Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome CHS: Causes and Treatment

Future studies following patients longitudinally for extended periods of time are needed. Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) are two additional cannabinoids found in cannabis that appear to modulate the anti-emetic properties of THC. Cannabidiol, in contrast to THC, is non-psychotropic, has a low affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors 27, and acts as a partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor 28. CBD enhances the expression of CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus and amplifies the hypothermic effects caused by THC 29. In animals the effect of CBD on toxin-induced vomiting displays a biphasic response with low doses producing an anti-emetic effect whereas higher doses enhance vomiting 30,31. THC accumulates largely within body fat which serves as a long-term storage site for the drug 20,22.

• The things a gastroenterologist looks for in vomiting has more to do with other symptoms of common underlying conditions that cause vomiting.
• Provide clear documentation in the medical record to assist colleagues with confirming a diagnosis, as these patients will frequently re-present to the ED.
• While the benefits aren’t clear, you can try it to help you feel better.
• Experts also aren’t clear on what causes CHS, or why some people develop it while others don’t.
• Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a very unpleasant — and potentially dangerous — complication of long-term marijuana use.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a rare but troubling health risk for cannabis users

Imaging should be avoided, especially in the setting of a benign abdominal examination, as there are no specific radiological findings suggestive of the diagnosis. 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. First, doctors treating people with CHS advise them to stop using marijuana.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)

When you use weed, these compounds bind to cannabinoid receptors found in your brain, digestive tract (gut), and certain cells =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ in your body. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main cannabinoids in marijuana products. THC is what’s responsible for the “high” most people feel when they use marijuana. 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.

Symptoms and Causes

Quitting cannabis use is the only way to get better if you have CHS. Contact your health care provider if you suspect you might have CHS or for information on treatment options for cannabis use disorder. So far, giving up cannabis has been shown to be the only cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome long-term solution.

Despite the well-established anti-emetic properties of marijuana, there is increasing evidence of its paradoxical effects on the gastrointestinal tract and CNS. Further initiatives are needed to determine this disease prevalence and its other epidemiological characteristics, natural history, and pathophysiology. Additional treatments are needed and efforts to discontinue cannabis abuse are paramount. People in the hyperemetic phase can take up to 12 hot showers or baths during the day to relieve symptoms.

Diagnosis

Some people with CHS require pain relievers if abdominal pain is present. Currently, doctors do not have treatment guidelines for the management of CHS. Most of the evidence on effective treatment and management comes from published case reports. Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of CHS do not currently Sober living home exist.

The Effects of Cannabinoids in the Brain

• Of those surveyed, 155 met the criteria of smoking cannabis at least 20 days per month.
• 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.
• Rates of cannabis use disorder have spiked in the past 40 to 50 years, D’Souza said, with some studies suggesting between 20 and 30 percent of marijuana users meeting the criteria for the disorder.
• If you don’t actually have to vomit, you’re inviting some of the side effects that can come along with vomiting.

If you have CHS and don’t stop using, your symptoms like nausea and vomiting are likely to come back. If you have symptoms, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask for your detailed medical history. Let your doctor know how much marijuana you use and how often you use it. 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. CHS symptoms typically present in a cyclical pattern every few weeks to months when cannabis is being used.