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When recovering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, it’s wise to avoid anything that could potentially exacerbate symptoms or slow recovery. Skip foods and beverages that irritate the stomach, such as alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. Also, avoid stressful situations as much as possible, as stress can sometimes worsen CHS symptoms. Although the medical community is unified on cessation as the only option for those with CHS, some anecdotal reports claim that by using lower THC products or consuming less, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome can be avoided.

• 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.
• While our understanding of CHS has come a long way since it was first described in 2004, there’s still much to learn.
• If you suspect CHS or need guidance, feel free to contact us for support and treatment options.
• Chronic nausea and vomiting can lead to missed work or school, social isolation, and emotional distress.
• Also, they develop diaphoresis, restlessness, agitation, and weight loss.

What Are the Health Complications of CHS?

Surprisingly, people can be allergic to weed, but it’s not very common. CBD is not thought to interact the same way as THC to cause a CHS episode, and many consumers find symptom relief when using CBD. However, it is best to consult with your doctor first before introducing CBD. One study looking at Reddit posts on the subject found that spicy food, greasy food, coffee, black tea, and alcohol were frequently mentioned as CHS triggers. These foods/beverages are mostly acidic, but relationships between them and CHS have not been studied scientifically, although the co-use of weed and alcohol is well-known, the study authors said. Your doctor may ask you questions, like how long you’ve been using cannabis and what type of products you normally use.

Wrapping Up: The CHS Therapy Toolbox

Researchers aren’t sure exactly why weed causes CHS symptoms only in some people. Prompt treatment of dehydration and electrolyte issues is critical to avoid these complications. As the laws regarding the possession and use of marijuana change, CHS may become more prevalent because more people will have legal access to the drug.

Exploring Effective Treatment Modalities

• As CHS is a relatively recently recognized and studied phenomenon easily confused with other diseases, there is a paucity of sizeable randomized control studies.
• Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is an uncommon reaction to cannabis use.
• By understanding these causes and risk factors, marijuana users can better recognize the signs of CHS and make informed choices about their cannabis use.
• It causes severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
• A combination of prescribed pharmaceuticals and OTC pain relievers used as recommended can manage symptoms.1 With continued abstinence and symptom management, full recovery can follow.
• Symptoms will usually improve after 1 or 2 days, as long as you don’t use cannabis during this time.

He noted a 72-year-old patient who uses cannabis to help her sleep. He also warned that people with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, should be cautious about marijuana use, as studies show cannabis can exacerbate the effects of those illnesses. Typical antiemetics such as ondansetron, commonly known as Zofran, have often been found ineffective at suppressing nausea caused by CHS. There are some drugs that may help, such as amitriptyline, Camilleri said. “There is evidence that if you send a message to the brain that competes with the message that’s causing the nausea, vomiting, that you can suppress it,” Camilleri said. 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.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) and Marijuana Use

It is unclear whether the increased legalization of cannabis has also contributed to these findings, but this certainly could be a possibility. what is chs Hence, raising the awareness of CHS with an understanding of its pathophysiology and the potential role of therapeutic agents is paramount. An intriguing point to keep in mind is that the Rome IV criteria include the phrase “resembling cyclical vomiting syndrome.” In that regard, it is important to distinguish between the two. Per the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, cyclic vomiting syndrome is defined by having sudden onset episodes of vomiting, having at least four bouts of vomiting per hour, and often having 12 to 15 episodes of vomiting per day.

Are there methods for taking cannabis without worsening CHS?

• Ultimately, the treatment of any illness is the removal of precipitating factors, not merely the management of its symptoms.
• Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
• After stopping cannabis use, symptoms typically start to disappear within one to two days though individual results can vary.
• Smoking extra marijuana won’t help your nausea but will make it worse.
• Diagnosing Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) can be challenging because its symptoms, like severe nausea and vomiting, are common in many conditions.

Additionally, the urge for hot showers to relieve symptoms may relate to how the body manages temperature and discomfort. Cannabis is the most commonly abused drug Alcoholics Anonymous in the United States (US). However, our understanding of its effects has unfolded significantly over the last 3 decades.

The importance of quitting cannabis with CHS

• 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.
• However, with repeated use in some people, it can have the opposite effect on the digestive tract.
• Despite this trend, a strict criterion for the diagnosis of CHS is lacking.
• But in rare cases, after continued and heavy cannabis use, signaling to the cannabis receptors in the digestive tract goes wrong and causes nausea and vomiting.

Stress management techniques are another important aspect of long-term CHS management. Stress can exacerbate symptoms and trigger episodes in some people. Techniques like meditation, yoga, or even supportive therapy can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. It’s about finding healthy ways to chill out that don’t involve lighting up. Imagine waking up one day, your stomach churning like a stormy sea, your body wracked with pain, and the mere thought of food sending you running to the bathroom. Now, picture this happening over and over again, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

How soon after cannabis hyperemesis syndrome treatment will I feel better?

The symptoms typically last a few weeks, though the throwing up should ease up in a day or two. They may also prescribe antipsychotic medications such as haloperidol (Haldol) or olanzapine (Zyprexa) to help you calm down as you switch to the recovery phase. Some people who use marijuana heavily get CHS while others don’t.

Most people who quit using cannabis experience no more CHS symptoms within 10 days, but sometimes it may take weeks or months for symptoms to stop. Symptoms of CHS likely won’t return if you’ve completely stopped using cannabis. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition that develops in people who use cannabis frequently over a period of several years.

What are the symptoms of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?

Patience, self-care, and professional guidance can make a significant difference in regaining health and wellness. In older patients, especially those with hypertension, cardiovascular illnesses such as aortic pathology and atypical coronary artery syndromes may present as vague abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Individuals who have used cannabis at least weekly since adolescence seem most at risk. Symptoms of CHS don’t appear for many months or even years after protracted heavy cannabis use. Only about 32 out of 100,000 patients who come to the emergency room for nausea treatment are diagnosed with CHS.3 However, anyone using cannabis should be aware of the signs. As long as you don’t use marijuana, your symptoms shouldn’t return.

• When it comes to initial management in emergency settings, the focus is on symptom relief and preventing complications.
• Hot baths or showers may temporarily relieve symptoms, but they are not a long-term solution for CHS.
• First, doctors treating people with CHS advise them to stop using marijuana.
• People in the hyperemetic phase can take up to 12 hot showers or baths during the day to relieve symptoms.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Treatment Guidelines

Some people with drug addiction treatment CHS require pain relievers if abdominal pain is present. 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. Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of CHS do not currently exist. Some researchers have published their findings from their personal experience with the condition in clinical journals. In CHS, receptors that bind to the different components of marijuana can become altered.

• When you use marijuana for many years, it can start to slowly change how the receptors in your body respond to the cannabinoid chemicals.
• Acid-suppression therapy with a proton pump inhibitor should be used as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) usually reveals mild gastritis and esophagitis, as in our patient.
• It is considered as a variant of cyclical vomiting syndrome seen in cannabis users especially characterized by compulsive hot bathing/showers to relieve the symptoms.
• However, certain patterns can help doctors identify CHS more accurately.
• One study found that 32.9% of self-reported frequent marijuana users who came to an emergency department for care met the criteria for CHS.

Treatment / Management

People who use marijuana long-term — typically for about 10 to 12 years — are at risk of developing CHS. But not every person who uses marijuana, even long-term use, develops CHS. This is the first and most crucial step in the recovery process. Once cannabis use is stopped, the symptoms of CHS will gradually start to subside.

What are other impacts of cannabis use?

• But remember, folks, your doctor isn’t there to judge you – they’re there to help.
• Still, others fault cannabis products themselves, suggesting that excessive THC or commercial pesticides might trigger the condition.
• Medical tests and examinations are often used to rule out other potential causes.
• Yet, with the evolving comprehension of CHS, there is a likelihood that some cases attributed to CVS might actually be undiagnosed instances of CHS, marking it as pathognomonic.

It causes severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. While cannabis is often used to relieve nausea, in the case of CHS, it has the opposite effect, making symptoms worse. Cannabinoids are compounds in the Cannabis sativa plant that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract and other body tissues. Examples of cannabinoids include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

They also experience episodes of vomiting that return every few weeks or months. Nutritional counseling and dietary what is chs adjustments can also play a role in managing CHS. Some people find that certain foods trigger their symptoms, while others struggle with maintaining proper nutrition due to frequent vomiting episodes. A nutritionist can help develop a diet plan that supports recovery and overall health. When it comes to initial management in emergency settings, the focus is on symptom relief and preventing complications. This often involves intravenous fluids to combat dehydration (because let’s face it, when you’re vomiting non-stop, you’re losing fluids faster than a leaky faucet), anti-nausea medications, and sometimes pain management.

People with CHS also tend to have a strong urge to take very hot showers or baths. That’s because hot water can help ease cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms like nausea. The hot temperature affects a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which regulates temperature and throwing up. Heat exposure from hot showers may stimulate the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) receptors on sensory nerve endings in the skin. This mechanism implies that the analgesic and sensory effects of TRPV1 receptor activation might contribute to the relief experienced during hot showers for CHS patients.