A new study analyzes the disease burden and the risk factors for severity amople who suffer from a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Researchers at the george washington university say the condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and causes nausea, uncontrolable vomiting and excruciating pain in a Cycical pattern that often leads to reepeated trips to the hospital.

“This is one of the first large study to examine the burden of disease associated with this cannabis-linked syndrome,” Says andrew meltzer, Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Gw School of Medicine & Health Sciences and Lead Author of the Study. “Our Findings Sugged that Cannabinoid Hyperemes Syndrome Could Represt a Costly and Largely Hidden Public Health Problem.”

While the exact prevalance of the condition is unknown, many experts say that that the condition is is on the risk As the number of daily or near daily users of cannabis have increased in the US

To assess the burden of disease, meltzer and his colleagues conducted a survey of 1,052 people who are reported Suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The researchers asked questions about frequency of use, Duration of the habit, the age they started using the drug, and need for emergency department or hospital care.

Key findings of the study:

• 85% reported at least one emergency department visit and 44% reported at least one hospitalization associated with the hyperemes symptoms.
• Early age of cannabis initiation was Associated with Higher Odds of Emergency Department Visits.
• Daily use of cannabis before the onseet of the syndrome was nearly universal, with over 40% of respondents reporting
• Prollonged Use Was Common With 44% Reporting Using Regularly for more than five years before onset of syndrome.

The new research sugges that the condition may impose a heavy burden on individuals who subfer from it as it often results in pain, vomiting and costly trips to the hospital. Emergency Room Doctors Can Stabilize The Patient and Help Alleviate The Acute Symptoms but the only Known Way to Stop the Episodes of Excruciating Abdominal Pain and Repeated Vomiting is to Stop using cannabis, Meltzer Says.

Although this study had some limitations, including self-resorted use of cannabis, Meltzer says it sugges a Substantial Risk of this Painful and Costly Condition, Conscia Use of cannabis as adolescents. He says more research is needed to undersnd why something suffer from the condition after prolonged cannabis experience and others do not.

In addition, it is unchalar why cannabis changes from a drug that has been known to ease nause and vomiting, especially among patients undergoing chemotherapy, to causing nause and vomiting in a subsecting of People.

MELTZER Says It is important for clinicians to advance that with frequent cannabinoid use or hyperemesis about the risk and subsequent disease burden. He says many patients don’t realize that the syndrome is connected with their use of cannabis. Physicians should explain that and advise patients on resources to help them quit, he says.

The study“Cannabinoid hyperemes syndrome is associateed with high disease burden: an internet-based survey,” was published in the Annals of emergency medicine on Feb. 20, 2025.