Non-Traditional Anti-Emetic Therapy for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report

Marijuana is one of the most commonly utilized recreational drugs and is widely known for both its anti-emetic and appetite-stimulating properties Medicinal-grade marijuana has been available for patients suffering from various medical conditions, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, for example; it also has been utilized in patients with chronic pain, in addition to a number of other disease states While casual, intermittent use elucidates the aforementioned positive effects, chronic use of large quantities of marijuana may precipitate the contrary, such as extensive nausea and vomiting, a hallmark of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) CHS is hypothesized to result from alterations within the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is involved in various physiologic processes throughout the body, and contains two vital cannabinoids, CB1 and CB2, which are located within the central nervous system (CNS) and gastrointestinal tract (GI) Of note, CHS is similar in presentation to another disorder, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS); the two are often confused, or even misdiagnose