Case Study: Priapism Caused by Synthetic Cannabinoids?

[CoastWatcher]

Synthetic cannabinoids are designer drugs that differ in some significant ways from the natural cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. They are often marketed as designer drugs or sold in products with claims they give the same effect as cannabis.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have been increasingly used all over the world, particularly among young‐adult population. SCs can cause severe adverse effects on several organ systems. However, there are no studies in the literature which have stated the possible relationship between using of SCs and priapism. We present a case of 28‐year‐old man who was diagnosed with a 58‐hr lasting priapism after regular administrations of SCs.

• The priapism did not resolve neither after applying aspiration with irrigation or shunt surgery.
• Penile prosthesis implantation was performed as a last treatment option.
• The SCs have been increasingly used among young population in recent years; therefore, new SC‐related ischaemic priapism cases might be encountered in the emergency departments.

"A new cause of ischaemic priapism: Synthetic cannabinoids," Andrologica, 1 April 2018, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/and.13013

 

[Sean Mosher]

Seems like no matter what studies are presented people still want to smoke.
That's their choice and all but I just don't get it.

 

[CoastWatcher]

Seems like no matter what studies are presented people still want to smoke.
That's their choice and all but I just don't get it.

I get your point, and I don't use, but this is certainly an odd side-effect/reaction.

 

[Saul]

Very odd. Synthetic cannabinoids is usually just an organic material sprayed with chemicals. It has nothing in common with real cannabis other than the name. Pretty messed up side effect - people who use this synthetic stuff are not the brightest and who know what else was on the stuff and what else were taking that they don't recall.