Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome: Causes, Treatment, and More

Opioid analgesics provide little to no change in patients’ abdominal pain and have the potential to worsen nausea and vomiting. Patients should be allowed to bathe or shower, when appropriate, for symptom relief. With the legalization of recreational cannabis in 11 states and Washington, DC, as well as medical legalization in 33 states, a record number of Americans are consuming cannabis. According to a recent poll, approximately 34 million American adults use cannabis on a regular basis (at least twice monthly). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition that affects some people who use cannabis, especially over a long period. It’s a relatively new and lesser-known health issue that causes severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, often leading people to seek medical help.

Risk Factors, Clinical Course, and Diagnosis

Still, in some cases, an abdominal CT scan or X-rays may be ordered to determine if there is a serious issue, such as an intestinal blockage that may require surgery. Neither the psychological treatments nor the pharmacological treatments seem to be that effective,” he said. Experts also aren’t clear on what causes CHS, or why some people develop it while others don’t. Since it was first identified in 2004 in Australia, researchers have looked at the effects chs medical term of cannabis on the vomiting centers of the brain. While waiting for answers, she noticed an educational pamphlet on cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a little-known illness characterized by an onset of intense vomiting.

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• The widely known antiemetic properties of cannabis make the paradoxical symptoms of CHS difficult for many patients to accept, especially if they have cannabis use disorder.
• Since THC is stored in your body fat, it can take weeks to months before all the symptoms go away and you notice a difference.
• People suffering CHS often self-medicate with over-the-counter antacids, but some increase their cannabis use, thinking it will remedy the problem.

This factor is a key distinguishing feature from cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, where the toxicokinetics of cannabis itself influence the course of the disease. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) happens when you have cycles of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain after using cannabis (marijuana) for a long time. People with CHS often find temporary relief from these symptoms by taking hot baths and showers.

• Fluctuations in blood pressure due to baroreceptor damage can last for up to 12 weeks.
• Imaging is up to the discretion of the clinician, depending on various specific factors of history or physical exam, which may be concerning for surgical processes.
• Many patients resume cannabis use because they’re unable or unwilling to make the connection between it and their illness.
• While CHS does resolve with cannabis cessation, the manner of cessation significantly impacts outcomes.
• Some individuals, for instance, also admitted to smoking 2000 mg of THC per day.

Deterrence and Patient Education

If it tightens, the stomach takes longer to process the food, and the liver metabolizes the intake more slowly. The theory holds that the longer the user consumes cannabis, the more likely the cannabinoid use will damage the related systems. Moreover, https://www.valencahc.com/2020/09/17/what-is-binge-drinking-and-10-health-impacts/ if the chronic use dates to the early teens, it may severely damage bodily systems and functions that have not fully developed. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) appears in some chronic cannabis users. It presents as repeated nausea and vomiting to the point where it endangers you and your wellbeing. CHS can cause extreme discomfort, but dying from this syndrome is extremely rare.

To learn more about responsible cannabis use, visit our resource center. Additionally, we recommend becoming a Happy Valley insider to stay informed on new products and cultivars at our Massachusetts dispensaries. Seizure medications may be given to prevent seizures or to treat seizures if they occur. CHS was first discovered to be a risk Sober living house of a type of surgery called a carotid endarterectomy, but it can also occur after carotid artery stenting.

Communicate in a way that fosters patient trust in the healthcare team to encourage early diagnosis and treatment. Be factual and straightforward when explaining CHS to patients, and advocate for necessary supportive measures to aid cannabis cessation. Both cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) cause people to feel sick to the stomach and throw up at times, while feeling normal at other times. This is more common in men than women and usually starts around 35 years old. These two conditions are hard to distinguish between and the main difference is CHS happens with using a lot of marijuana.

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