title: Convulsions associated with the use of a synthetic cannabinoid product.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical presentations following the use of various "spice" or synthetic cannabinoids have included agitation, anxiety, emesis, hallucinations, psychosis, tachycardia, and unresponsiveness. Convulsions were described in a one report although there was not laboratory confirmation for synthetic cannabinoids. In another published report laboratory confirmation for a synthetic cannabinoid was done in which the patient manifested activity that was interpreted as a possible convulsion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a patient who had two witnessed generalized convulsions soon after smoking a "spice" product that we later confirmed to have four different synthetic cannabinoids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Convulsions have only rarely been associated with marijuana exposures. Recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids is a very recent phenomenon and there is a very limited, albeit burgeoning, literature detailing the associated complications including convulsions we have reported here. The absence of anticonvulsant phytocannabinoids in spice products could potentially be one of multiple unknown mechanisms contributing to convulsions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. aschneir@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Aaron B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Schneir
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumbacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids