Podcast 547: Capsaicin Cream to the Rescue

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

• A recent retrospective study looked capsaicin cream in treating cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in regards to length of stay, cost analysis, use of rescue therapies, and adverse events
• Results showed a trend towards reduced length of stay but did not reach statistical significance
• Use of opioids was reduced in the capsaicin group
• Capsaicin remains a potential treatment option in this often difficult disease

References

Samantha Wagner, Jason Hoppe, Matthew Zuckerman, Kerry Schwarz & Julie McLaughlin (2019) Efficacy and safety of topical capsaicin for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in the emergency department, Clinical Toxicology, DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2019.1660783

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD