The FDA is investigating reports that some e-cigarette users, mostly youth or young adults, have experienced seizures.
Seizures are a known side effect of nicotine toxicity, and the FDA has received reports about adverse events linked to tobacco use since 1988.
The agency has noticed an uptick in reports of seizures. After assessing poison control centers' reports between 2010 and early 2019 as well as events reported to the FDA, it found 35 reported cases of seizures mentioning use of e-cigarettes. Since the reports are voluntary, the agency noted there may have been more incidences of seizures among e-cigarettes users.
The FDA is asking for more information about seizures after e-cigarette use to examine common risk factors and determine whether any particular product attributes are linked to the seizures. They urge e-cigarette users to report adverse events via the Safety Reporting Portal.