Capsaicin cream for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a peppered body of evidence?
Date First Published:
February 8, 2022
Last Updated:
January 10, 2024
Report by:
Lisa McDermott, Advanced Clinical Practitioner/ Senior Clinical Pharmacist (Emergency Department, University Hospital Monklands)
Search checked by:
Stewart Teece, Emergency Department, University Hospital Monklands
Three-Part Question:
In [patients presenting with presumed cannabinoid syndrome] is [the use of topical capsaicin cream] associated with [a reduction in symptoms]
Clinical Scenario:
A 27 year old man presents with a 24 hour history of recurrent vomiting. You note he has had 5 previous presentations in the last 6 months. He has a history of daily cannabis use and it appears that his vomiting has been difficult to manage on his previous attendances. He states he often feels better after a hot shower. You have heard someone mention that there can be similar relief to hot shower by getting the patient to apply a capsicum based cream which causes a similar heating to the skin. You wonder if there is any evidence to back this up.
Search Strategy:
Medline 1964-02/22 using the Ovid Interface
[{exp cannabis OR cannabis.af OR cannabi$.af OR THC.af OR tetrahydrocannabinol.af OR hashish.af OR marijuana.af} AND {exp vomiting OR hyperemesis.af OR emesis.af OR emetic.af} AND {exp capsaicin OR capsaicin.af OR capsicum.af OR pepper.ag}] LIMIT to human AND English Language
[{exp cannabis OR cannabis.af OR cannabi$.af OR THC.af OR tetrahydrocannabinol.af OR hashish.af OR marijuana.af} AND {exp vomiting OR hyperemesis.af OR emesis.af OR emetic.af} AND {exp capsaicin OR capsaicin.af OR capsicum.af OR pepper.ag}] LIMIT to human AND English Language
Outcome:
23 papers were found of which n were considered suitable for further analysis