Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Clinical manifestations are generally mild and include epistaxis, gum/mucosal bleeding, and easy bruising. The bleeding diathesis may also be subtle (i.e., generally not requiring medical intervention) and thus may not be identified as a health concern by affected persons. However, with trauma or invasive procedures, bleeding may be more severe and prolonged. how long does it take to recover from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome Comprehensivegenomic testing does not require the clinician to determine which gene is likely involved.

Since CHS is often mistaken for other conditions, many people endure symptoms longer than necessary. The only definitive treatment identified for CHS was abstinence (low GRADE quality of evidence). Wallace et al. reported that among 25 patients with CHS who abstained, 24 had complete symptom resolution 10. Similarly, Allen et al., Simonetto et al., Patterson et al., and Soriano-Co et al. reported symptom resolution in seven out of seven 6, six out of six 9, four out of four 11, and four out of five 12 patients, respectively. The Sobriety cumulative synthesis (see Table 1) demonstrated that among 64 patients with documented cannabis cessation, 62 (96.8%) had complete resolution of symptoms. The two patients who reported no resolution of symptoms did not have urine testing performed to confirm abstinence 8, 56.

  • In the absence of published guidelines, the following recommendations are based on the authors’ personal experience managing individuals with this disorder.
  • Research suggests that CHS is a permanent condition that can only be effectively treated by quitting cannabis.
  • There were 88 case reports and 8 case series of four or more patients.
  • If this flap doesn’t work properly, your stomach acids might flow upward and cause you to have nausea and vomiting.
  • As many other health problems could lead to repeated vomiting, it’s important to discuss your complete health history, including your cannabis use, with any provider you see for your symptoms.

Clinical Resources Lead

The effectiveness of these agents is limited, which is also a clue for the diagnosis of CHS. If traditional agents fail in controlling the symptoms, haloperidol can be tried, but it has been used with limited success. Our patient did not respond to traditional antiemetics, but responded well to a small dose of lorazepam.

  • ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies  with researchers from top medical centers across the United States.
  • If you need help quitting cannabis, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a 24/7 helpline in English and Spanish.
  • These inclusions impair leucocyte function leading to immune dysfunction.
  • The best evidence suggests a dynamic interplay between cannabinoid metabolism and complex pharmacodynamics at the CB-1 receptor.
  • Dental erosion from stomach acid can also be seen, particularly when the attacks are frequent.

Relief Through Heat Therapy and Additional Treatments for CHS

chs syndrome

Individuals with milder phenotypes (e.g., later-onset, milder pigmentary, immunologic, and hematologic features) are considered to have “atypical” CHS (also referred to as “mild” or “adolescent” CHS). Both groups of individuals are at risk of developing hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), previously called “the accelerated phase,” with the highest risk of HLH (~85%) in individuals with classic CHS. Cannabis has many active ingredients, including tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.

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chs syndrome

Drug Enforcement Administration averaged 4 percent THC content by weight. As of 2022, that average is about 16 percent; the oil in vape cartridges like what Callaham was using can reach as high as 85 percent. It’s still not clear which of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis are responsible for CHS, but it’s thought that CBD could potentially be a contributor. The cause of death in both people was found to be hyponatremic dehydration, also known as low sodium levels. It’s thought that genetics may play a role because only a small number of people who regularly use cannabis develop CHS. Acupuncture/acupressure has been used to treat nausea symptoms successfully.

The full effects of chronic cannabis use on the digestive system and brain are still being studied, but frequent users should be aware of CHS as a potential consequence. It’s a cannabis-related disorder that can emerge even after years of symptom-free use. Experts suggest that a buildup of cannabinoids in the body disrupts its natural balance, causing cannabis to trigger nausea instead of relief. Understanding CHS can help long-term users make informed choices about their health. If these symptoms occur in someone who uses marijuana regularly, CHS could be the underlying cause.

But in rare cases, after continued and heavy cannabis use, signaling to the cannabis receptors in the digestive tract goes wrong and causes nausea and vomiting. It just isn’t clear exactly why some people get CHS and others do not. The prognosis for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is generally good https://ovalies.unilasalle.fr/end-stage-alcoholism-symptoms-signs-and-what-to/ if cannabis use is stopped.

These centers bring together teams of specialists who can work together to evaluate symptoms and coordinate a diagnosis. This team-based approach is also helpful after a diagnosis, when managing care for rare diseases. Because so little is known about Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome and its causes, few treatment approaches have been developed.

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In two case reports, doctors used lorazepam (Ativan) to manage CHS-related nausea and vomiting. On the basis that only a small number of regular and long term users of marijuana develop CHS, some researchers suggest that genetics might play a role. Other researchers theorize that the effects of marijuana can change with chronic use. Doctors also noticed that individuals with CHS would take frequent hot showers and baths. They also experience episodes of vomiting that return every few weeks or months.

The Only Cure: Complete Cannabis Abstinence

There may also be a genetic susceptibility at work, and depression and anxiety are common in people with the syndrome. “The paradox is, we don’t understand what’s triggering this in a particular moment,” says David Levinthal, director of the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Among the leading suspects, he says, are lack of sleep and intense stress. One factor, says Deepak Cyril D’Souza, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids, is the increasing potency of cannabis products.

chs syndrome

But over the next decade, more cases of CHS started to show up in the medical literature. So far, the only known way to completely resolve symptoms of CHS is to stop all cannabinoid use. Please feel free to share this with a friend or loved one who may be experiencing any of these symptoms and finding it difficult to put their finger on what is happening. This is a big, emerging issue, and the more people know, the better we will all be for it. That said, if you start to develop these symptoms, even years later, it could be the case that you’re struggling with CHS, and the only thing that can truly solve it is long-term abstention. These episodes may last between 24 to 48 hours, and they may only come about once every couple of weeks, so they are not happening all of the time.

They’ll also examine your abdomen and may order tests to rule out other causes of vomiting. The exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, but researchers believe the extreme heat from hot water affects the hypothalamus—the brain region that regulates both temperature and vomiting. The intense sensation may interrupt the pain and nausea cycle, providing temporary relief. However, this is only a temporary solution; stopping cannabis use is the only cure.

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