While it is possible to return to feeling normal during the recovery phase, research indicates that symptoms recur if cannabis use resumes. With the continued use of cannabis and a lack of treatment, symptoms become more intense. Problems with keeping food and water down can lead to dehydration. The only treatment known to cure CHS is to stop using cannabis and not resume its use.
How Is CHS Diagnosed?
It’s important to be honest about your marijuana use if you have symptoms of CHS. Without knowing this background, providers often misdiagnose CHS as other conditions, like cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). 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.
Cannabinoid buildup theory
Instead, it is a real condition triggered by high-volume, chronic THC consumption that occurs in a small population of genetically predisposed people. By Anna GiorgiGiorgi is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience writing health and wellness-related content. If you do use cannabis, quitting can ward off future episodes of CHS. Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what causes CHS in some people who regularly use cannabis but not others.
- 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.
- However, doctors exercise caution when prescribing lorazepam because it is a controlled substance with the potential for abuse and addiction.
How To Prevent Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition that develops in people who use cannabis frequently over a period of several years.
- This “hot shower” habit is so common that it’s often a clue in diagnosing CHS.
- Since it was first identified in 2004 in Australia, researchers have looked at the effects of cannabis on the vomiting centers of the brain.
- With cannabis use on the rise, awareness of hyperemesis cannabis syndrome must increase.
- Most people with CHS who stop using cannabis have relief from symptoms within 10 days.
D’Souza also doesn’t consider marijuana to be inherently problematic. Though cannabis has become more culturally acceptable and more widely legal, both in the U.S. and abroad, its regular use is still a sensitive topic. A doctor confirmed that Brittany’s years of cannabis use had manifested in CHS.
However, doctors may find it challenging to diagnose the syndrome because people tend not to report their use of marijuana. Doctors also noticed that individuals with CHS would take frequent hot showers and baths. The first reports chs syndrome came from doctors treating regular users of marijuana for nausea and vomiting in South Australia. Hot baths may relieve the nausea for a while, but they don’t cure CHS. Taking too many hot baths can increase dehydration due to sweating. The only known treatment to permanently get rid of CHS is to stop cannabis use completely.
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To learn more about responsible cannabis use, visit our resource center. Additionally, we recommend becoming a Happy Valley insider to stay informed on new products and cultivars at our Massachusetts dispensaries. “We give patients IVs to hydrate them. We do basic testing, just to make sure their kidneys aren’t failing, that their electrolytes are not very disturbed,” he said. “But really, to cure them of this condition, they need to stop smoking.” Treatment that helps prevent dehydration and loss of electrolytes can help reduce your risk of many of these problems. Moreover, 12-step recovery programs can help in providing a safe space to share experiences, find encouragement, and take ownership of alcoholism symptoms the path to one’s recovery.
A 2004 study found a correlation between cannabis use and a cyclical vomiting illness. This condition is known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and it is widely believed to be caused by long-time, daily cannabis consumption. The exact cause of CHS isn’t fully understood, but researchers believe it involves the body’s natural cannabinoid system. Cannabis interacts with receptors in the brain and digestive tract, and in cases of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, these receptors may become overstimulated. This overstimulation can disrupt normal digestive functions, causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
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- If you do use cannabis, quitting can ward off future episodes of CHS.
- In this article, we describe CHS and discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.
- 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.
The only way to prevent CHS is to avoid using any form of marijuana. It’s still possible to develop CHS if you use cannabis for many years without having any problems. At NuView, we integrate expertise in behavioral therapy, mental health, and substance use treatment to create a customized recovery plan tailored to your unique needs. Researchers need to study CHS in more detail to make it easier for doctors to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ recognize and treat the condition. Further studies are also necessary to determine the causes of CHS and its risk factors.