The condition occurs in some individuals who use cannabis regularly, especially in large amounts over a long period. Risk factors for developing CHS include long-term marijuana use, age, gender, and sociocultural background. CHS is rare, but it can be serious and may require medical treatment. Hyperemesis syndrome is a condition marked by severe and persistent nausea and vomiting, often accompanied chs symptoms and signs by abdominal pain and dehydration. In the context of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), hyperemesis syndrome is a critical component, with patients experiencing recurrent episodes of severe vomiting, persistent nausea, and abdominal pain. These symptoms can be debilitating, leading to significant discomfort and health complications.
- And the daily use of THC in adolescence will permanently affect how the ECS works in organs that regulate health.
- While there are treatments to ease the pain and discomfort, there’s only one cure, and that’s cutting off cannabis use.
- In a retrospective review of CHS patients admitted to a single urban ED in France, 7 patients were identified with a mean age of 24.7 years (range 17–39 years); most were men.
- Some people with CHS require pain relievers if abdominal pain is present.
- A 37-year-old man in profound distress suffering hyperemesis presents at the ED, stating he had similar experiences in the past which could be relieved with hot showers, but this time hot water provided no relief.
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- People with CHS may find relief from these symptoms by taking hot showers or baths, which can temporarily relieve CHS symptoms.
- Thus, it is possible that the severe nausea and intractable vomiting of CHS might be due to the combined proemetic effects of high-dose CBD coupled with CBG’s antagonism at the serotonin receptors 13.
- During his last hospitalization he was given conventional antiemetic therapy but his symptoms persisted for 2 more days.
- Like THC, cannabidiol is an important compound in the cannabis plant, but it has very different effects.
- You’ll stay in the hospital until you can hold down regular meals and your vomiting subsides.
All condition, treatment and wellness content is medically reviewed by at least one medical professional ensuring the most accurate information possible. Due to the complexity of diagnosing CHS, it’s important to consult with healthcare professionals who are familiar with the condition. If CHS is suspected, stopping marijuana use is the first crucial step, and seeking treatment for marijuana addiction may be necessary to prevent further complications. While marijuana is widely known for its ability to ease symptoms such as anxiety, chronic pain, and nausea, for some individuals, excessive use can lead to the opposite effect, resulting in a cycle of vomiting and discomfort.
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Other symptoms may include sweating, flushing, thirst, weight loss, and changes in body temperature. Since marijuana is recommended as an antiemetic to chemotherapy patients, CHS seems paradoxical, but cannabinoids can have both proemetic as well as antiemetic effects. A case series from Spain from 2012 to 2016 involved 6 patients (5 men) with an average age of 28.3 years who, on average, began to use marijuana at age 16. In this series, the mean amount of cannabis smoked per day was 7.5 cigarettes (range 1–12) for at least 1 year prior to the first episode of vomiting. The average length of time between the onset of symptoms and a CHS diagnosis was 6.1 years (range 1–10 years) and patients visited the ED at average of 10 times before diagnosis was made. All patients found relief in hot showers and all were described as “uncooperative” with a CHS diagnosis.
How Serious is CHS?
It is not clear if there is a comorbid association between CHS and anxiety or whether the symptoms of CHS are so distressing that patients become anxious. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is marked by waves of severe nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain after long-term cannabis use. People living with CHS often discover that hot baths and showers offer temporary relief from their intense nausea. That’s one of the hallmark behaviors seen in this condition—spending extended periods in a hot shower Substance abuse just to keep the vomiting at bay. People with CHS also tend to have a strong urge to take very hot showers or baths. That’s because hot water can help ease cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms like nausea.
Does Insurance Cover Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Treatment?
The new research suggests that the condition may impose a heavy burden on individuals who suffer from it as it often results in pain, vomiting and costly trips to the hospital. Emergency room doctors can stabilize the patient and help alleviate the acute symptoms but the only known way to stop the episodes of excruciating abdominal pain and repeated vomiting is to stop using cannabis, Meltzer says. Most CHS patients discover the symptomatic relief of hot showers on their own and use this method to control symptoms 1. In a case study from Texas, a 27-year-old male patient with CHS reported he found relief in hot showers but over time, he became refractory to the hot water and ended up having to visit the ED 105. A diagnosis of CHS is confirmed when all symptoms resolve for a long period of time (∼12 months) with the cessation of marijuana 15. Patients who stop using marijuana but continue to experience cyclic vomiting are more likely to have CVS.
The third patient (20-year-old man) stopped marijuana use for 2 months after CHS diagnosis, but resumed again, which resulted in another hospitalization 102. Haloperidol is a familiar but unconventional antiemetic that may benefit CHS patients, likely because it blocks the brain’s postsynaptic dopamine receptors 111, 112. When dopamine receptors are blocked, the blockade reduces the effect of dopamine on the dopamine-2 receptors in the vomiting center 96. Haloperidol may further relieve nausea and vomiting by indirect activity at the CB1 receptors 111, 113. In a case study of a 27-year-old man who suffered repeated episodes of gastric pain, up to 20 vomiting episodes per day, coupled with severe nausea, multiple diagnostic tests were performed before a CHS diagnosis could be made. During his last hospitalization he was given conventional antiemetic therapy but his symptoms persisted for 2 more days.
This antagonism might theoretically reverse the antiemetic effects of low doses of CBD at the serotonin receptor 38. Thus, it is possible that the severe nausea and intractable vomiting of CHS might be due to the combined proemetic effects of high-dose CBD coupled with CBG’s antagonism at the serotonin receptors 13. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is relatively rare, but its prevalence is increasing as cannabis use becomes more widespread. Estimates suggest that CHS affects a small percentage of long-term cannabis users, with studies showing rates ranging from 2% to 10% of frequent cannabis consumers. The condition is more common in individuals who have used cannabis regularly and in large amounts over several years. The prevalence of CHS is influenced by various risk factors, including long-term cannabis use, age, gender, and sociocultural background.