Most patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome who used cannabis said it helped, and few met criteria for cannabinoid hyperemesis
Among 140 patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome, 41% used cannabis and most reported symptom relief, but only one patient met formal criteria for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
41% of CVS patients used cannabis, with 21% using regularly (4+ times/week). Most users reported cannabis helped control symptoms. Among all cannabis users, 88% had abstained for over a month at some point, but only 1 reported resolution of vomiting episodes during abstinence, meeting Rome IV criteria for CHS.
Key Numbers
140 CVS patients (72% female, mean age 37). 41% current cannabis users. 21% regular users. 88% of users had abstained >1 month. Only 1 of 57 users (1.8%) met Rome IV CHS criteria.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 140 patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome at a specialized clinic. Cannabis use screened with the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test. Users classified as regular (4+ times/week) or occasional.
Why This Research Matters
Distinguishing CVS from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a clinical challenge. This study suggests the overlap may be smaller than assumed, with most cannabis-using CVS patients genuinely benefiting from cannabis rather than being misdiagnosed CHS cases.
The Bigger Picture
The assumption that cannabis use in vomiting patients automatically means CHS may lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Better diagnostic criteria and longitudinal data are needed to distinguish these conditions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design at a single specialized clinic. Self-reported cannabis use and symptom relief. The specialized clinic population may not represent all CVS patients. Small number of regular users limits subgroup analysis.
Questions This Raises
- ?What biological factors determine whether cannabis helps or worsens cyclic vomiting?
- ?Could some patients diagnosed with CHS actually have CVS?
- ?Would controlled cannabis cessation trials in CVS patients clarify the relationship?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Only 1 of 57 cannabis-using CVS patients met CHS criteria
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-characterized clinical cohort from a specialized center, but cross-sectional and self-reported outcomes limit causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- 2020 study from a specialized CVS clinic. Highlights the challenge of distinguishing CVS from CHS.
- Original Title:
- Patterns of Cannabis Use in Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.
- Published In:
- Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 18(5), 1082-1090.e2 (2020)
- Authors:
- Venkatesan, Thangam(12), Hillard, Cecilia J(17), Rein, Lisa, Banerjee, Anjishnu, Lisdahl, Krista
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02894
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CVS and CHS?
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) causes recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting with various triggers. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) has similar symptoms but is specifically caused by chronic cannabis use and resolves with cessation.
Did cannabis help CVS patients?
Most cannabis-using CVS patients in this study reported that cannabis helped control their symptoms, and only 1 of 57 users experienced symptom resolution during a period of cannabis abstinence.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02894APA
Venkatesan, Thangam; Hillard, Cecilia J; Rein, Lisa; Banerjee, Anjishnu; Lisdahl, Krista. (2020). Patterns of Cannabis Use in Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 18(5), 1082-1090.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2019.07.039
MLA
Venkatesan, Thangam, et al. "Patterns of Cannabis Use in Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.." Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2019.07.039
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Patterns of Cannabis Use in Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Sy..." RTHC-02894. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/venkatesan-2020-patterns-of-cannabis-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.