A recent announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that it has received a number of reports of e-cigarette smokers, including those who use the JUUL brand, suffering seizures. Further research is needed to determine the exact connection between the use of these products and the onset of seizures.

Some consumers are already accusing e-cigarette manufacturers of failing to warn the public about the danger of seizures from vaping.

How Many Possible Nicotine Seizures Have Occurred?

The FDA reports that at least 35 different cases of seizures, particularly among teens and young adults, were identified between 2010 and 2019. According to CNN, the reports were voluntarily submitted to the agency. As yet, a definitive link between seizures and vaping is unclear though additional cases might help investigators. Researchers are also considering the possibility that vaping seizures have been underreported to both the FDA and poison control.

E-cigarette usage among youth has skyrocketed in recent years. Some 3.62 million middle and high school students used e-cigs in 2018, accounting for a 78 percent increase from 2017, according to CNN. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has characterized the widespread popularity of e-cigarettes among teens as “nothing short of an epidemic proportion of growth.”

“E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous—and dangerous—trend among teens,” he said. “The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we’re seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end.”

Why Would E-Cigarettes Cause Seizures?

The FDA noted that seizures are a potential side effect of nicotine poisoning. Some surmise that e-cigarettes’ nicotine levels are high enough to put users at risk for seizures.

The length of time someone has been vaping doesn’t seem to have an impact on seizures. Some users who submitted vaping seizure reports to the FDA said they’d been vaping for a while, while others suffered a seizure the very first time they tried an e-cigarette. The seizures reportedly occurred right away as well as up to a full day later.

Could JUUL Cause Seizures?

No single brand was identified in the FDA announcement, but the agency has requested that anyone who has suffered a seizure after vaping with JUUL or another e-cigarette brand report it through the federal safety reporting portal. Reports should include where the product was purchased, whether it was altered in any way, and the brand name it was sold under.

E-liquids have differing levels of nicotine concentrations and certain e-cigarette design features could result in a user ingesting enough nicotine to cause poisoning. San Francisco-based JUUL, which dominates the e-cigarette market, came under fire after boosting the nicotine concentrations in its product, leading others in the industry to follow suit.

Some parents have argued that JUUL’s vaping devices and e-liquids have been marketed to teenagers, who are largely unaware of the potential side effects of nicotine poisoning.

Tobacco stock prices dropped following the FDA news release about its ongoing e-cigarette investigation, reports CNBC. The agency may further tighten e-cigarette restrictions as it attempts to address the teen vaping epidemic.

What Are the Signs of a Seizure?

The signs of a seizure include falling, uncontrollable muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, confusion, a strange taste in the mouth, biting the tongue, and sudden rapid eye movements. Liquid nicotine and vaping are the most common causes of nicotine poisoning.

If you believe that a person is having a seizure, call 911 to seek immediate medical help, the FDA advises.

In more serious cases of nicotine poisoning and seizure, symptoms may include a coma and respiratory failure. Nicotine poisoning symptoms do not always appear right away.

Filing an E-Cigarette Lawsuit

Some consumers claim that before purchasing e-cigarettes for the first time they were not made aware of the possible risk of seizures and nicotine poisoning associated with vaping.  Some users are unaware that e-cigarettes even contain nicotine.

If you or someone you love has suffered from seizures or other side effects after using JUUL or another an e-cigarette brand, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by nicotine addiction and its side effects, but it may help alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses, lost ages, and more. For example, JUUL recently agreed to pay $40 million to resolve claims from the North Carolina Attorney General.

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.