Your doctor probably should send you to see a stomach doctor, who knows more about your problem and can help you feel better. But it’s also important to acknowledge the positive uses of marijuana, Camilleri said. He what is chs noted a 72-year-old patient who uses cannabis to help her sleep. Neither the psychological treatments nor the pharmacological treatments seem to be that effective,” he said. Camilleri also said that cannabis use is positively correlated with anxiety and depression, and noted that doctors should treat the whole patient and not just the disorder. “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.
- Because CHS is a fairly new medical condition, not all doctors know about it.
- Most people end up having an abdominal ultrasound, upper scope, and a test to see how fast stuff gets out of the stomach before we figure out that their problem is CVS or CHS.
- It’s not clear if some people are more prone to the syndrome than others.
- Certain therapies, such as taking hot showers or using prescription medications, may help relieve symptoms.
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)
- The frequency and prevalence of CHS change in accordance with the doses of tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids in various formulations of cannabis.
- Experts believe only a fraction of habitual cannabis users develop CHS.
- But because CHS is a somewhat newly discovered condition that was first diagnosed in 2004, some people may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
But not every person who uses marijuana, even long-term use, develops CHS. This feeling is temporary and usually subsides after a few weeks of sobriety. Engaging in activities like watching a new TV show or committing to a hobby can help distract and entertain.
Treatment of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Patients are often diagnosed with the syndrome based on the way they treat their own symptoms.
- While not exclusive to individuals with CHS, the act of hot bathing or showering manifests in approximately 80-90% of patients with this condition.
- The throwing up can be bad and can cause you to be low on body water.
- Approximately 9% of individuals who use cannabis report dependence at some point in their use 5.
- Multiple studies report pathological frequent and prolonged hot shower behaviors with CHS.
This article will explain the causes of CHS and the available treatment options. In refractory CHS cases, experimental therapies such as benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and dopaminergic agents like haloperidol have been explored. While the evidence supporting their efficacy is limited, these options could be considered in specific scenarios where conventional treatments prove inadequate. Furthermore, heat-induced vasodilation might facilitate toxin elimination through the skin, aiding in the detoxification process and potentially contributing to symptom improvement in individuals with CHS. This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of Hot Showers in CHS Symptom Management
You may have symptoms and side effects of CHS for a few weeks after quitting cannabis. Overall, most cannabis users find the experience safe and without any problems. However, sometimes, frequent and heavy cannabis use can have some side effects, one of which is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). 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.
The clinical effects of volume depletion dominate complications related to CHS. Reports of severe volume depletion resulting in acute kidney injury and severe electrolyte disturbances with rhabdomyolysis have been reported in the literature 49. Severe and persistent vomiting can also lead to Mallory-Weiss tear 47. Knowledge shared via online social media platforms may contain a scope of self-reported management experiences different than that found in the drug addiction scientific literature, which can be valuable for clinicians and researchers. Online forums (e.g., Reddit, Facebook) have been used to access information, seek advice, and form communities among a range of individuals 11,12. Many individuals suffering from suspected cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome have turned to online communities and message boards to share knowledge and their experiences 13,14.
Medications like Emend can help manage symptoms in combination with comprehensive medical care. CHS is relatively new to the medical community, and only in recent years has the diagnosis become more common. Consequently, there has been limited research conducted, leaving many unanswered questions about why cannabis triggers it, its effects on the body, and potential treatments or cures. When you do this, your symptoms usually start to go away in few days to a few months. Over time, the symptoms will go away completely unless you start to use again.
“I basically spent that week laying in bed and just sipping slowly on water or sipping slowly on my Pedialyte, trying to get as much electrolytes and nutrition as I could,” recalled Brittany, 27, who today is sober. She asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of how future employers may view her history of marijuana use. What was causing this intense stomach pain, Brittany wondered as she rode in an ambulance one late night in February.
