A Case of Near-Fatal Bradycardia Caused by Accidental Cannabis Intoxication
Shelby Ploucher, Sarina Koilpillai, Murali K. Iyyani, Steve Carlan
Cureus April 1, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37430 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | An elderly male |
| Intervention | Oral cannabis |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | An elderly man who accidentally ingested large amounts of oral cannabis presented with dizziness, altered mental status, and severe bradycardia requiring emergency atropine, with no other cause found on cardiac workup. The authors argue that edible formulations, which can be up to 10 times more potent than older preparations, warrant further safety research given their growing popularity, especially among the elderly. |
Abstract
The recreational and medicinal uses of cannabis are increasing worldwide. Given the recent legalization of marijuana in some regions of the United States, the use of edible formulations has become increasingly popular, especially among the elderly. These new formulations can be up to 10 times more potent than previously available preparations and have been associated with a variety of cardiovascular adverse effects. Here, we present a case of an elderly male who presented with dizziness and altered mental status. He was found to be severely bradycardic and emergently required atropine. Further investigation revealed that he accidentally ingested large amounts of oral cannabis. An extensive cardiac workup revealed no other etiology for his arrhythmia. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most commonly studied cannabis compounds. With the increased access to and popularity of edible cannabis formulations, this case demonstrates the need for further research regarding the safety of oral cannabis.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychotic Reactions Following Cannabis Use in East Indians Patients at an Indian drug addiction clinic who developed acute cannabis-related psychosis | 1974 | Descriptive report (case series of clinical observations) | n = 200 |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis use Swedish cases of cannabis psychosis | 1985 | Case series | n = 70 |
| Forty-Six Cases of Psychosis in Cannabis Abusers Gunila Bernhardson Habitual cannabis users treated for psychosis at Swedish psychiatric clinics and mental... | 1972 | Case series (retrospective survey of psychiatric records) | n = 46 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |