(Recreational use and sale of cannabis in Canada was legalized starting in 2018). It’s not clear what percentage of all heavy marijuana users have experienced CHS. Some of those hospital visits are related to a severe condition that develops after using high concentrations of cannabinoids over a long time, called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). This illness poses potential health risks with the quickly changing drug. The following criteria can help lead to an accurate cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome diagnosis and management of symptoms and reduce the need for unnecessary and expensive medical testing.
Acute Pharmacological Treatment (in order of efficacy)
Once cannabis use is stopped, the symptoms of CHS will gradually start to subside. When it comes to Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) treatment, it’s essential to differentiate between controlling the symptoms and treating the actual condition. While various approaches can help manage the symptoms, the only known cure for CHS is to stop using cannabis. If you have symptoms, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask for your detailed medical history. Let your doctor know how much marijuana you use and how often you use it. After thorough experiments, the team was able to pinpoint five gene mutations that seem to play active roles in the development of CHS.
Long-Term Management Strategy
But while the condition very much exists, experts say the flurry of panicked headlines overstate what we actually know about CHS and how prevalent it is. It isn’t entirely known what causes some people to experience the symptoms of CHS while what is alcoholism others do not. Plenty of regular, long-term, and high-potency users of cannabis do not report CHS symptoms.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Treatment
Since only a small portion of frequent cannabis consumers appear to develop CHS, it’s possible that genetics may play a role. Research suggests that some patients may have genetic variations in cannabinoid metabolism that can lead to excessive levels of nausea. Unfortunately, not enough research has been done in this area to determine what makes some cannabis consumers more susceptible than others. One treatment that’s been highly effective in treating CHS is topical capsaicin (yes, the stuff that gives hot peppers their heat).
CHS Phases
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 primary treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is the cessation of cannabis use, as there are no consistently effective alternative treatments. Traditional anti-nausea medications are usually ineffective chs for CHS-related nausea.
It is unclear exactly why cannabis causes CHS, especially considering that cannabis is often recommended as a way to prevent nausea and vomiting. One theory regards the effect that cannabis has on the digestive tract. While THC has been shown to send anti-nausea signals to the brain, the opposite may be true for the digestive system. It’s possible that prolonged cannabis consumption can weaken the endocannabinoid response to THC in the brain.
As of this date, less than ten deaths have been attributed to CHS, out of an estimated 2.7 million cases. As such, it’s important for cannabis consumers to be mindful of the symptoms of CHS and to seek medical attention if they suspect that they may have the condition. What we don’t know is why some cannabis users develop the syndrome and others don’t. Even among longtime, daily users, not everyone will develop the syndrome, indeed likely only a fraction will. These symptoms resolve when the dose is lowered, indicating a dose-dependent response. Once the proper dose of CBD is found, the individual is able to continue CBD without side effects.
These gene mutations are known as Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The gene mutation of these five genes causes a deviation from the body’s mood regulation, dopamine activity, gut action, and pain responses. The team extracted the genetics of 28 patients that have previously been diagnosed with CHS. Unverified claims of CHS being caused by compounds present in pesticides have been refuted by Dr. Russo. The pesticides and neem oil used by farmers when cultivating cannabis do not in any way induce CHS in chronic users of cannabis. An average of one Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome case is diagnosed in a month.
- If this flap doesn’t work properly, your stomach acids might flow upward and cause you to have nausea and vomiting.
- Quitting cannabis use is the only way to get better if you have CHS.
- CHS is not permanent in the sense that most people will recover from symptoms once they stop consuming cannabis products.
- If you have CHS and don’t stop using, your symptoms like nausea and vomiting are likely to come back.
“It’s really hard to get accurate numbers unless you do a randomized controlled trial or a study where you follow people over time,” she says. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), some hospital workers claim, is on the rise — something they believe is the result of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ “high potency weed,” according to a report published in July by NBC News. Though not life-threatening, the overconsumption of weed is known as greening out. Expensive and non-diagnostic imaging scans for CHS-related symptoms are usually unnecessary. Still, in some cases, an abdominal CT scan or X-rays may be ordered to determine if there is a serious issue, such as an intestinal blockage that may require surgery.