Daily Cannabis use linked to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: Study

A new study analyzed the disease burden and risk factors for severity among people who suffer from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

A new study analyzed the disease burden and risk factors for severity among people who suffer from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

Researchers at George Washington University said that the condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and excruciating pain in a cyclical pattern that often leads to repeated trips to the hospital.

"This is one of the first large studies to examine the burden of disease associated with this cannabis-linked syndrome," says Andrew Meltzer, professor of emergency medicine at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences and lead author of the study.

"Our findings suggest that cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome could represent a costly and largely hidden public health problem." While the exact prevalence of the condition is unknown, many experts say that the condition is on the rise as the number of daily or near-daily users of cannabis has increased in the US.

To assess the burden of disease, Meltzer and his colleagues conducted a survey of 1,052 people who reported suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The researchers asked questions about the frequency of use, duration of the habit, the age at which they started using the drug, and the need for emergency department or hospital care.

Key findings of the study:

• 85% reported at least 1 emergency department visit, and 44% reported at least 1 hospitalization associated with the hyperemesis symptoms.
• Early age of cannabis initiation was associated with higher odds of emergency department visits.
• Daily use of cannabis before the onset of the syndrome was nearly universal, with over 40% of respondents reporting they used marijuana more than 5 times a day.
• Prolonged use was common, with 44% reporting regularly using for more than 5 years before the onset of the syndrome.

Although this study had some limitations, including self-reported use of cannabis, Meltzer says it suggests a substantial risk of this painful and costly condition, especially for users who begin daily use of cannabis as adolescents.

He says more research is needed to understand why some people suffer from the condition after prolonged cannabis exposure, and others do not.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.