A Comprehensive Review and Update on Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition marked by repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain linked to long-term amphetamine addiction treatment marijuana use. With growing cannabis legalization and increased use, awareness of the condition has risen, though it remains less well-known among the public and some clinicians. Understanding CHS, including its symptoms, causes, and rarity, is important for better diagnosis and treatment.
- That’s one of the hallmark behaviors seen in this condition—spending extended periods in a hot shower just to keep the vomiting at bay.
- If your symptoms are severe or you think you need immediate medical attention, call 911 right away.
- Confusion exists in the medical literature secondary to a failure to recognize chronic marijuana use as a source of vomiting.
- Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principle active compound in cannabis (Figure 1).
What are the risk factors for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
CHS patients are often treated as they are crazy or that their issues are psychosomatic. Because CHS has previously been an enigma, hypothesis’ have abound about what could be causing CHS. Learn more about our rehab center in Los Angeles or our addiction recovery therapeutic activities. Regular marijuana use can actually cause changes in the digestive system, as well as the esophageal sphincter, the tight band of tissue and muscles that open to let food into the stomach. Still, recent studies have opened up a new possibility—that genetics are the reason why CHS hits some cannabis consumers but not others. These cases highlight the importance of finding better ways to distinguish CHS from other conditions that manifest in similar ways.
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CHS is one of the negative side effects of marijuana users may encounter from smoking weed. Hot baths and showers can help relieve the severe symptoms that occur during the hyperemetic phase. It is important to address any dehydration that may be present due to excessive vomiting, and sometimes intravenous fluid administration is necessary. With cannabis use on the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ rise, awareness of hyperemesis cannabis syndrome must increase.

Physical, Emotional, and Social Effects of CHS
However, the risk of developing it rises with heavy, long-term use, particularly of high-THC products. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is a new and under recognized clinical entity. Although its prevalence is unknown, numerous publications have preliminarily established its unique clinical characteristics. CHS should be considered as a plausible diagnosis in the setting of patients with recurrent intractable vomiting and strong history of cannabis abuse.
Research on Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is marked by waves of severe nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain after long-term cannabis use.
- In one case series the average number of emergency room visits (7.1 ± 4.3) prior to diagnosis and the delay in diagnosis (for up to 9 years) was substantial 62.
- Survey-weighted descriptive analyses showed that CHS patients were substantially younger than patients in comparison groups.
- The only option to treat the condition long-term is to stop using marijuana.
- “Cannabinoid” points to the active chemical compounds in the Cannabis sativa plant, including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
- Even more problematic is that people tend to think marijuana helps with symptoms of nausea.
While the foregoing list of factors presented here is considered representative, no list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the transaction described above will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Helga Green, an enthusiast and researcher in the cannabis field, contributes her expertise to the AskGrowers blog.
How Do You Treat Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis chs phases Syndrome (aka CHS) is a rare form of non-stop vomiting related to too much cannabis use.Read about the history, prevalence, causes, and cures in this expert research review. Experience shows that cannabis does not cause addiction or lead to death. However, the shadows lingering over cannabis use for a century or more have radically limited the research necessary to understand cannabis composition and effects fully.
Voices from CHS Recovery
These phases can last different lengths of time, and not everyone’s experience is identical. The rise in cannabis legalization could also mean more people have ready access to stronger strains. Since high-potency cannabis can pack a more powerful effect on the body, it’s possible that even fewer years of use could lead to CHS in some cases. Many individuals either avoid seeking medical help or don’t mention their marijuana use during a doctor’s visit.
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The duration to achieve complete recovery from cannabis use disorder may range from a minimum of 3 months to up to 4 years 94. This variability in recovery time is partly attributable to its accumulation in adipose tissue and due to the extended half-life of THC. Diagnosis is based on long-term cannabis use, cyclic vomiting, abdominal pain, and symptom relief with hot showers. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a serious condition affecting long-term cannabis users, characterized by severe cyclical vomiting and abdominal pain. Understanding its symptoms and progression is crucial for early recognition and treatment.
How does CHS differ from cyclic vomiting syndrome?
More research is being conducted to understand the connection between genetics and the environment in CHS. The symptoms typically last a few weeks, though the throwing up should ease up in a day or two. In 2022, 993 hospitals across 41 states and the District of Columbia contributed, representing approximately 84.7% of the US population and 83.9% of all emergency department visits. Cannabinoids affect the pituitary–adrenal axis and stress-responsive brain regions. Studies suggest that CHS may involve disruption at the hippocampal–hypothalamic–pituitary level 22. Chronic cannabis use can lower pituitary hormone levels, including the growth hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone, which has been shown to normalize after stopping use 23,24.
