Nilan Schnure, a senior resident in Internal Medicine at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote a piece for Vice regarding seizures from vaping.

They referenced a patient seen just a month ago who had vaped several times in the past, but on one particular night, the patient felt lightheaded and began convulsing after vaping. Fathy and Schnure said the patient reportedly had never previously suffered a seizure, but also incurred muscle and kidney damage after the episode.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received almost 150 reports of seizures believed to be linked to vaping. There is speculation that these seizures could be related to the nicotine delivered through vaping because nicotine toxicity can cause seizures.

Vaping, especially with the popular Juul device, delivers a higher concentration of nicotine than a regular cigarette. One cartridge of Juul vaping liquid can contain more nicotine than is found in an entire pack of cigarettes.

Dr. Judith Groner, a doctor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and former chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on tobacco control, told The Columbus Dispatch that a teenager’s developing brain is more vulnerable to nicotine addiction. Many teens don’t think about becoming addicted, and many don’t even realize their vaping products contain nicotine.

She said vaping may cause teens to develop seizures, headaches, cardiovascular problems or respiratory issues, including a new, potentially deadly lung ailment. More than 2,100 people have become ill and 42 people have died due to the lung illness that was originally seen at the start of the summer.

Potential Seizures from Vaping

One of the reasons more people might be at risk of seizures as a result of vaping rather than from smoking cigarettes is because of the “throat hit” factor.

Cigarettes have a strong throat hit, which means when the smoke hits the back of the throat, the feeling makes the smoker want to pause before taking another drag off the cigarette. With some flavored vaping liquids, the throat hit is very weak. In fact, vape juice retail website VelvetCloud says that “first-time beginner vapors tend to enjoy a weaker throat hit.”

“Beginner vapors” who have never inhaled nicotine at all may experience fast delivery in large quantities upon initially vaping, which increases the risk of sudden nicotine toxicity. According to WebMD, swallowing liquid nicotine can be toxic, and it can cause harm if it comes into contact with the skin or eyes.

In an October CDC question-and-answer session held with panelists including acting FDA Commissioner Mitch Zeller, Zeller was asked about an investigation into a connection between vaping and seizures. He said the FDA is working closely with the CDC and state health agencies to better understand how e cigarettes work, which will help them determine links between vaping and illnesses.

In regards to focusing on lung illnesses over seizures, Zeller said, “I would say that’s all in parallel to this ongoing and very complicated investigation related to pulmonary illnesses. We try to get to the bottom of what is the cause or causes of these acute cases of injury and death.”

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