What is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome? Cannabis Glossary

Smoking extra marijuana won’t help your nausea but will make it worse. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a very unpleasant — and potentially dangerous — complication of long-term marijuana use. Because of this possible complication, it’s important to use caution with marijuana and other cannabis products. If you think you have CHS or cannabis use disorder, talk to a healthcare provider.

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Connecting with a knowledgeable healthcare provider is crucial for recovery. This step is especially important for those experiencing typical symptoms and searching for answers. Since CHS is often mistaken for other conditions, many people endure symptoms longer than necessary. If you have cannabis use disorder and need help quitting, professional treatment is available.

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CHS Diagnosis and Treatment

When you stop using cannabis entirely, you can step into the recovery phase. Over days or sometimes months, the vomiting decreases, your nausea eases, and you can start eating normally again. You begin to regain lost weight and find that hot showers are no longer necessary for comfort. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that sometimes develops due to the long term use of marijuana.

What medical treatments work to alleviate CHS symptoms in health care settings?

Treatment involves stopping cannabis use and symptom management. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is often linked to marijuana addiction, as those with CHS typically have a long history of chronic marijuana use. Addiction treatment is a critical component of managing CHS, helping individuals what is chs weed not only to alleviate symptoms but also to address the underlying cause of the condition—marijuana dependency. Many people experience temporary relief from their nausea and vomiting when bathing in hot water. Some people with CHS may compulsively bathe in hot water for hours a day to find relief.

Read on to understand what CHS is, how it develops, what the main signs are, and why seeking help is critical if you want to break free from this difficult cycle. Dr. Byron McQuirt leads works closely with our addictionologist, offering holistic, evidence-based mental health and addiction care while educating future professionals. Additionally researchers have pointed to overstimulation of CB1 or TRPV1 receptors – leading the body to reduce the amount of those receptors – as a possible mechanism for CHS. While these are all just theories, they make sense with what we know about cannabis and its impact on the human body. Importantly, the patient must be a (usually frequent) cannabis user during this time for the CHS diagnosis to fit. Appetite is typically unaffected during this phase, but researchers note that Halfway house consumers tend to administer more cannabis as a nausea remedy.

Differential Diagnosis

  • The first reports came from doctors treating regular users of marijuana for nausea and vomiting in South Australia.
  • The prodromal phase can last for months, or even years in some cases.
  • It tends to affect people who use cannabis at least once a week and happens more often in adults who’ve been using cannabis since their adolescent years.

The research highlights a strong link between early cannabis use and higher hospital visits, suggesting an urgent need for awareness. While emergency treatments can provide short-term relief, the only true cure is stopping cannabis use. To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will ask you about your symptoms and your past health.

Lifestyle Quizzes

Now, these cannabinoid receptors are also present in the digestive tract of the body. Over time, cannabis use changes the way https://ecosoberhouse.com/ in which the molecules present in the digestive tract respond, leading to CHS. Anti-nausea drugs may provide short-term relief but aren’t always effective for CHS.

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If you’re not upfront about your marijuana use, your provider may diagnose you with a completely different issue. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome follows a repeating cycle, with three distinct phases that people move through while continuing to use marijuana. These phases can last different lengths of time, and not everyone’s experience is identical. Another misconception is that CHS is a subtype of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). While these are similar conditions symptomatically, they have very different root causes. CVS is actually a type of migraine condition that usually appears during infancy or childhood and develops into more classic migraine symptoms later on.

  • CHS is a rare but serious condition that may develop after years of heavy marijuana consumption.
  • Over the past decade or so, people have been turning up at the emergency room in increasing numbers suffering with severe stomach pain that becomes too much to bear in some cases.
  • Anecdotally, Heard says, the number of CHS patients whose symptoms are serious enough that they end up at a hospital for treatment has leveled off at one or two per day at University of Colorado Hospital.

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While stopping marijuana use is the most effective way to address CHS, many individuals find it difficult to quit on their own. Without professional help, CHS can cause a continuous cycle of symptoms and complications, including nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and damage to vital organs. The most effective treatment for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is the cessation of marijuana use. Unfortunately, the psychological and physical dependency on marijuana can make quitting challenging for many individuals. In these cases, addiction treatment programs can provide the necessary support for successful recovery. Many researchers feel that CHS is underrecognized and underdiagnosed.

Studies on CHS on the other hand have found the average age of onset to be 32 years old, and does not seem to be related to migraine. This means that getting diagnosed could be key to preventing other health risks for this vulnerable population. After halting cannabis use patients typically recover in a matter of days, weeks, or months.


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