This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional. The most effective way to prevent CHS is to avoid chronic use of cannabis. To prevent worsening CHS symptoms, medical advice suggests complete cessation of all cannabis usage. Full recovery, marked by the complete absence of CHS symptoms, can take several weeks or even months after stopping cannabis use. The good news is the recovery process from CHS begins when cannabis use ceases, but it’s not an overnight cure.
Wrapping Up: The CHS Therapy Toolbox
- Every person will have their own experience, but the process typically follows a standard timeline.
- Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) can greatly disrupt a person’s life.
- Some patients increase their cannabis use, believing the anti-emetic benefits it provides will ease their symptoms when, in fact, it will only increase them.
Hyperemesis cannabis syndrome is directly linked to long-term cannabis use, while CVS is not related to cannabis. People with CVS may have other triggers like migraines or stress, but their symptoms do not improve by stopping cannabis use, unlike those with CHS. However, CHS presents a unique challenge for regular cannabis users, and understanding this syndrome is crucial for recognizing its signs and seeking proper treatment. While symptoms begin as mild, they can intensify and increase your risk of severe problems. As a somewhat new problem, CHS is often mistaken for other problems with the same symptoms. When combined with the fact that people may not reveal they use cannabis, getting the right diagnosis can take years.
Complications
On the basis that only a small number of regular and long term users of marijuana develop CHS, some researchers suggest that genetics might play a role. Other researchers theorize that the effects of marijuana can change with chronic use. In the end, while CHS can be a challenging and frustrating condition, there is hope. With proper diagnosis, effective treatment, and ongoing research, we’re getting better at managing CHS every day. It’s like solving a complex puzzle – piece by piece, we’re putting together a clearer picture of how to help those affected by this perplexing syndrome.
Health Products
Ultimately, the treatment of any illness is the removal of precipitating factors, not merely the management of its symptoms. Serotonin antagonism in the gastrointestinal tract from medications such as ondansetron, dolasetron, and granisetron likewise have varying levels of efficacy. 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. Severe nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain are the hallmark symptoms of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). The word “cannabinoid” refers to compounds uniquely found in cannabis, and “hyperemesis” means severe vomiting.
His last hemoglobin A1c was 5 and his glucose has been well controlled. He is hospitalized again for intractable abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. His examination was unremarkable except for dry mucosa and what is chs epigastric tenderness. His labs were also insignificant except for prerenal azotemia.
What are the risk factors for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
- Many people with CHS find relief through hot showers or baths, which provide temporary comfort.
- No clinical studies have shown a successful alternative to complete abstinence for permanent relief from cannabis hyperemesis syndrome.
- This behavior stands out as a prevalent diagnostic hallmark of CHS.
- Some studies suggest it affects about 2.7% of regular cannabis users, but the true number could be higher.
- If you suspect CHS, consulting a healthcare professional can guide you toward effective management and support.
- When cannabinoids bind with brain receptors, they tend to prevent nausea and vomiting.
Effective management requires a comprehensive approach, including medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and psychological support. Since 2004, doctors have identified key symptoms and characteristics of the condition that can help speed up diagnosis. However, researchers have yet to determine the cause of CHS since it does not affect all users of marijuana. One possible treatment option involves the use of benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, to control nausea and vomiting. Benzodiazepines are controlled substances that people must use with caution, particularly those with a history of drug use. However, many experts consider these treatments to be ineffective for managing nausea and vomiting in people with CHS.
Treatment / Management
At low doses, the effect of cannabis on your brain can have an antiemetic effect that suppresses nausea and vomiting. However, with repeated use in some people, it can have the opposite effect on the digestive tract. This results in the persistent vomiting and nausea characteristic of CHS. Since there are so many active chemicals in cannabis, the exact cause of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is unknown. Substances like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and other chemicals in cannabis bind to molecules in your brain to trigger the “high” that can occur when using cannabis products.
- To make a diagnosis, your healthcare provider will conduct a thorough physical examination and ask you about your past health and current symptoms.
- Cannabis is the most commonly abused drug in the United States (US).
- The underlying mechanism of the cannabis-induced biphasic effect related to emesis is not clearly understood, but the literature supports the role of the brainstem and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis.
- Capsaicin, the active compound in chili peppers, acts on TRPV1 receptors, potentially modulating gastrointestinal sensory pathways and altering intestinal blood flow to provide relief from nausea and vomiting.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Help
CHS is a condition that leads to cycles of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in individuals who use cannabis frequently over extended periods. It typically occurs in daily users and is more prevalent in young adults. These supportive treatments can help people during the hyperemesis stage of the condition, but recovery depends on the person stopping their use of marijuana. One doctor reported using injectable lorazepam to help control nausea and vomiting symptoms in an adult. Within 10 minutes, nausea and vomiting stopped, and the person no longer felt abdominal pain.
CHS Therapy: Effective Treatment for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Since there are so many active chemicals in cannabis, the exact cause of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is unknown.
- It’s not clear if some people are more prone to the syndrome than others.
- Surprisingly, people can be allergic to weed, but it’s not very common.
- If you suspect you have CHS, it is crucial to consult a marijuana doctor who can evaluate your symptoms and cannabis use history to provide a proper diagnosis and suggest the best treatment plan.
- Experts know that, usually, cannabis sends anti-nausea signals to the brain.
There’s no cure for this syndrome, with the only known, surefire treatment being abstinence from marijuana. “I basically spent that week laying in bed and just sipping slowly on water or sipping slowly on my Pedialyte, trying to get as much electrolytes and nutrition as I could,” recalled Brittany, 27, who today is sober. She asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of how future employers may view her history of marijuana use. What was causing this intense stomach pain, Brittany wondered as she rode in an ambulance one late night in February. Despite the scarcity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on optimal treatment approaches for CHS, a holistic care plan can significantly enhance patient outcomes and well-being. If you do use cannabis, quitting can ward off future episodes of CHS.
Differences Between CHS and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)
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. It is important for people with CHS to stop using marijuana addiction marijuana because this will resolve their nausea and vomiting. Preventing dehydration and stopping nausea and vomiting are the treatment goals during the hyperemesis stage of the condition. Doctors also noticed that individuals with CHS would take frequent hot showers and baths.