But occasionally, patients who arrive at a hospital with what initially looks like CHS can instead have pancreatitis, gastritis, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), appendicitis, or other problems. So, Heard says, these patients often end up going through a lot of testing. “So, people might not be actively smoking it but still might have a fairly significant amount of THC coming out of your system, and it can be enough to trigger symptoms,” he said. Researchers have identified two receptors called CB1 and CB2 to which marijuana molecules attach.
What medical treatments work to alleviate CHS symptoms in health care settings?
Because CHS is a fairly new medical condition, not all doctors know about it. Or they might think it’s something else, since repeated throwing up is a sign of many health problems. You may need to see a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in the digestive tract, for a proper diagnosis. Although it was considered to be rare, the number of cases has increased with the legalization of marijuana in many places and the opening of retail stores to easily get it. This has increased both the number of people using the drug and the “high” in the available weed.
Prevalence and diagnosis of CHS
That’s in part because there’s no diagnostic code for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. When patients are discharged from a UCHealth emergency department, the official diagnosis is typically “vomiting,” though the CHS details are entered into https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the medical record’s notes. First, doctors treating people with CHS advise them to stop using marijuana. During the hyperemesis stage, doctors focus on preventing dehydration and stopping the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. People in the hyperemetic phase can take up to 12 hot showers or baths during the day to relieve symptoms. The hot temperatures may provide some relief as they affect your hypothalamus, the part of your brain that regulates both vomiting and your internal body temperature.
Office of Cannabis Management
- The cause of death in both people was found to be hyponatremic dehydration, also known as low sodium levels.
- If you have symptoms, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask for your detailed medical history.
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is often linked to marijuana addiction, as those with CHS typically have a long history of chronic marijuana use.
- They also experience episodes of vomiting that return every few weeks or months.
- It’s a condition that can lead to serious health complications if you don’t get treatment for it.
Research suggests that CB1 receptors regulate the effects of marijuana on the gastrointestinal tract. Scientists do not know much about the function of the CB2 receptors. With the consumption of marijuana increasing due to the legalization of its recreational use in many states, doctors may receive more reports of side effects from marijuana use. At this time, the only known way to cure CHS is by quitting cannabis. It’s still not clear which of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis are responsible Drug rehabilitation for CHS, but it’s thought that CBD could potentially be a contributor.
Causes and Risk Factors of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
The condition can be particularly challenging because the symptoms are often mistaken for other gastrointestinal disorders, and they may not appear immediately after someone begins using marijuana. If you are worried about your marijuana use, it’s time to reach out for help. We can help you find the marijuana addiction program that fits your needs and begin your recovery journey today. Call us today at to learn about your treatment options and to take the first step onto the road to recovery.
Doctors have a lack of knowledge of CHS, and this makes it hard to identify people with the condition. People often remain misdiagnosed for years, which delays treatment. Results from these case studies suggest that lorazepam might be an effective drug to control symptoms during the hyperemesis stage.
Treatment
It causes chs marijuana severe bouts of vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Certain therapies, such as taking hot showers or using prescription medications, may help relieve symptoms. If you have cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), the best treatment is to stop using weed, even if you’ve been doing it for years with no previous side effects. Once you do that, your repeated nausea and vomiting should go away and not return.
- After halting cannabis use patients typically recover in a matter of days, weeks, or months.
- Some have suggested that high doses might cause the anti-emetic effects to flip into a pro-emetic syndrome.
- However, symptoms almost always return if you resume using marijuana.
- First, doctors treating people with CHS advise them to stop using marijuana.
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. Compulsive hot showering or bathing may be critical in distinguishing CHS from CVS and other conditions with similar symptoms. Studies show that between 90% to 100% of people with CHS use hot showering or bathing to relieve symptoms. Researchers have proposed that this behavior may be included in the diagnostic criteria for CHS. Patients are often diagnosed with the syndrome based on the way they treat their own symptoms.
- If you have cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), the best treatment is to stop using weed, even if you’ve been doing it for years with no previous side effects.
- 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.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy can also help.
- “No kid could use continuously throughout the day and also be doing anything else, because they would have been smoking a joint before,” she said.
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that sometimes develops due to the long term use of marijuana.
- One possible explanation for this is called “gate control theory,” which postulates that to some extent, the brain can regulate how much pain it perceives.
Addiction rehab programs or CBT may be helpful resources for quitting cannabis. Speak with a doctor or healthcare professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of CHS. Cannabis researcher Ethan Russo recently published a new study which found 5 statistically significant mutations in CHS patients. Importantly, they are all mutations that are not found in frequent cannabis users without CHS symptoms. These genes impact the TRPV1 receptor, dopamine receptors, and the enzyme CYP2C9 (which is responsible for metabolising THC in the liver).
Why Seek Treatment for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
Addiction Treatment Boston is here to provide the guidance, therapy, and support needed to overcome the challenges of marijuana dependence. The exact cause of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome remains unclear, but there are several theories as to why it occurs in some chronic marijuana users. It is believed that prolonged marijuana use leads to overstimulation of the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is involved in regulating functions like mood, appetite, and gastrointestinal processes. When people are sick, they can also sweat and just not feel right. The throwing up can be bad and can cause you to be low on body water. We fix this by giving the water back through the veins and giving drugs to stop the sick feeling and lower the acid in the stomach.
