As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I have taken care of patients who have been diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS). Cannabis is an incredible treatment for patients who suffer from this disorder. CVS is characterized by recurring episodes of severe nausea and vomiting which last from hours to days. Patients typically have periods of weeks to months without an episode and then can have episodes unexpectedly. It typically starts in children ages 3-7 and remits in early adulthood however it can persist throughout a patients life. The medical community is unclear as to what the cause is but they seem to think to genetics on the maternal side. Many times patients also experience migraine headaches. This disorder can be very debilitating and lead to hospitalization if a patient becomes severely dehydrated as a result of vomiting or develops an imbalance in their electrolytes (ie. Sodium) Typical treatments are anti-emetics (Zofran/Compazine etc), IV fluids and rest.
What I have found from evaluating patients with CVS is that they seem to do extremely well with cannabis. Their episodes of vomiting are less frequent. When they experience nausea and vomiting it is less intense and their appetites are greatly improved. Many times patients will medicate with cannabis on a regular basis to keep episodes from occurring (prophylactic treatment). Once a patient identifies the triggers for his/her vomiting they can time when they medicate.
Cannabinoids (medically active ingredient in the cannabis plant) have incredible anti-emetic(vomiting) properties. The FDA has approved a drug called marinol which is THC (tetrahydrocannibinol) in the pill form. THC is only one of over 70 cannabinoids that exert their effect. The plant has all of these additional cannabinoids which make it the ideal treatment for CVS. It is easily tolerated and does not cause any harm to the major organ systems. It is also an incredible appetite stimulant. Ironically this is one of the side effects of using cannabis.
If you suffer from CVS and would like more information to see if cannabis can help you reduce your episodes of CVS please visit our website at www.MCSoCal.com and pre-qualify for free online. Dr. Sean Breen has offices in Long Beach, Irvine and Encinitas. 877-721-0047
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Tags: cannabis, compazine, cyclic vomiting syndrome, Dr Sean Breen, Medical Marijuana, zofran
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I have had Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome all my life (I remember episodes when I was 5 or so…). I’ve been medicating with marijuana for the past 2 years and have stabilized. But my gastro doc is convinced that the CVS is related to Cannabinoid hyperemesis:
http://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679(09)00665-9/abstract
How can I explain that:
1) I take a very limited dose (1/4 ounce tinctured in alcohol per month)
2) I had the CVS long before I tried the medical marijuana
3)We’ve been through everything else and nothing else works?
I also use the marijuana for pain, and it works. But she doesn’t believe me… Are there studies on this?
help, i use mrijuana to ease the onslot of symptoms from c.v.s.i was caught with it and now need help with a possession charge. i am from oklahoma, what do i do?
Debbie-
your best bet is to present your medical history and if possible get documentation from your doctor to show that marijuana helps you with the symptoms (and hopefully to get the court to understand the severity of your condition, since many people have never heard of CVS). Even without medical marijuana laws in Oklahoma, a sympathetic jury might move for acquittal, and (less likely) a sympathetic prosecutor may drop the case (DA’s are elected or appointed officials and must maintain decent public opinion, or their career is over, so they sometimes drop unpopular cases.) I have a friend in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program who was arrested in Washington State (which also has medical cannabis laws) with less than an ounce. The DA dropped the case because he thought prosecuting medicinal marijuana patients (even though the defendant was not officially offered protection when outside Oregon) would make him look bad to the voting public (especially since WA voters are sympathetic medical marijuana use, and many would like to see an end to cannabis prohibition altogether).
After the case is over, I would move to Oregon if possible, we have the most lenient medical marijuana laws in the union (you can grow 24 plants, of which 6 may be mature, flowering plants of any size, and the remaining 18 must be clones or seedlings no more than 12″ in height or diameter. You may possess up to 24 ounces of dried, cured medicine, identified as only fully dried flowers and leaves; stems and roots don’t count toward your limit, and neither does bud on the plant or still drying) and the system is overseen by the Department of Human Services (the food stamps people), so they consider it their mission to help you get legal; if you meet the requirements, they HAVE to give you your permit (unlike in some other MMJ states (like Hawaii) where State Narcotics Bureaus run the system, and they try like hell to bust you even though you are only trying to comply with the law). I got pulled over by OSP with a few ounces in the car; he said “I smell Marijuana.” I explained what I had in the car and showed him my OMMP patient card; he handed it back to me and asked if I was currently under the influence (it is still illegal to drive on cannabis, just as with many other legal medicines). I said no, he gave me my speeding ticket, and let me go. He never even asked the exact amount of pot I had, or seemed the least bit interested in seeing the pot. He did not check with the DHS to see if my card was legitimate. He certainly didn’t try to search my car for weapons, cash or scales (these would have indicated that I was possibly abusing the OMMP program and illegally selling my medical supply). Overall, police departments in Oregon are supportive (or at least cooperative) to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program; a couple of county sheriffs have taken it upon themselves to try to reinvent the law, but they tend to be kept in line by the court of appeals, which always overturns their unfair and illegal actions. (A friend of mine had his concealed weapon permit revoked twice when the Washington Co. Sheriff found out he was a medical marijuana patient, but has defeated the sheriff both times in the Oregon State Court of Appeals)
Nothing helps better than cannabis.
Unfortunatly its illegal in my country sweden and the system is to primitive to see it as medicine.
So i have spent 2 times in jail for growing it becouse of this desise, that have made my sickness alot worse.
I Hate this world , people are crazy , they rather let you die insteed to be able to live a life with more ease.
50 years ago it was sold in the drugstore against all kinds of illness.
I found nothing helps better especially when it comes to nausea, apetite, chronic fatique and relaxing the muscles.
It would be easier to take my life than to go on living likethis.
Michael,
One day it will be a legit medicine again. Will take some time. I think once the US turns the rest of the world will follow. When that happens? Who knows?
Dr Breen
i have been dealing with CVS for the last couple of years. it was originally diagnosed as acid reflux, then came the CVS diagnosis..now my dr, is saying it’s the medical pot i smoke, and of that, i smoke very little. So, i have told him i will stop for a month or so..he’s thinks it’s canabinoid hyperemesis. i’ve read the studies,and i don’t even come close to smokin as much as the those who have recieved the diagnosis..my god, i couldn’t function if i smoked that much..it’s so confusing..this all started when i turned 50..damn its a drag gettin old
Art- make sure you get a full medical work up to see what is really causing your vomiting. I doubt that the cannabis is playing any role in it at all. I have not spoken to one patients who has had nausea and vomiting secondary to cannabis use. Dr. Breen