Rare vegetative side effects: Can increased blood pressure, headache, chills, nausea, and belly ache be ascribed to cannabis use?
Franjo Grotenhermen Cannabis exerts manifold effects on the vegetative nervous system, among them increased heart rate, dry mouth, slowdown of intestinal movements, changes of blood pressure (decrease and increase). These effects are usually mild and well tolerated. Their intensity varies from person to person. In some subjects an unusual intensity of these side effects and unusual kinds of vegetative side effects have been observed, Among them strong increase of heart rate, strong increase of blood pressure, shivering and chills, bellyache, headache, nausea and vomiting. The following experiences were told to me by recreational users: A young man who had used cannabis for many years without relevant side effects experienced strong headache after the use of LSD which made him to attend a hospital. A high blood pressure (systolic pressure of 190 mmHg) was measured. Later every use of cannabis also resulted in headache and significant increase of blood pressure. Another user reported sig
