CHS Symptoms: Signs, Stages, Causes & Treatment for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Capsaicin cream, IV fluids, and haloperidol may provide temporary relief, but quitting cannabis is the only lasting solution. If you’ve ever searched “CHS symptoms,” “symptoms of CHS,” or “CHS disease symptoms,” you’re likely looking for answers about a confusing and often misunderstood condition. The recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but the difference is clear. You look back at the months of suffering and can’t help but wonder why you didn’t consider the possibility sooner.

Understanding Addiction

However, researchers have yet to determine Alcoholics Anonymous the cause of CHS since it does not affect all users of marijuana. When people with CHS stop using marijuana, their symptoms of nausea and vomiting usually disappear. Nausea and vomiting tend to return if they start using marijuana again. The first reports came from doctors treating regular users of marijuana for nausea and vomiting in South Australia.

• In addition, they have a clear overlap to the SED elements presented in section 4A, with the interconnectedness in data-collection approaches between an HIA and an SED described below.
• For a long time, it seemed like the perfect way to relax, unwind, and cope with stress.
• If not adequately managed, CHS can lead to severe complications like dehydration, brain swelling, esophageal tears (Mallory Weiss tear), electrolyte imbalances, kidney failure, and, in severe cases, death.
• Another misconception is that CHS is a subtype of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS).
• A health care provider may diagnose CHS based on reported symptoms, medical history, and by ruling out other causes of nausea and vomiting.
• The best and only way to prevent or reduce your risk for CHS is to avoid or quit marijuana use.

How can I prevent CHS?

The condition is a rare phenomenon and it does not affect all smokers. When the marijuana consumer experiences extreme vomiting for one whole day or more, contacting the health care provider is the best possible option. The only way to prevent cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is the complete absence of marijuana consumption. Unfortunately, people tend to consume cannabis for years and become chronic users before the CHS develops.

Evidence-based Treatments

That’s because the development of the syndrome takes a lot of time. If the health care provider diagnoses the CHS, it will be explained to the patient what is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and then it is the treatment time. The https://ecosoberhouse.com/ second stage is called the hyperemetic phase, and during it, the vomiting is often pretty intense. To ease nausea, people will mostly use hot showers throughout the day. Some people take marijuana to ease nausea, but it only makes the situation worse. Learn how to identify severe Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) symptoms like uncontrollable vomiting, dehydration, and abdominal pain — and know when it’s time to seek emergency medical care.

Doctors may also categorize CHF according to four classes established by the New York Heart Association (NYHA). Still, the AHA notes that the classes apply to people with CHF in stage C or D. As the laws regarding the possession and use of marijuana change, CHS may become more prevalent because more people will have legal access to the drug. As CHS is a new diagnosis, the manufacturers of these drugs did not design them for treating CHS, but a doctor may opt to prescribe them for this use.

It is important for people with CHS to stop using marijuana because this will resolve their nausea and vomiting. Preventing dehydration and stopping nausea and vomiting are the treatment goals during chs the hyperemesis stage of the condition. If you have cannabis use disorder and need help quitting, professional treatment is available. Cannabinoids are compounds in the Cannabis sativa plant that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract and other body tissues. Examples of cannabinoids include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Another misconception is that CHS is a subtype of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS).

If you have any symptoms of severe dehydration, like dizziness, confusion and a rapid heartbeat, call 911 right away. The good news is, most people start feeling better in just a few days—although it can take some time before you start to feel like yourself again. Understanding the stages of flu recovery can help you know what’s normal, what’s not and how to speed up your healing. In most cases, the symptoms of the syndrome will disappear pretty fast. The patient may feel much better in general within a few days, usually one or two. However, the symptoms can come back if the person starts consuming cannabis again.

As cannabis use continues to rise, awareness of CHS among both clinicians and cannabis users is important. Further research is needed to understand the precise etiology of CHS and develop more targeted treatment approaches. In the meantime, early recognition and cessation of cannabis use remain the cornerstone of managing this relatively new syndrome.

In the early phase of CHS, the individual may experience more subtle abdominal pain and nausea, especially in the morning. The condition seems to intensify over the course of months or years, and symptoms may escalate to more debilitating nausea, episodic vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss, and dehydration. One hallmark characteristic of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is the alleviation of these acute symptoms with hot baths or showers. The exact cause of CHS is not fully understood, but researchers believe it may be linked to how cannabinoids, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Theories suggest that chronic cannabis use may overstimulate the receptors in the brain and gastrointestinal tract, leading to dysregulation of nausea and vomiting pathways. Prolonged exposure to THC may also impair the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is a disorder seen in long-term, frequent cannabis users. Instead of providing relief from nausea and digestive issues, cannabis triggers severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition that can develop in some individuals who use cannabis regularly.

Are there any treatments for CHS, or at least ways to reduce the symptoms?

It’s like trying to identify a specific tree in a whole forest of similar-looking trees. Without them, CHS sufferers are left in a cycle of misery, confusion, and frustration. It’s like being stuck in a maze with no exit signs – you know you need to get out, but you have no idea how.