A thin layer of topical capsaicin cream was applied to the abdominal region, chest, or back. Only one CHS patient returned to the ED within 3 days after receiving topical capsaicin; capsaicin was administered again, and the patient reported rapid relief and was discharged without further treatment 96. In a study of the treatment of neuropathic pain with topical capsaicin, the most common adverse effect was a burning sensation upon application, localized erythema, and nonproductive cough 106. It is likely that topical capsaicin used for CHS treatment would have similar adverse effects. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition caused by long-term marijuana use, characterized by recurrent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Individuals with CHS often find relief from symptoms through hot showers or baths.
A paradoxical condition
During the hyperemesis stage, doctors focus on preventing dehydration and stopping the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. But science hasn’t pinned down an exact formula that says, “X amount of cannabis over Y years always leads to CHS.” Instead, it’s more like a Halfway house storm of factors that eventually converge. Unfortunately, until doctors uncovered CHS, many patients felt baffled by their symptoms. Now that this condition is better recognized, sharing a full history of marijuana use with medical providers is vital. The key risk factors are long-term, frequent and heavy marijuana use. Symptoms begin with nausea, followed in later episodes, often separated by a year or more, by cyclical vomiting, dehydration, and emergency room visits.
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Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent effort, you’ll likely see your symptoms ease. Over time, your body can heal, your energy can return, and you can rebuild daily routines that promote wellness. Doctors rely mostly on a person’s symptoms, medical history, and history of marijuana use to identify CHS. You’ll likely undergo a physical exam, and your doctor might ask questions like how often you use cannabis, how long you’ve been using, and what patterns you notice about your nausea. If you’re not upfront about your marijuana use, your provider may diagnose you with a completely different issue.
Hyperemetic phase
Pregnant women may not be forthcoming about their marijuana use, which can complicate diagnosis 121. Maternal cannabinoid use alone does not necessarily mean that hyperemesis is CHS. At Healthgrades, our Editorial Team works hard to develop complete, objective and meaningful health information to help people choose the right doctor, right hospital and right care. Our writers include physicians, pharmacists, and registered nurses with firsthand clinical experience.
No one probed her underlying needs, checked on current therapies, explored alternatives — or even taught her how to balance THC and cannabidiol. Miriam finds it alarming that neither the doctor nor the dispensary staff warned her of CHS — a foreseeable risk, however rare, that she would have recognized chs symptoms and signs in her own profile if it had been described. Rather than going back to a policy of blanket prohibition, most researchers I spoke with, like Andrews, are focused on doing the long-delayed science required to better quantify both the perils and promise of cannabis. “People should not be using it when they’re young and their brains are still developing,” Andrews said.
- While some patients use cannabis to manage GI symptoms, excessive use can actually worsen vomiting episodes, often resembling Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS).
- Other known complications of forceful and uncontrolled vomiting include aspiration and subsequent pneumonitis or aspiration pneumonia as well as injury to the esophageal wall such as Boerhaave’s syndrome.
- These supportive treatments can help people during the hyperemesis stage of the condition, but recovery depends on the person stopping their use of marijuana.
- This complex interplay between the cannabinoid system and the GI system can lead to the development of CHS in susceptible individuals.
- Doctors have only identified cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in the recent past.