When first discovered in 2004, the condition was considered rare. But over the next decade, more cases of CHS started to show up in the medical literature. Doctors named the condition Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (abbreviated as CHS), but had very little information on why it happened or how to treat it.
What is the treatment for cannabinoid hyperemesis treatment?
Additional treatments are needed and efforts to discontinue cannabis abuse are paramount. In the hyperemetic phase, individuals experience mild abdominal pain, dehydration, weight loss and intense nausea and vomiting. 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.
- Additionally researchers have pointed to overstimulation of CB1 or TRPV1 receptors – leading the body to reduce the amount of those receptors – as a possible mechanism for CHS.
- When you use weed, these compounds bind to cannabinoid receptors found in your brain, digestive tract (gut), and certain cells in your body.
- A recent review has explored numerous potential explanations regarding various pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors of the cannabinoids 72.
- The effects of this learned behavior are temperature-dependent 6, fast acting 6, but short-lived 6,56,62.
- If the patient continues to consume, the symptoms will come back.
- Still, recent studies have opened up a new possibility—that genetics are the reason why CHS hits some cannabis consumers but not others.
What Are the Health Consequences of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
And repeated cannabis use can trigger bouts of nausea and vomiting in some people. The disorder confuses many medical experts because the primary ingredient in marijuana, THC, has anti-nausea effects. In fact, the cannabinoid medications dronabinol and nabilone have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by repeated and extreme vomiting that results from long-term, excessive cannabis use. Although rare, the condition has become more prevalent as more states legalize medical marijuana.
- Haloperidol exerts antipsychotic effects by antagonizing dopamine D2 receptors in the mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways.
- In comparison, much less is known about the effects of the CB2 receptor.
- Because of this possible complication, it’s important to use caution with marijuana and other cannabis products.
- When first discovered in 2004, the condition was considered rare.
- The metabolism of THC occurs mainly in the liver via oxidation and hydroxylation reactions.
- As chief Clinical Officer at FHE Health, a nationally recognized behavioral health treatment provider, he ensures quality, innovation, and comprehensive treatment for patients.
Treatment for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
The throwing up can be bad and can cause you to be low on body water. We fix this by giving the water back through the veins and giving drugs to stop the sick feeling and lower the acid in the stomach. Two well-characterized naturally occurring endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Cannabinoids discovered in the cannabis plant with known effects on the regulation of emesis include tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol. Along with the discovery of the CB1 and CB2 receptors has been the identification of endogenous arachidonic acid derivatives that bind to these receptors (Figure 1). These compounds are referred to as endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids.
- Based on this data, it’s likely that CHS is a heritable condition that only occurs when someone with these genes uses cannabis frequently for a long period of time.
- The symptoms typically last a few weeks, though the throwing up should ease up in a day or two.
- Not everyone with the condition seeks medical help or tells their provider that they use marijuana.
Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment
Other organs where CB1 receptors have marijuana addiction been identified are the spleen, heart, liver, uterus, bladder, and vas deferens 10. In comparison, much less is known about the effects of the CB2 receptor. CB2 receptors are likely involved in the inhibition of inflammation, visceral pain, and intestinal motility in the inflamed gut 9,14.
What causes cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
Her articles provide a comprehensive view of cannabis cultivation, health impacts, and educational information. Helga’s works seamlessly blend practical advice for growing plants with broader information aimed at enlightening readers about cannabis. Her health-focused articles delve into the effects of cannabis on the human body, offering valuable knowledge to her audience. Helga’s passion for the industry shines through in her informative and engaging content, making her a go-to source for anyone interested in the multifaceted world of cannabis. What has never been clear was why only some heavy users of cannabis seem to be affected.
Treatment for CHS
Once the syndrome is finally diagnosed, the patient gets familiar with the condition, learns what CHS is, and begins treatment. The most important part of the recovery process is the stopping of weed consumption. If the patient continues to consume, the symptoms will come back. The first one is the patient has been consuming marijuana regularly for over a year. Some other things that can https://ecosoberhouse.com/ play a significant role are weekly cannabis usage, tummy pain, relief after taking a hot bath or shower, nausea, vomiting, etc.
- In one small study of eight patients hospitalized with CHS, four of the five who stopped using weed recovered from CHS.
- Daily and long-term use of cannabis can cause a rare condition known as CHS cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
- THC is excreted mainly as acid metabolites, with 60–85% cleared through the feces and 20–35% in the urine 20,21.
- None statements provided by AskGrowers should be discerned as medical advice.
- THC accumulates largely within body fat which serves as a long-term storage site for the drug 20,22.
- During this phase, all the symptoms will go away, and the person will go back to the standard eating patterns.
Daily marijuana use is characteristic and often reported as exceeding three to five times per day. Hot bathing has been shown to relieve abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting in people with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. A 2017 report published in the journal German Medical Science showed that 60 percent of people with the disorder reported that hot bathing reduced CHS symptoms. During this phase, all the symptoms will go away, and the person will go back to the standard eating patterns. In addition, people in the recovery phase generally feel better.
Appetite is typically unaffected during this phase, but researchers note that consumers tend to administer more cannabis as a nausea remedy. These symptoms can be severe and difficult to manage, seriously impacting someone’s quality of life and ability to function. Since these symptoms can cause dehydration, in rare uncontrolled cases it can even lead to death chs stages from kidney failure. When people are sick, they can also sweat and just not feel right.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) and the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) in Adults
Furthermore, some authors have reported referring patients to drug rehabilitation programs in an attempt to raise the likelihood of long-term cannabis cessation 54,71. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of outpatient treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy for marijuana dependence 73. Two case series and numerous individual case reports have been published on Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) (Table 1).