Cannabis abuse and “Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome”: a description and review

Cannabis abuse rates are increasing remarkably worldwide. A new clinical condition\r\nknown as “Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome” has simultaneously appeared. This\r\nsyndrome is mainly characterized by chronic cannabis use, cyclic episodes of nausea\r\nand vomiting, and frequent hot bathing. Although its etiology remains unknown (there\r\nare many different unconfirmed hypotheses), its clinical course has been divided into\r\nthree clearly-distinguished phases: 1) prodromal, 2) hyperemetic, and 3) recovery. It is\r\nimportant to emphasize that diagnosis is usually delayed, due to this being an unknown\r\nsyndrome and the difficulty of making a correct differential diagnosis (Cannabinoid\r\nHyperemesis Syndrome and any pathology affecting the gastrointestinal tract). An\r\nincreasing number of cases are described in the international literature, and this is\r\ngetting exponentially higher. In spite of this, some authors believe that there would be\r\nmany more cases than described (due to the great increase in use of cannabis worldwide).\r\nTreatment is mainly symptomatic: fluidotherapy, antiemetics, analgesics; and/or\r\npsychopharmacological: lorazepam or haloperidol. The only one effective treatment is\r\nnevertheless a total absence of cannabis abuse. Further investigation is thus required\r\nin order to improve knowledge of epidemiology, etiology and treatment.