[Stereotypical episodes of vomiting for 11 years in a 33-year-old patient]

Abstract

A 33-year-old man was admitted because of severe vomiting. For the last 11 years, he had suffered recurrent stereotypical episodes of vomiting lasting 3-4 days. The episodes of vomiting occurred 10-15 times a year. Moreover his brother and his mother had similar symptoms. Thus, (familial) cyclic vomiting syndrome was diagnosed. With the help of antiemetic and sedative drugs, the acute vomiting episode was stopped. Prophylactic therapy with amitriptyline was started, which led to a symptom-free period of 3.5 years without a new episode of vomiting.