Vaping and seizures E-cigarettes are designed to help smokers quit tobacco and, eventually, stop smoking altogether. Because vaping is a relatively new way of smoking, we don’t currently know so much about how it might affect seizures.
Full Answer
Could vaping trigger seizures?
Can vaping cause seizures? The FDA recently revealed that e-cigarette users had reported suffering from seizures after using vape products such as JUUL pens. Between 2010 and 2019, poison control and the FDA reportedly received 35 reports of seizures in connection with the use of e-cigarettes. These reports were voluntary and the FDA notes that ...
Does vaping cause seizures?
Study after study has shown vaping does pose risks. One of the newer and more concerning symptoms: seizures. Last April, the U.S. Center for Tobacco Products issued a special announcement. Over the past nine years, people have filed reports on 35 cases of vaping-related seizures. Most took place in the previous year.
Can smoking marijuana cause a seizure?
Unlike some other psychotropic drugs, marijuana has not been linked to seizures. Evidence shows that cannabinoids can help control the excitability in the central nervous system that may otherwise lead to seizures. The CBD component of marijuana is considered safer and more effective for seizure treatment than the THC component.
Can seizure medicine cause you to have a seizure?
They could even trigger a seizure for the first time. The most common OTC medicine that could do this is probably diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in medicines like Benadryl, which is used for colds, allergies, and promoting sleep.
What drugs are used in e-cigarettes?
Can e-cigarettes cause seizures?
Is vaping a health hazard?
Can you use nicotine in e-cigarettes?
About this website
Does vaping trigger seizures?
There is no evidence that nicotine vaping causes seizures. The fact that a seizure occurred while vaping does not prove that vaping was the cause. Severe nicotine poisoning can cause seizures, but critical warning signs develop long before a seizure occurs.
Does vaping lower seizure threshold?
So far, there is no definitive evidence linking vaping to seizures.
Can you vape when you have epilepsy?
Because vaping is a relatively new way of smoking, we don't currently know so much about how it might affect seizures. However, some case studies suggest that it could be a seizure trigger and scientists are trying to find out more (not to mention the other risks of vaping).
Should people with seizures smoke?
The best course of action for those who have epilepsy, and even those who do not, is to stop smoking. When patients do this safely, they can experience the many benefits that being smoke-free can offer. Their health will be better and they will feel better than they have in a long time.
How much nicotine can cause a seizure?
Furthermore, microinjection of nicotine (100 and 300 μg/side) into the amygdala elicited convulsive seizures in a dose-related manner. The present results suggest that nicotine elicits convulsive seizures by activating amygdalar neurons mainly via α7 nACh receptors.
Can too much nicotine give you a seizure?
Seizures or convulsions are known potential side effects of nicotine toxicity and have been reported in the scientific literature in relation to intentional or accidental swallowing of e-liquid.
How can seizures be prevented?
How to Prevent SeizuresTake All Medication as Prescribed. Anti-epileptic medications can be very effective at helping some people reduce or even eliminate seizures. ... Sleep. ... Eat Regular Meals. ... Avoid Alcohol and Drugs. ... Exercise. ... Pay Attention to Fevers. ... Avoid Flashing Lights. ... Find a Good Neurologist.
What does a seizure feel like?
Some seizures cause the body to jerk and shake (a "fit"), while others cause problems like loss of awareness or unusual sensations. They typically pass in a few seconds or minutes. Seizures can occur when you're awake or asleep. Sometimes they can be triggered by something, such as feeling very tired.
What can trigger a seizure?
What are some commonly reported triggers?Specific time of day or night.Sleep deprivation – overtired, not sleeping well, not getting enough sleep, disrupted sleep.Illness (both with and without fever)Flashing bright lights or patterns.Alcohol - including heavy alcohol use or alcohol withdrawl.More items...
Does smoking help with epilepsy?
Smoking kills people with epilepsy. One out of every 5 deaths in America each year is caused by cigarette smoking.
How long do seizures usually last?
Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. Seizures are more common than you might think.
Can CBD help seizures?
Does CBD help seizures? The short answer is yes. CBD can help prevent some types of seizures in some people and animals. Clinical trials have demonstrated a significant reduction in seizures for people taking CBD to treat Lennox-Gastaut, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex.
Does vaping cause neurological problems?
Neurologic dysfunction—which manifests as cerebrovascular dysfunction (stroke, seizure), neuroinflammation, nicotine addiction, and behavioral and mental health problems (impaired short-term memory, concentration, learning, and self-control/attention as well as anxiety and other mood disorders)—is emerging as a ...
Does nicotine affect EEG?
Zero nicotine cigarette smoking also caused EEG changes, including an increase in alpha 1 and alpha 2 activity.
Can vaping cause tremors?
E-cigarette liquids contain high concentrations of the nicotine. If swallowed, they can be poisonous, often causing nausea, sweating, dizziness and tremors, according to the National Capital Poison Center.
Does nicotine give you the shakes?
Tremor is among the acute effects of nicotine exposure.
Why is the FDA seeking more information about seizures following e-cigarette use?
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.
How long after smoking e-cigarette can you get seizures?
Seizures have been reported as occurring after a few puffs or up to one day after use. Most of the self-reported data that the FDA has received does not contain any specific brand or sub-brand information about the e-cigarette.
How many seizures are there from e-cigarettes?
After examining poison control centers' reports between 2010 and early 2019, the FDA determined that, between the poison control centers and the FDA, there were a total of 35 reported cases of seizures mentioning use of e-cigarettes within that timeframe.
How do you know if you have a seizure?
Other possible signs of seizures include a lapse in awareness or consciousness, which may look like a person is staring blankly into space for a few seconds or suddenly stops moving. The person may or may not fall down. Most seizures end in a few seconds or minutes, and the person may seem fine, sleepy, confused or have a headache afterwards.
Does the FDA have information on e-cigarettes?
Most of the self-reported data that the FDA has received does not contain any specific brand or sub-brand information about the e-cigarette. While detailed information is currently limited, the FDA is alerting the public to this important and potentially serious health issue. Healthcare providers should be aware that seizures may be associated ...
Do e-cigarettes have high nicotine levels?
Parents, teachers, and other concerned adults should be aware that many youth are using e-cigarettes that closely resemble a USB flash drive, have high levels of nicotine and emissions that are hard to see.
Do e-cigarettes cause seizures?
Some E-cigarette Users Are Having Seizures, Most Reports Involving Youth and Young Adults. The FDA has become aware that some people who use e-cigarettes have experienced seizures, with most reports involving youth or young adult users.
How many seizures are there from vaping?
Vaping Seizures. In August 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it found 127 reports of seizures and other neurological symptoms, including fainting and tremors, related to e-cigarette users from 2010 to 2019. Most of the seizures occurred in young people.
How long did a 15 year old girl have a seizure?
In another report from January 2019, a parent said their 15-year-old daughter suffered a 2 to 5 minute seizure after she “hit a JUUL a handful of times in a short period.”. “There are no warning labels notifying consumers of the possibilities of nicotine overdose.
How much nicotine is in a pod of vape?
Some vape pods contain more nicotine than others, and people might not be aware of the amount of nicotine they are ingesting. For example, Juul’s five percent pods contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, and e-cigarettes can deliver nicotine to the brain in about 10 seconds.
What happened to Juul's daughter?
The parents claim their daughter became addicted to Juul, and she suffers from seizures. According to the lawsuit, she also unintentionally swallowed vape juice while using the e-cigarette. “Health authorities consider youth e-cigarettes use an epidemic,” the lawsuit said. “Defendants are to blame.
Does Juul cause seizures?
The FDA collected some reports from parents of teens who suffered seizures after using Juul. In one report sent to the FDA in June 2018, a mother reported that her 16-year-old son suffered a grand mal seizure after using Juul Cool Mint at five percent nicotine strength. The teen’s pediatrician suspected the seizure was related to Juul and ...
Can nicotine cause seizures?
Nicotine can cause seizures in high doses, according to Dr. Neal L. Benowitz’s 2020 article in Journal of Adolescent Health. “A nicotine overdose can cause seizures, and nicotine can cause seizures in some animal models of epilepsy.
Do you report seizures with e-cigarettes?
The FDA encourages people to report any incidents of seizures connected to e-cigarettes.
Can vaping cause seizures?
The FDA recently revealed that e-cigarette users had reported suffering from seizures after using vape products such as JUUL pens. Between 2010 and 2019, poison control and the FDA reportedly received 35 reports of seizures in connection with the use of e-cigarettes. These reports were voluntary and the FDA notes that “there may be more instances” that were not reported.
Is it safe to vape?
Although e-cigarettes are generally considered to be safer than traditional cigarettes, the e-cig juice used with the devices is relatively unregulated.
How Do People Suffer Seizures After Vaping?
In a recent statement, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb noted that seizures are a known side effect of nicotine poisoning. Nicotine itself is an alkaloid that is found in plants of the deadly nightshade family, which includes the tobacco plant. It is also one of the most addictive substances known to science, which is why cigarette smokers find it so difficult to give up the habit.
How long does it take for a vape to cause seizures?
According to reports submitted to the FDA, seizures after vaping can occur within a few moments or as long as 24 hours later. Nicotine-related seizures may be as short as a few seconds or go on for several minutes. In stark contrast, members of the e-cigarette industry have tried to combat the concerns about seizures after vaping.
What Did E-cigarette Companies Know?
This is the question that is at the heart of current lawsuits against JUUL Labs. One of the complaints was filed by a 15-year-old Florida girl, who claims she became addicted to vape because she was unaware of the dangers of nicotine addiction. She alleges that JUUL “deceptively sold or partnered [with tobacco companies] to sell JUUL product to plaintiffs as non-addictive nicotine delivery systems or less addictive nicotine products than cigarettes, when defendant knew it to be untrue.”
How many seizures have occurred in the last 10 years?
The source notes that former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb expressed concern that there were 35 cases of seizures over the last ten years, that could have been related to vaping.
What is a seizure?
What Are Seizures? A seizure is essential ly a short circuit in the brain. For various reasons, not all of which are fully understood, there is a sudden spike in electrical activity in the brain; the consequences can range from a momentary lapse of consciousness to full bodily convulsions.
What is vaping pen?
What Is Vaping? Vaping means inhaling the vapor of a liquid made from nicotine and various chemicals and flavoring agents. This liquid is heated with the use of what is known as a “vape pen,” or electronic cigarette, creating a vapor that can be inhaled.
When did vape pens stop being sold?
In order to crack down on teen e-cigarette use, many flavors of e-cigarettes and vape pens were removed from the U.S. market in January 2019.
How long after marijuana use do you get a seizure?
Seizures have been reported as occurring after a few puffs or up to one day after use.
What Causes Seizures?
If you have multiple seizures within a day, or another short period of time then you will be diagnosed with epilepsy. Epileptic seizures are caused by the condition itself, but you don’t need to have epilepsy to have a seizure.
What is the lightest seizure?
These actually happen to be the most severe form of seizure and the lightest form could simply be someone staring off into space for a minute without responding or even just having a sudden change in emotions, or other senses. (taste, touch, smell, etc)
What is a seizure?
According to their definition, “a seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness.”. There are MANY different types of seizures other than the one we all hold a picture of in our mind.
Is nicotine a chemical in e-juice?
Although nicotine has been studied quite a bit, there are other chemicals lurking in e-juice that have been studied much less, especially in terms of what happens when inhaling these substances rather than simply ingesting them:
Does nicotine increase the chance of a seizure?
Consuming nicotine (like consuming nearly any psychoactive drug) does increase your chance of having a seizure. (slightly)
Can a seizure happen after a stroke?
Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness. Many times, though, the cause of a seizure is unknown.“.
What drugs are used in e-cigarettes?
In some cases, e-cigarettes were being used with drugs like marijuana and amphetamines.
Can e-cigarettes cause seizures?
Washington – U.S. health officials are investigating whether electronic cigarettes may trigger seizures in some people who use the nicotine-vaping devices. The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday, April 3 it had reviewed 35 reports of seizures among e-cigarettes users, mainly in young people.
Is vaping a health hazard?
It's not the first time the FDA has flagged a potential health hazard with vaping devices — the agency has warned of rare burns and explosions related to overheating of batteries that power the devices.
Can you use nicotine in e-cigarettes?
Additionally, many refillable e-cigarettes can be used with nicotine formulas of varying strength. Nicotine poisoning can cause seizures, convulsions, vomiting and brain injury. The FDA has previously warned of potentially fatal nicotine poisoning in infants and children who accidentally swallowed nicotine solutions.
