For each treatment modality, reviewers explored the evidence and the study design. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a somewhat rare problem that involves severe bouts of vomiting. As more define chs states make recreational use of cannabis legal, it is thought that this problem will become more common.
Appendix: Search strategies
- Very low-quality outcomes are those for which any estimate of effect is very uncertain.
- The duration of cannabis use prior to symptom onset was categorized as either less than or equal to 1, 2 to 5, 6 to 10, and greater than 11 years.
- As more states make recreational use of cannabis legal, it is thought that this problem will become more common.
- 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.
- Patients are often diagnosed with the syndrome based on the way they treat their own symptoms.
It is characterized by episodes of nausea and vomiting, which may be relieved by hot baths and showers or by discontinuing cannabis use. Very little is known about this condition, including its causes, but researchers hypothesize that an oversaturation of cannabinoid receptors in the body could lead to these complications. Others suspect that certain pesticides used in cannabis cultivation might be the cause. There was a significant overlap in the sorting of articles into the categories of diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Help
Given that evidence statements are based primarily on case reports and case series, the vast majority of evidence is considered limited. Therefore, limited evidence ratings should not be misconstrued as negative clinical findings but, rather, that there are no higher-level studies to qualify the statement as higher-level evidence. The primary findings for each category are summarized in the following sections. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) happens when you have cycles of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain after using cannabis (marijuana) for a long time. People with CHS often find temporary relief from these symptoms by taking hot baths and showers.
Case study 1: CHS SitRep supporting CHS recovery
- Using cannabis for a prolonged period increases your risk of this condition.
- Experts think that when you first smoke weed, your brain signals are more important, but after repeated use of the drug, the brain receptors may no longer respond to marijuana in the same way, causing more nausea and vomiting.
- This plan builds on existing health data strategies, including Data Saves Lives and the Plan for Digital Health and Social Care, to address these challenges.
If you have cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), the best treatment is to stop using weed, even if you’ve been doing it for years with no previous side Sobriety effects. Once you do that, your repeated nausea and vomiting should go away and not return. Since THC is stored in your body fat, it can take weeks to months before all the symptoms go away and you notice a difference. Smoking extra marijuana won’t help your nausea but will make it worse. CHS data currently plays an important role in our understanding of community health services (see case studies, Annex B). However, there are multiple barriers to CHS data being a powerful insight tool to plan and optimise care at individual, population and national level.
Chronic cannabis use is the primary risk factor for developing CHS. Using cannabis for a prolonged period increases your risk of this condition. While any amount of long-term cannabis use can lead to CHS, daily cannabis use seems to be more likely to cause CHS than using it less often. Researchers are currently studying several treatment options to manage the hyperemetic phase of CHS. Some people call certain symptoms of CHS “scromiting.” The term combines “vomiting” and “screaming.” You may have intense pain, which causes you to scream while you vomit.
By Anna GiorgiGiorgi is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience writing health and wellness-related content. Treatment that helps prevent dehydration and loss of electrolytes can help reduce your risk of many of these problems. THC and other chemicals in cannabis also bind to molecules in your digestive tract. These chemicals can change the time it takes your stomach to empty food. It tends to affect people who use cannabis at least once a week and happens more often in adults who’ve been using cannabis since their adolescent years. The best and only way to prevent or reduce your risk for CHS is to avoid or quit marijuana use.
