Federal health officials are investigating increasing reports of seizures after e-cigarette use.
There have been 35 reported cases since 2010 with an uptick since June 2018, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most have involved youths or young adults.
“While 35 cases may not seem like much compared to the total number of people using e-cigarettes, we are nonetheless concerned by these reported cases,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., and Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D., said in a statement. “… We believe these 35 cases warrant scientific investigation into whether there is in fact a connection.”
Seizures have known links to nicotine poisoning and ingestion of e-liquids, according to the FDA. Some e-cigarette devices contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Circumstances of the reported seizures after e-cigarette use have been varied in terms of the amount of use, other substance use and history of seizures.
Because reporting is voluntary, FDA officials said there may be even more cases that haven’t been documented. They are asking health care professionals and the public to report past or future incidents to the Safety Reporting Portal, http://bit.ly/2FU9poW.The FDA is requesting information on the device’s brand, model, serial number, where it was purchased and whether it was modified. It also would like to know how much the person used, whether they also ingested other substances, their symptoms and other health effects.
If someone is having a seizure, call 911 for immediate medical help. People who have questions about less severe effects of e-cigarettes can call poison control at 800-222-1222.
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