It’s thought that genetics may play a role because only a small number of people who regularly use cannabis develop CHS. It may sound like a made-up condition to discourage teenagers from trying cannabis, but CHS is very real — and it can be dangerous if not properly managed. Some may be finding that there can be very real — and serious — complications that come with cannabis use. As more states legalize cannabis, more people are learning whether cannabis is right for them.
Etiology of CHS
The best and only way to prevent or reduce your risk for CHS is to avoid or quit marijuana use. One study looking at Reddit posts on the subject found that spicy food, greasy food, coffee, black tea, and alcohol were frequently mentioned as CHS triggers. These foods/beverages are mostly acidic, but relationships between them and CHS have not been studied scientifically, although the co-use of weed and alcohol is well-known, the study authors said. Your doctor may ask you questions, like how long you’ve been using https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/support-for-those-who-struggling-with-alcohol-addiction/ cannabis and what type of products you normally use. For example, if you smoke weed, eat edibles, use tinctures, or dab or vape THC, tell your doctor about any or all of them.
- Further studies are also necessary to determine the causes of CHS and its risk factors.
- Cannabidiol, in contrast to THC, is non-psychotropic, has a low affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors 27, and acts as a partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor 28.
- Researchers are continuing to examine potential treatment options for CHS.
- People who use marijuana long-term — typically for about 10 to 12 years — are at risk of developing CHS.
Why might CHS be on the rise?
These chemicals can change the time it takes your stomach to empty food. The most important thing to make CHS better is stopping marijuana use. Your doctor probably should send you to see a stomach doctor, who knows more about your problem and can help you feel better. These usually happen for 3 to 4 days but can last as long as 1 week in bad cases. Patients with CVS also have times where they are feeling sick to the stomach and can also throw up for between 12 hours to about a week. This can happen when you are stressed, excited, have an infection or when women have their period.
CHS Phases
First, doctors treating people with CHS advise them to stop using marijuana. During the hyperemesis stage, doctors focus on preventing dehydration and stopping the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that sometimes develops due to the long term use of marijuana. Many researchers feel that CHS is underrecognized and underdiagnosed. Symptoms of CHS can resemble those of other conditions, such as cyclic vomiting syndrome.
Hyperemetic phase
Cessation of cannabinoid use will lead to complete resolution of symptoms. The time to improvement varies from 1 to 3 months in the current literature.12 Patients may be reluctant to accept that cannabis has played a role in their symptoms, and they should be educated about the nature of the disorder. This is an area where clinical pharmacists can play an important role. Literature published between January 2004 and September 2012 was searched in PubMed using the terms “cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome” and “cannabis hyperemesis syndrome”. All relevant publications in English were included in this review. Pharmacists have an important role in CHS recognition, education, and symptom management.
Clinical Presentation of CHS
The mechanism by which cannabis induces hyperemesis is presently unknown. A recent review has explored numerous potential explanations regarding various pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors of the cannabinoids 72. The cannabis plant contains over four hundred different chemicals, with sixty possessing cannabinoid structures 76. The pro-emetic effects of two of these cannabinoids, CBD and CBG, have been discussed in this review and could conceivably play a role in the development of CHS.
Deterrence and Patient Education
- CB1 receptors are mostly present in the brain, but they also occur in other organs.
- Anandamide and 2-AG possess similar biochemical structures, but each has a distinct pathway for biosynthesis and degradation.
- Since 2004, doctors have identified key symptoms and characteristics of the condition that can help speed up diagnosis.
- The best characterized endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) 9.
- During the hyperemesis stage, doctors focus on preventing dehydration and stopping the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
- If symptoms persist and you continue to use cannabis, you may experience more severe problems that require hospitalization for treatment.
The commercial industry that blossomed after legalization ”touted its products as beneficial” while focusing on ”engineering a quicker, more intense high,” the Times said. Two well-characterized naturally occurring endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Cannabinoids discovered in the cannabis plant with known effects on the regulation cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome of emesis include tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol. The only treatments available to people with CHS are those that restore hydration and help control nausea and vomiting.