Seizure Susceptibility in E-cigarette Users: Navigating the Clinical Management and Public Health Considerations.

Abstract

E-cigarettes gained popularity globally through the promotion of e-cigarettes as a risk-free way to stop traditional smoking. However, new evidence suggests that they may have a detrimental effect on the nervous system and ultimately adverse neurological manifestations. Seizures have been reported among both new and experienced e-cigarette users. In several cases, the seizure presented immediately after its use, while others reported continuous use for weeks before seizures occurred. This review presents a deeper insight into the clinical management, implications, and public health considerations of seizure susceptibility in e-cigarette users. Using recent case reports, epidemiological studies, and experimental research, we highlight the role of likely etiological mechanisms such as how nicotine's convulsive effects are linked to α7- nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), the varied clinical presentations, and the potential nicotine toxicity linked to seizures. Furthermore, we discuss the existing debates and controversies, diagnostic directions, and potential role in individual susceptibility to e-cigarette-associated seizures. Importantly, we address how seizures may be accompanied by both physical and psychological sequelae, which may impair the quality of life for individuals presenting for emergency care. We also address the limitations and challenges in the etiology of e-cigarette-associated seizures and the non-criteria for defining seizures caused by e-cigarettes. The review concludes with an insight into public health considerations and policy recommendations by highlighting the importance of mass awareness and clinical considerations that could guide patient management.