When cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome I arrived, there were three nurses and a doctor in the room already. Brian had an oxygen mask on, they were putting an IV in each arm, and they had already taken blood to send to the lab. My first introduction to CHS was in April 2018, when my 17-year-old son Brian was diagnosed at an emergency room (ER) in Indianapolis.
What is the treatment for cannabinoid hyperemesis treatment?
Some people call certain symptoms of CHS “scromiting.” The term combines “vomiting” and “screaming.” You may have intense pain, which causes you to scream while you vomit. Not everyone with the condition seeks medical help or tells their provider that they use https://ecosoberhouse.com/ marijuana. 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.
- For each study, the keywords “cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome,” “nausea,” “vomiting,” and “cannabinoids” were utilized in the search.
- Changes to the endocannabinoid system in the hypothalamus from cannabinoid use could lead to a dysregulated stress response, and perhaps contribute to the development of CHS.
- Not everyone with the condition seeks medical help or tells their provider that they use marijuana.
- Through the creation of the Facebook page and the news coverage that I received, I have been able to reach many people.
‘The dose makes the poison’
- One theory behind CHS is that chronic overstimulation of the body’s endocannabinoid receptors leads to your body not being able to control nausea and vomiting.
- “I basically spent that week laying in bed and just sipping slowly on water or sipping slowly on my Pedialyte, trying to get as much electrolytes and nutrition as I could,” recalled Brittany, 27, who today is sober.
- Researchers aren’t sure exactly why weed causes CHS symptoms only in some people.
Brian’s father arrived a short time later, and I had to tell him that our son was dead. I’m not sure if I called my family or if someone else did, but during this time, my sister had shown up. I remember begging and pleading with God not to take my baby and to take me instead. While I was moving my car, the staff took Brian to a room, which they directed me to on my return.
Inclusion Criteria
People with CHS who do not improve with these treatments may benefit from seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. When you use marijuana for many years, it can start to slowly change how the receptors in your body respond to the cannabinoid chemicals. For example, the drug affects the receptors in the esophageal sphincter, the tight band of muscle that opens and closes to let food go from your throat to your stomach. If this flap doesn’t work properly, your stomach acids might flow upward and cause you to have nausea and vomiting. One 2018 study found that 32.9% of self-reported frequent marijuana users who’d gone to the emergency room (ER) had symptoms of CHS.
About CBC
Although the exact number of people with CHS is unknown, based on emergency department surveys, CHS is estimated to affect about 2.75 million people in the US yearly. From 2017 to 2021, emergency department visits for CHS doubled in the US and Canada and were most common among males aged 16 to 34 years. The rise in CHS coincides with legalization of recreational cannabis and increases in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration in cannabis products.
On the other side of the country, Dr. Jeff Lapoint and his colleagues saw an influx of patients with CHS symptoms about six years ago. Lapoint is the director of the division of medical toxicology at Kaiser Permanente Southern California and practices in San Diego, which he said is home to both craft beer and craft marijuana. If you need help quitting, speak to a healthcare provider or connect with your local addiction treatment services. Researchers are currently studying several treatment options to manage the hyperemetic phase of CHS. People who use marijuana long-term — typically for about 10 to 12 years — are at risk of developing CHS. But not every person who uses marijuana, even long-term use, develops CHS.
