Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome CHS: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

While symptoms can be managed, the only way to stop CHS for good is to quit using cannabis in any form. Addiction rehab programs or CBT may be helpful resources for quitting cannabis. Speak with a doctor or healthcare professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of CHS. In one study, about 84% of people who received treatment for CHS stopped using cannabis, and of those, about 86% reported resolution of symptoms. One cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome study found up to 6% of people who went to the emergency room for cyclical vomiting had CHS.

Hydration and Cannabis: The Importance of Staying Hydrated While Using Medical Marijuana

• Distinguishing between these two syndromes is essential to provide appropriate symptomatic options.
• One suggested reason is via the stimulation of the dopaminergic system by cannabinoids in the nucleus accumbens.
• This article will explain the causes of CHS and the available treatment options.
• CHS and CWS are rapidly becoming major public health issues and add to the caseloads of already chronically overburdened ED.
• Superior mesenteric artery syndrome, although rare, is linked to high morbidity and mortality when the diagnosis is delayed; thus, it is crucial to consider it in the differential diagnosis for a patient with weight loss and abdominal pain.

No correlation has been established between symptoms severity and quantity (of THC) previously consumed, and initial presentation (to acute care) tends to vary, with a clinical course not well defined. Symptoms, which include nausea and vomiting as well as psychological and other somatic issues, generally worsen the further the patient is from last consumption, and can last up to 4 weeks. This likely corresponds to the time needed for CB1 receptors to return to their original state in the central dopaminergic pathways; this important feature is key to long-term management of these patients, who require ambulatory follow-up rather than simple symptomatic relief 13.

Recurring symptoms

Researchers are trying to understand why some people develop it and others don’t. Right now, the only known effective treatment for CHS is to stop using cannabis. 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. Symptoms of CHS typically come on several years after the start of chronic marijuana use. Researchers aren’t sure exactly why weed causes CHS symptoms only in some people.

• Results of an autoimmune hepatitis panel were negative, and other results were within the reference range.
• Pathogenic SCN1A variants are common but not required for a DS diagnosis, and non‐SCN1A gene mutations may present with a DS phenotype.26, 27, 28 There is no evidence that gene variants impact clinical response to Epidiolex.
• One part of the treatment will include adding nourishment and vitamins to the body in a controlled manner.
• Urine may be checked for changes that could indicate a problem with the kidneys.
• The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice.

Unveiling the Complexities of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Mechanisms Underlying CHS

On every check during the previous 8 years, the patient’s UDS was positive for THC. A 2019 article reported on the deaths of three patients who experienced CHS; two of these deaths were directly caused by CHS-related dehydration, which caused low blood sugar and electrolyte abnormalities. These chemical disturbances in the body caused cardiac arrest in one patient and kidney failure in the other patient, leading to their deaths.

Health Conditions

Furthermore, in light of the pathophysiological processes behind CWS, its presence may not be a direct consequence to THC but simply a response to emesis (and if present, may be a sign that the patient is experiencing CHS rather than CWS). Thus, if present, it should theoretically be manageable with conventional non-opioid analgesics and anticholinergics (such as butylscopolamine), the latter having the advantage of increasing dopamine concentrations in the brain. Regarding nausea, antipsychotics should be withheld as they tend to decrease central dopamine levels and may worsen withdrawal symptoms such as craving 42. Extensive research on the medicinal effects of CBD has documented that high doses may cause gastrointestinal side effects, most commonly diarrhea, but occasionally nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. These symptoms resolve when the dose is lowered, indicating a dose-dependent response. Once the proper dose of CBD is found, the individual is able to continue CBD without side effects.

Ultimately, Vakharia has real concerns about the people using CHS as an excuse to demonize all cannabis use. “Most reports suggest that CHS symptoms resolve within 1 to 2 weeks after stopping cannabis,” Kayser says. “A lot of times qualitative information like where they procured the marijuana, the strain, the frequency of their use isn’t even in the record,” she explains. It’s possible that what looks like a rise in cases could actually just be a rise in people seeking help and/or a rise in people admitting to their cannabis use.

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Interestingly, patients dealing with Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) also frequently mention this behavior. 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. This underscores the critical need to correlate symptoms https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with cannabis consumption, ruling out overlapping diagnoses that could be mistaken for CVS. This evolution has been accompanied by a concerning uptick in cases of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), characterized by distressing bouts of nausea and vomiting with varying degrees of severity. CHS symptoms typically present in a cyclical pattern every few weeks to months when cannabis is being used.

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