Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), also known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), is a rare but serious condition that can develop suddenly in people who are daily marijuana users or in people who have a history of prolonged marijuana use.
When you have CHS, you experience episodes of intractable nausea and vomiting, oftentimes to the point that you are unable to keep down food or water (Sorensen, J Med Toxicol, 2017). One of the hallmarks of CHS is relief of nausea with hot showers or baths, and many people find that this is the only way to improve their symptoms.
The exact pathophysiology of CHS is unknown, but as marijuana use becomes more common, doctors and healthcare providers increasingly have this marijuana-related complication on their radar, as should you.
People with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome may require hospitalization in order to maintain hydration while their nausea and vomiting persist. While anti-emetic or anti-nausea medications would make sense as treatments for CHS, the hard reality is that they aren’t solving the underlying issue.
At the end of the day, the only proven way to treat CHS is to stop using marijuana, and permanent cessation of marijuana use leads to the only assured cure (Richards, J Emerg Med, 2018).
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.
Contributing Author
Professor, Counselor Education at Florida Atlantic University. Founder of the International Association of Psychology and Counseling.
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Currently Diagnosed with CHS and it has been devastating. I’ve always used marijuana as a helping hand. It helps with my stress, anxiety, it helps me better enjoy the things I’m doing. My question is, will I ever be able to smoke marijuana safely again.. this really sucks.
It gets easier if you take it slow. Take 1g a week off your daily regiment till you hit only 1-3 grams a day then you can try to go cold after that.
I had a hemorrhagic stroke 19 months ago and strangely had zero withdrawals after stopping and starting and I was/am a daily user. I have no idea why that was the case. I say was because that’s not the case now. The only answer I can surmise is that the brain was too injured at the time to respond to withdrawals.
Has anyone else experienced that emergency rooms still have no idea what this is? I finally went to a gastro and got the appropriate diagnosis. But for the 10 years+ this has been happening, every ER has treated me like I’m crazy or attention seeking. Really frustrating. The last time I went to the ER for this however, I finally had a doctor who was willing to do some quick research, and followed the recommended treatment.
Doctor bias was the most annoying thing and left me feeling worthless and unseen. Ten days after going to the emergency department I was led out and condescendingly told “ my dear go home and stop smoking weed” then had a major brain aneurysm! I don’t trust doctors anymore and don’t even mention weed anymore to anyone in the medical profession.