Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome CHS: Symptoms & Treatment

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. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that leads to repeated and severe bouts of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. Symptoms of CHS usually appear after 10 to 12 years of chronic use. As cannabis legalization continues to spread across the country, doctors are sounding the alarm about the potential health Drug rehabilitation risks of the quickly changing drug.

• CHS symptoms may lessen temporarily but usually return with continued cannabis use.
• When patients are discharged from a UCHealth emergency department, the official diagnosis is typically “vomiting,” though the CHS details are entered into the medical record’s notes.
• It’s a cannabis-related disorder that can emerge even after years of symptom-free use.
• If you think you have CHS or cannabis use disorder, talk to a healthcare provider.

Knowing When to Seek Medical Help

Fluids, rest, and monitoring for complications of dehydration. Inpatient care may be required, especially for patients with electrolyte imbalances or acute what is chs weed renal failure secondary to dehydration. To better understand the condition, Meltzer and his team surveyed 1,052 people who reported experiencing CHS. The study gathered data on their cannabis use patterns, including how often they consumed it, how long they had been using, the age they started, and whether they required emergency or hospital care. Contact your health care provider if you have had severe vomiting for a day or more. You may not want to believe that marijuana may be the underlying cause of your symptoms.

How common is CHS, and is the number of patients with it climbing?

A new study examines the impact and risk factors of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition affecting long-term, frequent cannabis users. Researchers at George Washington University report that CHS causes recurring nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, and excruciating abdominal pain, often leading to repeated hospital visits. Diagnosing and treating CHS presents a number of unique challenges. Some patients may be misdiagnosed with cyclical vomiting syndrome or other GI disorders, especially if they’re not forthcoming about their cannabis use. The result may be years of suffering, unnecessary tests, and recurrent ED visits and hospitalizations. Studies show that people with CHS may visit the ED three to 11 times before diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis

The hyperemetic phase is characterized by 24 to 48 hours of intense vomiting, epigastric or diffuse abdominal pain, sweating, and flushing. Nausea and vomiting in this phase are refractory to antiemetic medications. Most patients in this phase cease cannabis use because of the intensity of their symptoms. When patients learn—usually by accident—that hot showering and bathing relieves symptoms, the behavior may become compulsive; some patients take up to 12 hot showers or baths per day during this phase. Many patients say that the hotter the water, the greater their relief, and some describe it as “washing away” their nausea.

Read more of our reporting in The New Cannabis

CB1 receptors are mostly present in the brain, but they also occur in other organs. Research suggests that CB1 receptors regulate the effects of marijuana on the gastrointestinal tract. Scientists do not know much about the function of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the CB2 receptors. The symptoms can continue for days, and commonly occur within a day of cannabis use. Symptoms will usually improve after 1 or 2 days, as long as you don’t use cannabis during this time. Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what causes CHS in some people who regularly use cannabis but not others.