title: Nabilone therapy for cannabis withdrawal presenting as protracted nausea and vomiting.
abstract: Cannabis is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs worldwide. Psychoactive properties of the principal compound, δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol include euphoria, a sense of relaxation and increased appetite. Chronic cannabis use has been associated with the development of a withdrawal syndrome on abrupt discontinuation. Withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 24 h of abstinence and manifest as irritability, nervousness, sleep disturbances and decreased appetite. There is growing evidence that supports the use of plant-derived and synthetic cannabinoids for the treatment of cannabis withdrawal. In this case report, we present 20-year-old woman who developed protracted nausea and vomiting secondary to cannabis withdrawal and was successfully treated with nabilone. Nausea and vomiting is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 diagnostic criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome and is an uncommon symptom presentation.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Frost
mesh_terms: D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000819:agonists; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; C011941:nabilone; D013759:Dronabinol