Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey

Authors

Andrew C. Meltzer, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC. Electronic address: ameltzer@mfa.gwu.edu.
Callen Morrison, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
Aditya Loganathan, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
Soroush Shahamatdar, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
Alice Moon, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
Ryan Heidish, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
Michael Makutonin, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
Yan Ma, Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA.
Runjia Li, Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA.
Ziva D. Cooper, UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-18-2025

Journal

Annals of emergency medicine

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2025.01.008

Keywords

Cannabinoid; Cannabis; Hyperemesis; Syndrome

Abstract

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is an underrecognized condition associated with recurrent vomiting and abdominal pain in individuals with prolonged cannabis use. This study used an internet-based survey targeting individuals with self-reported cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to assess the burden of disease and to examine associations between heavy cannabis use, early initiation of cannabis use, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome episode frequency. A total of 1,052 participants were included, with the majority reporting frequent cannabis use and significant health care utilization, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. This study highlights the substantial disease burden associated with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in an online support group cohort and underscores the possible risks of heavy daily cannabis use and of use starting in adolescence. Future studies on heavy cannabis users are necessary to further elucidate cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and its link to daily cannabis use and the dangers of heavy use in adolescence.

APA Citation

Meltzer, Andrew C.; Morrison, Callen; Loganathan, Aditya; Shahamatdar, Soroush; Moon, Alice; Heidish, Ryan; Makutonin, Michael; Ma, Yan; Li, Runjia; and Cooper, Ziva D., "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 6558.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/6558

Department

Emergency Medicine