Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Marijuana (Cannabis); An Alternative treatment approach
October 21, 200919 CommentsDisease Treatment
cannabis,
compazine,
cyclic vomiting syndrome,
Dr Sean Breen,
Medical Marijuana,
zofran
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
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
After 7 YEARS of in and out of hospitals I found that I have CVS. I discovered it on the web, NOT the doctors! You have to be your own doctor! Since my last 3-month illness in 2009, I started using a Vaporizer – I knew this would help me (of course I had already discovered pot for my nausea) I got one and I have not been sick for 15 months (knock on wood).
I have Stopped the Vomiting Cycle 7 times or more BECAUSE OF POT! and
vaporizing it. I’ve been in the hospital 14 times over the years, it is absolute agony! I vomit blood like a volcano – red red blood! I get so stripped raw in my stomach… I feel half dead when I get out of the hospital. It takes a month or more to get back to feeling normal. It’s HELL.
I Know for a fact that VAPORIZING POT STOPS THE CYCLE!
If I start to get sick I vaporize and lay down.
(I think smoking it was too harsh on the stomach) The switch may be the key.
(It helps with the stress of HAVING CVS too! I thought 2009 was gonna kill me)
PS: My heart goes out to those of you with this horrible DISEASE.
(yeah I found that out too – -it’s #9 on the top ten Rare Disease List.
Gina- Thank you for your post. I am glad you are getting relief with cannabis. Hopefully your story will provide hope for others with this debilitating disease. Dr. Breen
What are the chances of getting medical cannabis in Michigan with this syndrome?
You just have to find a physician that is open to it. Good luck!
Hello
My son has a mitochondrial disease and recently diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. I myself have migraines. My son has entered a chronic nauseaus phase and basically always feels sick. I understand that is highly unusual as patients are typically find between episodes. When this started, he did feel great following an episode, and he was probably more ‘typical’ out the outset. The doctors are confident that it is CVS and that my migraines are related. How young is the youngest patient you’ve treated with marijuana? Have you ever seen worsening symptoms with treatment? thanks
SUsanne
Susanne,
There are doctors in California who are taking care of children using cannabis. There are not many and the ones who do are taking a risk (even though their treatment plan is working). Most of these cases are in autistic children. I personally have had 17 year olds come in with their parents. Even though I believe it will have a role in pediatrics one day I tend to avoid treating younger patients only because I am afraid of the backlash from the medical community.
That being said (hypothetically)… as a parent if I was watching my son suffer and there was nothing the medical community could do for him I may be inclined to give him some and see if it helps.
To answer your question I have not seen any side effects from cannabis that are any worse than the alternatives from the medications they would have to take. But then again, most patients that come to me have already tried it on some level and had a good experience…. so I may have a biased sample of patients??
Dr. Breen,
My 26 yr. old son, Tyler, started showing signs of CVS about 5 years ago. He had one episode after a night out drinking. The next morning, eight hours after his last drink, he started vomiting and a hospital visit was required to control the extreme pain and vomiting. Two yrs. later he had his second episode except no alcohol was envolved. Starting Nov. 2008, he has been hospitalized about every 3 to 4 weeks, with several trips right back after being dismissed. Tyler has changed his lifestyle to help eliminate all other factors, except he kept smoking cannibus which didn’t upset his dr.s. A couple of months ago, his doctor’s turned nasty and blamed pot and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis so he quit. He has not been able to work or even go an hour or so without having extreme pain and vomiting. Now that you know his history, here is the question. His doctor’s have done the ‘Million dollar’ work-up three times and they don’t know the trigger. What are they missing?!?!?! Thank you so much for your help!!!
Ron-
I always start with the basics. Is he sleeping 8 hours per night? Is he drinking anything other than water? What foods is he putting into his body? How much stress does he have in his life?
Once you address and correct each of those above then you can start looking at nutritional deficiencies, toxicities and overall organ function.
I have had a few patients with CVS whose doctors have blamed the cannabis.
Your son may need to start from scratch, do a detox type diet, cleanse his liver and gallbladder and then see where he is at. Without seeing him personally I really can not give specific advice however probiotics are something to consider.
I would go and seek out a naturopathic physician who can take a look at him from a more holistic perspective.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Breen
well im from georgia,24 and the doctors came to the conclusion I have CVS. I have been in hospital 3 times this month. I already smoked pot daily for 2 years. Ive been looking on the internet and it states that smoking pot plays a role in me getting CVS. what are the real facts on cvs and the use of pot before even being digionosed with this cvs?
Dear all,
Apparently my girlfriend suffers from CVS. We just found out and I am now in the process of finding a remedy. First thing that came to my mind was cannabis. i know someone that produces some kind of medicinal cannabis oil that I would like to try. More info on: http://mediwiet.nl/
Short: it is a way to use cannabis without side effects of being high or stoned.
Anyway for all of you that suffer from stupid rules and law in your country i suggest moving to The Netherlands where cannabis is legal, as it should be anywhere in the world.
Good luck with everything!
Hi everyone. It seems to me that if the CVS started after chronic use of marijuana, then cannabinoid hyperemesis might really be the cause. It can’t hurt to give it up for a while and see if the symptoms stop. And if you can’t stop smoking for a few months, then get out of addiction denial! If the syndrome started in childhood, I’d still be very cautious about using medicinal marijuana, since it is obviously a trigger for many people. It is hardly the totally benign drug that so many people claim it is. I have first hand experience of a family member suddenly being totally symptom free after years of hospitalizations for “CVS” once he gave up pot. As for giving it to children, how could you do that to a developing brain? It’s bad enough to see teenagers starting the habit even before the frontal lobes of their brains are completely developed! Don’t let your children be guinea pigs!
Guinea pigs? And what do you call a child who is given 7 different medications by their doctor that do not work? Major Guinea PIg!