First Look at Cyclic Vomiting and Cannabis Hyperemesis in Mexican Patients | Research

The takeaway

CHS patients were older and had higher rates of tobacco and risky alcohol use compared to those with cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Clinicians working with cannabis users who experience recurrent vomiting; researchers studying CHS across different populations.

31.3% of CHS patients had risky alcohol use vs 0% of CVS patients

What the researchers found

In this 46-patient Mexican study, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) patients had higher tobacco use (50% vs 27%) and risky alcohol use (31% vs 0%) compared to cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) patients, though both groups had similar hospitalization rates.

Why it matters

This is the first detailed analysis of CVS and CHS in a Latin American population, revealing demographic and substance use patterns that differ somewhat from data collected in the US and Europe.

The numbers in context

46 patients total (30 CVS, 16 CHS). CHS patients older (median 27 vs 23 years, p=0.043). Tobacco use higher in CHS (50% vs 26.7%, p=0.019). Risky alcohol use exclusive to CHS (31.3% vs 0%, p=0.003). Time to diagnosis longer for CVS (35.4 vs 26.5 months, p=0.016). Cannabis use reported by 13.3% of CVS patients.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study across 5 Mexican medical centers using Rome IV diagnostic criteria. Compared 30 CVS and 16 CHS patients on demographics, substance use, and clinical characteristics.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample size (46 patients). Cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Multi-center but all within Mexico. Self-reported substance use data.

How to read the evidence

Small cross-sectional study in a single country with self-reported data.

When this study was published

2025 study

The bigger picture

As Mexico's cannabis policies evolve, understanding how CHS presents in this population becomes increasingly relevant. The overlap between CHS and CVS symptoms continues to challenge clinicians worldwide.

Questions still open

Why was time to diagnosis shorter for CHS than CVS in this population? What role does concurrent tobacco and alcohol use play in CHS symptom severity?

Common questions

What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?

CHS is a condition where chronic cannabis users experience recurrent episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that are relieved by hot bathing and cannabis cessation.

How is CHS different from cyclic vomiting syndrome?

Both involve recurrent vomiting episodes, but CHS is specifically linked to chronic cannabis use. In this study, CHS patients were older and had higher rates of tobacco and risky alcohol use.

Read the original research

Clinical Characteristics and Associated Factors in Mexican Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.

Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility, 31(3), 330-339

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Felix-Tellez, Francisco A; Morel-Cerda, Eliana C; Jiménez-Castillo, Raúl A; Valdovinos-García, Luis R; Gómez-Escudero, Octavio; Valdovinos-Díaz, Miguel Á; Coss-Adame, Enrique; Velasco, José A Velarde-Ruiz; Monjaraz, Erick M Toro; Montijo-Barrios, Ericka; Solís-Ortega, Alberto A; Frazier, Rosita De Jesus; Venkatesan, Thangam; Remes-Troche, José M. (2025). Clinical Characteristics and Associated Factors in Mexican Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.. Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility, 31(3), 330-339. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm24182