Psychiatric and Medical Management of Marijuana Intoxication in the Emergency Department
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine May 7, 2015 M. Bui, Quan, Simpson, Scott, Nordstrom, Kimberly
A 34-year-old woman developed psychosis, mild hypokalemia, and QT interval prolongation after ingesting edible cannabis. In the emergency setting, her symptoms resolved over two days with supportive treatment and minimal intervention. Psychiatric management of cannabis psychosis involves symptomatic care and safety during detoxification; acute medical complications are primarily cardiovascular and respiratory, warranting electrolyte and electrocardiogram monitoring. Patients with cannabis psychosis are at risk for further psychotic sequelae, and emergency providers can reduce this risk through appropriate diagnosis, acute treatment, and referral for outpatient care.