Decades ago, most people had less opportunity to consume cannabis in daily life. “No kid could use continuously throughout the day and also be doing anything else, because they would have been smoking a joint before,” she said. Also, it’s possible there are more cases than have been reported, since not everyone with the illness will seek medical help or tell their doctor they use cannabis, the Cleveland Clinic notes. Once a person develops the condition, he or she has probably done something permanent. Denney had no reason to be concerned about cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome: an update on the pathophysiology and management

Preclinical studies suggest that endocannabinoids and THC may evoke bradycardia, hypotension, and decreased contractility of the myocardial tissue 149. The mechanism by which THC and cannabinoids might decrease myocardial contractility remains to be elucidated. A case report in the literature describes Takotsubo syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy in a patient with CHS 150.

• “It may be that the cannabinoid is only sort of one aspect of the way the patient is hurting that needs to be addressed to really get them to heal,” he said.
• There’s no cure for this syndrome, with the only known, surefire treatment being abstinence from marijuana.
• As a result, the doctor decided to admit Brian to the hospital so that they could continue to monitor his blood work.
• Multiple studies report pathological frequent and prolonged hot shower behaviors with CHS.

What do experts know about CHS?

The only proven way to prevent cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is to avoid cannabis (marijuana). Symptoms of CHS typically come on several years after the start of chronic marijuana use. Not everyone with the condition seeks medical help or tells their provider that they use marijuana. It’s a condition that can lead to serious health complications if you don’t get treatment for it. In some cases, lorazepam may be helpful to counteract the anxiety suffered by the patient, but lorazepam as treatment for CHS is generally not effective 116. Other cannabinoids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CHS, such as CBD and cannabigerol (CBG).

Cannabis and schizophrenia

Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are diffuse symptoms that may derive from any of several diverse etiologies. For CHS patients, these tests typically offer normal-range results, but they are expensive, time-consuming, and place a hardship on the patient as well as the healthcare system. Thus, prompt diagnosis of CHS can save valuable clinical time and resources. In America, 22.2 million Americans reportedly used some form of cannabinoids in the past month 3. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) states that marijuana mentions (the number of times “marijuana” is mentioned in a medical record) have increased 21% from 2009 to 2011 3. Since 2009, the rate of persistent vomiting has increased significantly and continues to increase at about 8% a year 5.

What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome? Here’s what to know, and why experts say it’s on the rise

The third patient (20-year-old man) stopped marijuana use for 2 months after CHS diagnosis, but resumed again, which resulted in another hospitalization 102. On the second visit, CHS was diagnosed and the patients were treated with capsaicin cream 0.025% applied in a layer approximately 1 mm thick on the abdomen. In both cases, topical capsaicin provided symptomatic relief what is chs in about 30 min. Both patients reported a burning sensation where the capsaicin was applied but were satisfied with the results 97.

He consented to IV haloperidol 1 mg which relieved his symptoms and produced no adverse effects; he subsequently received two more IV doses of 2 mg before he was discharged alcoholism treatment 114. An 18-year-old patient diagnosed with CHS refused to stop using marijuana and was treated in-clinic with haloperidol followed by outpatient 5 mg haloperidol which relieved her symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The patient discontinued haloperidol on her own after 3 weeks and was subsequently lost to follow-up 113. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) involves episodic cyclic vomiting that occurs in some cannabis users. Typical symptoms include intractable nausea and vomiting, refractory to conventional antiemetic therapy, often accompanied by abdominal pain. Other symptoms may include sweating, flushing, thirst, weight loss, and changes in body temperature.

• There were several people in and out of the house during this time, including police, firefighters, EMTs, and detectives.
• He dropped out of school after ninth grade and started working full-time with an uncle who had a tree-trimming business.
• The patient discontinued haloperidol on her own after 3 weeks and was subsequently lost to follow-up 113.
• I would call every day to see whether the results were in, but for months, I heard nothing.
• He was so severely dehydrated from vomiting that his organs shut down.
• In America, 22.2 million Americans reportedly used some form of cannabinoids in the past month 3.