Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Symptoms & Treatment Leave a comment

The individual sometimes goes for years without having any problems. Importantly, the prodromal phase offers a window for diagnosis and treatment if patients are evaluated for their history of weed use and symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Symptoms include intense nausea, severe cyclic vomiting (up to five times per hour), and persistent abdominal pain. Individuals in this stage often lose significant weight and experience dehydration. A unique feature of the hyperemetic phase is the compulsive use of hot showers or baths, which temporarily alleviate symptoms and serve as a key diagnostic indicator.

  • CHS can be distinguished from Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) by its strong association with long-term, frequent cannabis use.
  • History taking should include an inquiry about the patient’s past and present medical illness, medication use, illicit drug use, and therapeutic or recreational use of cannabis.
  • This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
  • THC is what’s responsible for the “high” most people feel when they use marijuana.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Treatment

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. Hot baths or showers may temporarily relieve symptoms, but they are not a long-term solution for CHS. To prevent worsening CHS symptoms, medical advice suggests complete cessation of all cannabis usage. Rehabilitation and compensation pose significant challenges for developers in redevelopment projects. Providing alternative housing and fair compensation to displaced residents is costly, and delays in this process can lead to project slowdowns.

  • Symptoms of CHS typically come on several years after the start of chronic marijuana use.
  • In addition, a CHS recruiter will not request money from a candidate involved in an offer process.
  • Some individuals may take repeated hot baths or showers throughout the day to relieve symptoms, as the high temperature helps reduce nausea.
  • She hopes that one day her research and advocacy will help to save the lives of those who have been affected by substance use.

These factors increase both financial burdens and the time required to complete the project. The characteristics, signs, and symptoms of CHS were discussed with the patient. The patient strongly felt as though these symptoms aligned with his clinical course over the prior 8 years. At time of writing, the patient had gone 20 months without requiring hospitalization; however, he had chs stages a recent relapse of marijuana use and subsequently required hospitalization.

This syndrome is typically rare and only occurs in individuals that are daily long-term users of the drug. There are three stages of the condition, prodromal, hyperemetic, and recovery. In clinical practice CHS is most often confused with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). In fact patients with CHS are often mislabeled as having CVS and vice versa. Confusion exists in the medical literature secondary to a failure to recognize chronic marijuana use as a source of vomiting.

chs stages

During acute episodes, supportive care includes intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medications, pain management, and topical capsaicin cream. These interventions help stabilize patients while addressing symptoms. Complications may include dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and esophageal injury from repeated vomiting. Although the mechanism of cannabis that leads to intractable nausea and vomiting is still unclear, CHS is well documented in the medical literature. With the widespread use of cannabis, both recreationally and therapeutically, the paradoxical effect of CHS deserves further attention. Clinical pharmacists should have heightened awareness when patients present to the hospital with intractable nausea and vomiting and report relief with hot showering.

What is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?

chs stages

For those experiencing symptoms, seeking prompt medical care is essential, particularly during the hyperemetic phase, when complications are more likely to occur. In the recovery phase, symptoms begin to subside as alcoholism treatment cannabis use is discontinued. Full recovery can take days to weeks, but symptoms will return if cannabis use resumes. This emphasizes the critical importance of cessation in managing CHS. Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the pancreas causing severe abdominal pain and nausea.

Prodromal Phase

chs stages

He had learned this behavior after experiencing previous episodes of self-limited nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. While marijuana seems to bring on nausea in the stomach, in the brain it usually has opposite effect. When cannabinoids bind with brain receptors, they tend to prevent nausea and vomiting. When you use marijuana for many years, it can start to slowly change how the receptors in your body respond to the cannabinoid chemicals.

CHS Symptoms

  • In addition, if the condition is not treated, some other complications may arise, such as weakness, muscle spasms, shock, to name a few.
  • Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition that can develop in some individuals who use cannabis regularly.
  • It just isn’t clear exactly why some people get CHS and others do not.
  • As people with CHS often only consult their doctors during the hyperemesis stage, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the treatment of people during the prodromal stage.

In the most severe cases, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome can lead to kidney failure that can cause death. Various health issues can cause repeated vomiting, and what needs to be pointed out is that CHS is a rare condition. The healthcare provider will ask the patient about the symptoms, and it will also ask about past health and issues if there were any.

For example, if you smoke weed, eat edibles, use tinctures, or dab or vape THC, tell your doctor about any or all of them. In the first phase of CHS (the prodromal phase), you don’t vomit. This word is a combination of “screaming” and “vomiting.” https://apexweblabs.com/2024/10/03/what-is-a-halfway-house-what-to-expect/ You’re in so much pain that you’re screaming while you’re vomiting.

It is not the condition that affects all smokers, but every user should know the right dose and should not abuse the substance. If you notice any health issues, make sure to contact your doctor first. Diagnosing the condition is often tricky, considering that many users go for treatment without mentioning using marijuana. In most cases, the symptoms disappear entirely once the user stops consuming cannabis.

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Daily and long-term use of cannabis can cause a rare condition known as CHS cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. These supportive treatments can help people during the hyperemesis stage of the condition, but recovery depends on the person stopping their use of marijuana. CHS is also underdiagnosed because people sometimes use marijuana to suppress nausea and vomiting. Doctors currently lack knowledge of the condition, and there are no clinical guidelines for its treatment and management. If nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are ongoing, and hot showers seem to help, CHS should absolutely be considered. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a very unpleasant — and potentially dangerous — complication of long-term marijuana use.

How is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome diagnosed?

Relying on the information from this website is strictly at your discretion. You must take responsibility for abiding the law of the city, country or the jurisdiction where you are located. The only way to prevent cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is the complete absence of marijuana consumption. Unfortunately, people tend to consume cannabis for years and become chronic users before the CHS develops. That’s because the development of the syndrome takes a lot of time. If the health care provider diagnoses the CHS, it will be explained to the patient what is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and then it is the treatment time.

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