This article was reviewed by Bonni Goldstein, MD, a physician specializing in cannabis medicine in Los Angeles, California, owner and medical director of CannaCenters, and medical advisor to Weedmaps.com. Contact your physician right away if you experience symptoms of CHS, and stop consuming cannabis. Even cannabis products that don’t contain THC have the potential to cause or worsen CHS. The researchers found that 32.9 percent of the participants reported having experienced symptoms of CHS in the past.
How is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome treated?
These foods/beverages are mostly acidic, but relationships between them and CHS have not been studied scientifically, although the co-use of weed and alcohol is well-known, the study authors said. Your doctor may ask you questions, like how long you’ve been using cannabis and what type of products you normally use. For example, if you smoke weed, eat edibles, use tinctures, or dab or vape THC, tell your doctor about any or all of them. This word is a combination of «screaming» and «vomiting.» You’re in so much pain that you’re screaming while you’re vomiting. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice.
How long does it take to develop CHS?
The placebo group was “more sick”, having higher baseline nausea which was not corrected for in the analysis 7. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is characterized by a series of symptoms that may change depending on whether the individual https://ecosoberhouse.com/ is in the prodromal, hyperemetic, or recovery phase of the condition. The profuse vomiting and potential dehydration inherent in CHS often mandate intravenous fluids administration to correct electrolyte imbalances and sustain hydration levels. Adequate fluid resuscitation is crucial during the acute phase of CHS to avert complications and ensure physiological stability. Interestingly, patients dealing with Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) also frequently mention this behavior.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
- We report a case in which cognitive error substantially influenced a patient’s diagnosis and treatment.
- The primary treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is the cessation of cannabis use, as there are no consistently effective alternative treatments.
- This should not, by any means, hurt marijuana’s reputation for being the safest recreational drug around, but people need to be aware of the syndrome’s existence.
Lorazepam has no studies assessing its utility in CHS, but a summary of case reports suggests an efficacy of 58.3% in 19 patients 3. Despite the lack of evidence, clinical experience has led to lorazepam being recommended as an adjunct in recent cyclic vomiting syndrome guidelines for patients who have an anxiety component to their presentation 8. Since 40-50% of traditional cyclic vomiting syndrome patients were chronic cannabis users, it is reasonable to extrapolate these guidelines to CHS until more specific literature is published. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that you might get if you’ve regularly smoked weed or used marijuana in some other form for a long time. CHS causes you to have repeated episodes of vomiting, severe nausea, stomach pain, and dehydration.
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome? Here’s what to know, and why experts say it’s on the rise
In one small study of eight patients hospitalized with CHS, four of the five who stopped using weed recovered from CHS. One of the 4 who recovered went back to using marijuana and the vomiting resumed. If you have CHS and don’t stop using, your symptoms like nausea and vomiting are likely to come back. This is different than CHS, where even a very low dose of THC can trigger severe symptoms.
Can CBD products without THC cause cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?
But a 2019 study concluded that it potentially accounts for up to 6 percent of emergency room visits for recurrent vomiting. Researchers are currently studying several treatment options to manage the hyperemetic phase of CHS. People who use marijuana long-term — typically for about 10 to 12 years — are at risk of developing CHS. But not every person who uses marijuana, even long-term use, develops CHS. (A) Sagittal view shows a narrowing of the distal duodenum at the level of the superior mesenteric artery, with an aortomesenteric distance of 5.0 mm. (B) Axial view with intravenous contrast provides an alternative perspective of decreased aortomesenteric distance. Although research has not established a clear link between CHS and pesticides, some recommend avoiding cannabis that has been treated with pesticides, as some individuals may have more adverse reactions to certain chemical treatments.
- An electrocardiogram may be useful to assess the patient’s QTc interval, especially in the context of antipsychotic medication use, as well as before the administration of certain antiemetics, which may prolong the QTc interval to extreme lengths.
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) happens when you have cycles of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain after using cannabis (marijuana) for a long time.
- It’s characterized by cyclic episodes of debilitating nausea and vomiting.
- This increased blood flow to the skin and peripheral tissues may help shift blood volume away from the gastrointestinal tract, potentially alleviating nausea and vomiting symptoms by reducing visceral hypersensitivity and enhancing overall comfort levels.
Specifically, CHS becomes dangerous when the primary symptoms of the condition — abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting — become so drastic that the patient ends up becoming severely dehydrated. When that happens, the patient can experience a type of kidney failure increasingly known as cannabinoid hyperemesis acute renal failure, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and this condition can quickly lead to much more severe long-term complications. Ironically, one of the potential complications of long-term cannabis use is a condition called cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). Serotonin antagonism in the gastrointestinal tract from medications such as ondansetron, dolasetron, and granisetron likewise have varying levels of efficacy. Drugs with an anticholinergic effect may likewise block medullary mediated vomiting, though they may have minimal impact on visceral stimulation, including the crippling abdominal cramping pain that patients with CHS experience. Opioids, while often prescribed for the patient’s debilitating abdominal pain, are not appropriate for CHS, as they may, in fact, worsen nausea and vomiting.
