CBD Reversed Seizure Worsening Caused by Chronic Nicotine Pouch Use in Mice | Research

The takeaway

Chronic nicotine pouch exposure worsened seizures and brain inflammation in mice, but inhaled CBD reversed nearly all of these effects.

Neuroscience researchers, people interested in CBD's neuroprotective effects, those concerned about nicotine pouch safety

Inhaled CBD reversed chronic nicotine's seizure-worsening effects and restored brain waste clearance

What the researchers found

Seven days of nicotine pouch exposure significantly worsened seizure severity, raised brain inflammation markers (IL-6, HMGB1), and impaired the brain's waste-clearance system in mice. Inhaled CBD reversed seizure severity, restored brain water channels, and normalized inflammatory markers.

Why it matters

Nicotine pouches are surging in popularity, especially among young people, with unknown neurological consequences. This study suggests chronic use may increase seizure vulnerability through brain inflammation and impaired waste clearance, while CBD may counteract these specific pathways.

The numbers in context

Acute nicotine transiently reduced seizure severity; chronic exposure significantly worsened it; CBD restored AQP4 (water channel) expression, normalized IL-6 and HMGB1 levels, and reduced c-FOS protein expression

How the study worked

Mice received acute or 7-day chronic nicotine pouch exposure before seizures were chemically induced. Researchers measured seizure severity, brain inflammation markers, neuronal activation, and glymphatic (brain waste clearance) function. CBD was delivered via inhalation.

What this study cannot tell us

Mouse model may not translate to humans, chemically induced seizures differ from naturally occurring epilepsy, short exposure duration (7 days), nicotine pouch dosing may not reflect human use patterns

How to read the evidence

Single animal study using chemically induced seizures; first to examine nicotine pouch effects on seizure vulnerability

When this study was published

Published 2025

The bigger picture

The rapid adoption of nicotine pouches has outpaced safety research. If chronic nicotine pouch use does increase seizure risk in humans, CBD's demonstrated ability to reverse these effects in mice could point toward protective strategies.

Questions still open

Do nicotine pouches pose seizure risks in humans with epilepsy? Would longer nicotine exposure produce even greater effects? What CBD dose and timing would be needed for human neuroprotection?

Common questions

Can nicotine pouches increase seizure risk?

In mice, 7 days of nicotine pouch exposure significantly worsened chemically induced seizures and disrupted the brain's waste clearance system. Whether this applies to humans is unknown.

How did CBD protect against nicotine-related seizures in this study?

Inhaled CBD reversed the seizure worsening by normalizing brain inflammation markers (IL-6, HMGB1), restoring water channel expression (AQP4), and reducing neuronal overactivation.

Read the original research

Protective Role of CBD Against Nicotine Pouch-Induced Seizure Aggravation and Alterations in Brain Glymphatic Biomarkers.

Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Bhandari, Bidhan; Naeini, Sahar Emami; Rogers, Hannah M; Alhashim, Abdullah Hassan; Yu, Jack C; Seyyedi, Mohammad; Young, Nancy; El-Marakby, Ahmed; Salles, Évila Lopes; Wang, Lei P; Baban, Babak. (2025). Protective Role of CBD Against Nicotine Pouch-Induced Seizure Aggravation and Alterations in Brain Glymphatic Biomarkers.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf253