ASU study finds black market marijuana regularly contains toxic mold

In small doses, it might indeed help reduce certain stomach problems. However, these beneficial effects seem to backfire when use becomes too frequent or too heavy. The active chemicals in cannabis build up in fatty tissues over time, and researchers believe this accumulation can overstimulate receptors, fueling persistent vomiting. With the expanding acceptance and legalization of cannabis worldwide, healthcare providers face a crucial imperative to accurately identify CHS amidst a sea of similar clinical presentations.

• These tests help confirm that you don’t have another illness causing similar symptoms, such as cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS).
• Of those surveyed, 155 met the criteria of smoking cannabis at least 20 days per month.
• If you have symptoms, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask for your detailed medical history.
• “It is essential to differentiate cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome from diabetic gastroparesis in people with type 1 diabetes because both can cause frequent emergency department visits,” the authors wrote.
• But once you and your provider identify CHS, you can start working on an effective plan to stop the cycle of vomiting.
• If you’re a regular cannabis user and experiencing nausea and vomiting, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms.

How Serious is CHS?

In refractory CHS cases, experimental therapies such as benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and dopaminergic agents like haloperidol have been explored. While the evidence supporting their efficacy is limited, these options could be considered in specific scenarios where conventional treatments prove inadequate. 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.

Is CHS curable?

People with CHS often find they can’t keep food down and may even risk dehydration because of how frequently they throw up. Treating CHS involves stopping all marijuana use and may require hospital-based care if someone becomes severely dehydrated. The symptoms of CHS center around the abdomen and include abdominal pain, persistent severe vomiting, and repeated episodes of vomiting due to stomach inflammation.

What to do if you suspect cannabis hyperemesis syndrome

While not exclusive to individuals with CHS, the act of hot bathing Halfway house or showering manifests in approximately 80-90% of patients with this condition. People with persistent symptoms of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome can also experience weight loss. Many people who have been diagnosed with CHS report that they got symptomatic relief from hot showers or hot baths. One of the ironies of CHS is that its symptoms are centered around the digestive tract. Marijuana is often medically used to help with severe nausea and to stimulate appetite in cancer patients.

Wellness Phase

Many researchers feel chs syndrome that CHS is underrecognized and underdiagnosed. Symptoms of CHS can resemble those of other conditions, such as cyclic vomiting syndrome. Studies show that about 80% of people with CHS recover when they completely stop using marijuana. On the flip side, if you keep consuming cannabis, the syndrome often returns, and the cycle continues.

When you do this, your symptoms usually start to go away in few days to a few months. Over time, the symptoms will go away completely unless you start to use again. While marijuana seems to bring on nausea in the stomach, in the brain it usually has opposite effect.

The prodromal phase can last months to years before the hyperemetic phase. During this phase, the patient may feel nauseated, have abdominal discomfort and develop a fear of vomiting (emetophobia). Symptoms occur on one or more days of the week, and patients often increase their cannabis consumption to self-medicate. Many people experience temporary relief from their nausea and vomiting when bathing in hot water.

What is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?

Some people with CHS may compulsively bathe in hot water for hours a day to find relief. Your provider may run blood tests, urinalysis, or imaging scans like CT or MRI to rule out other conditions. These tests help confirm that you don’t have another illness causing similar symptoms, such as cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). CVS can look a lot like CHS, but the key difference is the link to prolonged cannabis use. Sometimes, doctors actually recommend cannabis for specific conditions like cancer-related nausea.

Importantly, for the definition of cyclic vomiting syndrome, these episodes of vomiting cannot be attributed to other disorders. This factor is a key distinguishing feature from cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, where the toxicokinetics of cannabis itself influence the course of the disease. Taking hot baths or showers relieves cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms for a while. In fact, on the flip side, this often leads to compulsive hot bathing behaviors.