Capsaicin

Chronic cannabis use is increasingly linked to recurring bouts of vomiting, now officially classified as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. The new ICD code helps doctors identify cases more consistently and gives researchers a clearer picture of how often it occurs. Patients often resist the diagnosis, and the condition’s causes remain murky. Relief can come from unusual sources like hot showers or capsaicin cream.Over the past ten years, emergency departments have seen a steady rise in patients seeking help for abdominal pain and episodes of intense or long-lasting vomiting. What these cases often share is chronic cannabis use. Until last month, clinicians lacked a standardized way to document this condition. They now have a diagnostic code for "cannabis hyperemesis syndrome," a gastrointestinal disorder that begins within 24 hours of the most recent cannabis use and can continue for several days. People who experience it typically face these symptoms three or four times each year. New ICD Code Helps Clinicians Identify Cannabis Hyperemesis On Oct. 1, the World Health Organization added a formal entry for the condition to its International Classification of Diseases manual (ICD-10, currently). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also incorporated the new code, R11.16, into U.S. diagnostic systems. This update offers several benefits. Clinicians can now document the syndrome with a single, specific billing code instead of relying on multiple, less precise ones. Having the code appear in a patient's medical record also helps providers recognize repeat episodes during future visits. An important gain is improved data reliability. Investigators such as Beatriz Carlini can now track cases more accurately and look for patterns that were previously difficult to identify. "It helps us count and monitor these cases," said Carlini, a research associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine who studies adverse health effects of cannabis use. "In studying addiction and other public health concerns, we have three sources of data: what clinicians tell us, what people in the communities tell us, and what health records tell us. A new code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome will supply important hard evidence on cannabis-adverse events, which physicians tell us is a growing problem." Limited Awareness Contributes to Delayed Diagnosis Although hospitals are seeing more patients with these symptoms, many providers are still unfamiliar with the condition because it has only recently been defined. "A person often will have multiple [emergency department] visits until it is correctly recognized, costing thousands of dollars each time," Carlini said. Even after an accurate diagnosis, some patients struggle to accept that cannabis is the source of their severe nausea and vomiting, said Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency medicine specialist with UW Medicine and Seattle Children's. Cannabis is widely known for easing nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy or living with chronic conditions such as HIV and migraines, which adds to the confusion. "Some people say they've used cannabis without a problem for decades. Or they smoke pot because they think it treats their nausea," he said. "It seems like there's a threshold when people can become vulnerable to this condition, and that threshold is different for everyone. Even using in small amounts can make these people start throwing up." Uncertain Causes and Challenging Treatment Why the syndrome affects some cannabis users but not others remains unclear. "We don't know if it's related to the greater general availability of cannabis or the higher THC potency of some products or something else," Buresh said. Treating the condition is difficult. Standard anti-nausea medications often do not work reliably, he said, which sometimes forces clinicians to turn to second and third-line options such as Haldol, a medication more commonly used for psychotic episodes. Some individuals find limited relief through capsaicin cream, an over-the-counter analgesic that creates a warming sensation. According to Buresh, some patients apply it to their abdomen during episodes. Hot showers are also widely reported as helpful. "That's something that can clinch the diagnosis for me, when someone says they're better with a hot shower. Patients describe going through all the hot water in their house," he said. Why Recovery Can Be Difficult Several factors can slow recovery. Because the syndrome appears intermittently, some cannabis users may assume a recent episode was unrelated and continue using the substance without immediate problems, only to suddenly become severely ill again. For those who accept the diagnosis and try to stop cannabis use to ease their symptoms, addiction can make abstinence difficult, Carlini said.

Grünenthal announces that it agreed to acquire the commercial rights to Cialis® from Eli Lilly and Company in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, further strengthening Grünenthal's footprint in Latin America. As part of the acquisition, Grünenthal will transfer the manufacturing of Cialis® to its production site in Chile. Since 2017, Grünenthal has invested more than €2 billion in successful M&A transactions, significantly strengthening its profitability. AACHEN, Germany, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Grünenthal today announced the acquisition of the commercial rights to Cialis® (tadalafil) in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia from Eli Lilly and Company. Over the next few years, Grünenthal and Lilly will work together to transfer the manufacturing to Grünenthal's production site in Santiago, Chile, that will supply Cialis® for Mexico, Brazil and Colombia moving forward. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Grünenthal will finance the transaction using available liquidity. The financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Cialis® is indicated for the oral treatment of erectile dysfunction and signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia in adult men[1]. The acquisition will expand Grünenthal's Latin American Men's Health product portfolio. "Executing on our strategy of targeted acquisitions, Cialis® will expand our existing portfolio in the region and strengthen Grünenthal's Latin American business", says Gabriel Baertschi, CEO, Grünenthal. "In 2022, we acquired Nebido®, a long-acting treatment for testosterone deficiency, and with Cialis® we can continue to serve our existing customer base and foster our growth in key Latin American markets." Through the acquisition of Cialis®, Grünenthal continues executing its strategy of acquiring established medicines to expand its portfolio and increase its profitability. Since 2017, Grünenthal has invested over €2 billion in the acquisition of established medicines, including Nebido®, the European rights to Crestor® and Nexium®, as well as the global rights to Vimovo® (excluding the U.S. and Japan), Qutenza® and Zomig® (excluding Japan). In 2023, Grünenthal established Grünenthal Meds, a joint venture with Kyowa Kirin International, which manages a portfolio of 13 brands primarily focused on pain management and, in 2024, acquired the US company Valinor Pharma and the product Movantik®. About Grünenthal Grünenthal is a global leader in pain management and related diseases. As a science-based, fully integrated pharmaceutical company, we have a long track record of bringing innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients worldwide. Our purpose is to change lives for the better – and innovation is our passion. We focus all our activities and efforts on working towards our vision of a World Free of Pain. Grünenthal is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and has affiliates in 28 countries across Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. Our products are available in approx. 100 countries. In 2024, Grünenthal employed around 4,300 people and achieved revenues of €1.8 billion. More information: Follow us on: LinkedIn: Grunenthal Group Instagram: grunenthal For further information, please contact: Maren Thurow Head Global Communication Grünenthal GmbH 52099 Aachen E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: +44 7917 196855 [1] In Mexico Cialis® is indicated for the oral treatment of erectile dysfunction and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia in adult men. SOURCE Grünenthal Group WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED