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. In a case series in 2016 by Burillo-Putze and colleagues 25, 26, which supports our study findings, they reported successful resolution of symptoms after other antiemetics such as metoclopramide and granisetron failed.
Cannabis Cessation
- While marijuana seems to bring on nausea in the stomach, in the brain it usually has opposite effect.
- With the widespread use, increased potency and legalization of marijuana in multiple states in the U.S., CHS may be becoming increasingly common.
- Because CHS is a fairly new medical condition, not all doctors know about it.
- 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.
- There is a new condition that is affecting marijuana users at a growing rate, and it’s called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).
As CHS is a relatively recently recognized and studied phenomenon easily confused with other diseases, there is a paucity of sizeable randomized control studies. Most resources and recommendations come from case studies and expert opinions. In addition to appropriate antiemetic therapy, fluid resuscitation, and management of the patient’s symptoms, patients must recognize behaviors and exposures that place them at risk for their pathology. For supportive care, a clinician should work together with the pharmacist to see if any medications could contribute to the patient’s presentation. If administering antiemetics, the nursing staff should be familiar with the adverse event profile so they can report any concerns that may arise. While marijuana seems to bring on nausea in the stomach, in the brain it usually has opposite effect.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The accumulation of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of marijuana, is thought to bind to the receptors in the gastrointestinal tract leading to gastrointestinal motility, nausea, and vomiting, hence the presentation in CHS 5, 12, 19–21. Through a holistic and individualized treatment regimen, healthcare providers can navigate the challenges of CHS, offering hope and relief to those affected by this puzzling condition. Indeed, with any syndrome that results in frequent vomiting, there is a concern for a disorder of electrolytes and fluid balance in the body. Patients who fail to respond to antiemetic therapy are at high risk for dehydration and resulting in nutritional deficiencies. Other known complications of forceful and uncontrolled vomiting include aspiration and subsequent pneumonitis or aspiration pneumonia as well as injury to the esophageal wall such as Boerhaave’s syndrome.
When should you consider cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome as a diagnosis?
This may be difficult if marijuana is being used as an appetite stimulant or for treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. If willing, patients should be referred to a substance abuse rehabilitation center. If you use cannabis often and frequently experience vomiting and nausea, you should tell a healthcare professional. Frequent vomiting due to CHS can cause erosion of teeth enamel and may result in tooth loss. CHS may also cause dehydration, acute kidney injury, and low blood levels of chloride, potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate, which may require emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
This case underscores the importance of thorough history-taking, especially for complex patients. Also, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with cannabis legalization, cases of CHS are on the rise, and widespread awareness is vital for healthcare practitioners to recognize and appropriately manage nausea and vomiting induced by long-term cannabis intake. Although this case provides valuable insights, its limitations emphasize the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines for CHS management. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition in which a patient experiences cyclical nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after using cannabis. The almost pathognomic aspect of a patient’s presenting history is that their symptoms are relieved by hot baths or shower.
- Patients who fail to respond to antiemetic therapy are at high risk for dehydration and resulting in nutritional deficiencies.
- A urine drug screen was ordered which came back positive for marijuana.
- The doctor decided that Brian needed to be at a children’s hospital to receive specialized care.
- Notably, a hallmark behavior observed in CHS cases is the propensity for pathologic hot bathing or showering.
- Dronabinol, a synthetic cannabinoid compound, has been employed to treat CHS, but with mixed efficacy and safety profile.
- Researchers have only recently discovered CHS, so some doctors or healthcare professionals may not recognize the condition.
- Importantly, for the definition of cyclic vomiting syndrome, these episodes of vomiting cannot be attributed to other disorders.
One 2018 study found that 32.9% of self-reported frequent marijuana users who’d gone to the emergency room (ER) had symptoms of CHS. And a 2022 Canadian study found that ER visits for CHS-related problems had increased 13-fold between 2014 and 2021. (Recreational use and sale of cannabis in Canada was legalized starting in 2018). It’s not clear what percentage of all heavy marijuana cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome users have experienced CHS. I would call every day to see whether the results were in, but for months, I heard nothing. Finally, on March 6, 2019 — my birthday — I was able to pick up the autopsy report.
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. Symptoms of CHS typically come on several years after the start of chronic marijuana use. It’s a condition that can lead to serious health complications if you don’t get treatment for it. Yet CHS is a very real condition, and while it may only affect a small percentage of people, it can be deadly. It is my mission to raise awareness of CHS in the hope that others do not have to endure the same fate as Brian.