Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 Sep;48(8):650-5.
doi: 10.1310/hpj4808-650.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Shusen Sun  1 , Anthony E Zimmermann  2
Affiliations

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Shusen Sun et al. Hosp Pharm. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this review is to describe cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which is thought to be induced by long-term cannabis use, and provide clinical pharmacists with information to manage the hyperemetic phase of CHS.

Method: Published literature was searched and reviewed using PubMed.

Results: CHS is characterized by intractable nausea and vomiting without an obvious organic cause and associated learned compulsive hot water bathing behavior. Patients often seek care in the emergency department (ED) for symptomatic relief.

Conclusion: CHS is potentially underrecognized and underdiagnosed in the ED, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis in long-term cannabis use patients with CHS symptoms to avoid unnecessary extensive diagnostic workup including invasive radiologic imaging. Pharmacists have an important role in CHS recognition, education, and symptom management.

Keywords: cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome; chronic cannabis use; clinical pharmacists; compulsive hot water bathing; intractable nausea and vomiting.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Degenhardt L, Chiu WT, Sampson N, et al. Epidemiology patterns of extra-medical drug use in the United States: Evidence from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, 2001-2003. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007;90:210–223 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Grant J, Atkinson JH, Gouaux B, et al. Medicinal marijuana: Clearing away the smoke. Open Neurol J. 2012;6:18–25 - PMC - PubMed
    1. 18 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC. ProCon.org Web site. Updated December 7, 2012. http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/. Accessed December 10, 2012.
    1. Allen JH, de Moore GM, Heddle R, et al. Cannabinoid hyperemesis: Cyclical hyperemesis in association with chronic cannabis abuse. Gut. 2004;53:1566–1570 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wallace D, Martin AL, Park B. Cannabinoid hyperemesis: Marijuana puts patients in hot water. Aust Psychiatry. 2007;15:156–158 - PubMed