The amount of marijuana users in the world is steadily growing. While some people use marijuana to relax, others use medical cannabis for chronic pain, rare epilepsies, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis (MS), or a variety of other conditions. But did you know that smoking marijuana could lead to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS)? According to the Georgia State Signal, long-term marijuana use can cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which leads to frequent cycles of nausea and vomiting.

Understanding CHS

Altogether, an estimated 2.7-3 million individuals develop cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome each year. This rare condition affects marijuana users. However, it does not discriminate. Marijuana users can use weekly or daily; regardless, long-term use can result in health issues. Additionally, this condition can impact those who are smoking or eating cannabis. Additional uses, such as topical creams, can also cause issues – so long as THC is entering the body in some form.

Doctors note that, most frequently, those affected by cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome use marijuana on a daily basis. Symptoms may come in waves – lasting for only a day or for more than a week. Long-lasting symptoms of up to one month only occur in around 1/3 of all patients. Unfortunately, doctors are still unclear as to how and why this condition affects certain people and not others, or why it affects some more severely. Typically, patients are younger, as marijuana use is more common in those in their late teens through mid-20s.

Although the condition can be painful, debilitating, and overwhelming, it is often not fatal. Only two deaths have ever been attributed to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. To reduce symptoms, patients should:

• Take hot showers or baths
• Use capsaicin topical creams
  • Note: In regards to both hot showers or capsaicin creams, the temperature – or interference with the body’s stress response – helps calm down nausea.
• Stop using marijuana

Even after recovery, using marijuana again can re-start symptoms. Thus, patients with CHS should not use marijuana after recovery.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome vs. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

If you begin researching cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome online, you may see comparisons to cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). CVS is a rare disorder characterized by severe vomiting, with no apparent cause, that lasts for hours to days. While doctors used to believe that CVS only affected children, they now know that CVS can affect those of all ages. Menstruation, overeating, certain foods, stress, or physical exhaustion are all triggers for CVS.

One reason why CVS and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome are often linked is because they share similar symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe vomiting, dizziness, dehydration, and even light sensitivity. More so, CVS may also be triggered by chronic marijuana use. Because of the common symptoms, and the shared (potential) cause, many doctors often have trouble making a definitive diagnosis. Learn more about cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

According to Saint Luke’s, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is:

a condition that leads to repeated and severe bouts of vomiting. Your digestive tract has a number of molecules that bind to THC and related substances [but] long-term marijuana use can change the way the effected molecules respond and lead to the symptoms of CHS.

Although CHS was first described in Gut in 2004, many doctors still seek to understand why this condition affects some long-term marijuana users and not others. Typically, CHS occurs in three stages. Within the first (prodromal) stage, which can last for months to years, patients experience normal eating and marijuana use patterns. While patients may feel nauseated and have some abdominal pain, they often continue smoking to help with the nausea. Additionally symptoms in this stage include dehydration and intense thirst, skin flushing, and anxiety.

Next, patients enter into the hyperemetic stage. In this stage, patients experience frequent and ongoing nausea, abdominal pain, dehydration, and repeated cycles of vomiting. During this, many patients struggle to eat and often experience unintended weight loss. The nausea and vomiting can be difficult to deal with. However, hot showers are found to reduce nausea. In many cases, patients begin to seek help during the hyperemetic stage.

Finally, patients reach the recovery stage. However, to achieve recovery, patients must typically stop using marijuana. Once marijuana usage is stopped, patients may once again be able to eat, and will often get rid of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

There are some serious and rare complications associated with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Ultimately, these complications result from severe vomiting, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances. Complications include:

• Shock
• Seizures
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Brain inflammation
• Muscle spasms and weakness
• Loss of kidney function