Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition that leads to repeated and severe bouts of vomiting. Ongoing nausea, repeated episodes of vomiting, belly pain, weight loss, and dehydration occur. Marijuana affects the digestive tract and the esophageal sphincter, the tight band of muscle that lets food from the esophagus into the stomach.
Patients are sometimes writhing on the floor, and they’re vomiting so much. It’s a horrible syndrome. Andrew C. Meltzer, MD, associate professor in the DOE Medicine and Clinical
Severe prolonged vomiting may lead to dehydration and electrolyte problems in the blood. If untreated, these can cause complications such as muscle spasms or weakness, seizures, kidney failure, heart rhythm abnormalities, shock, esophagus inflammation (esophagitis), and Mallory-Weiss syndrome. In rare cases, brain swelling (cerebral edema) can also occur.
The patients Dr. Meltzer has seen with CHS would all qualify as addicted to cannabis (CUD).
CHS is a permanent condition that can only be effectively treated by quitting cannabis. Continuing to use cannabis despite CHS can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. Healthline
The duration of cannabis use before onset of symptoms varied greatly in one study from 4 months to 27 years. The majority of patients developed symptoms within 1 to 5 years from the onset of cannabis use; 32.9% of our patients reported cannabis use for less than 1 year, 75% reported using cannabis regularly for over a year; 97.4% reported cannabis use at least weekly. Charlotte Skinner, RN, St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, Montana; American Nurse Journal
A study of adults admitted to an emergency room in New York City, smoking 20 or more days per month, indicated that 32.9% met criteria for CHS. As many as 2.75 million regular cannabis users could be affected by the syndrome (CHS), although many of them may be mild. Joseph Habboushe, MD, Journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Mild symptoms serve as a warning to discontinue cannabis use to avoid more severe distress.
Heavy marijuana smokers don’t want to believe that it’s related to cannabis because they have been using cannabis for years without a problem. The only thing that stops the symptoms of CHS is permanently avoiding marijuana. Joseph Habboushe, MD
Many patients continue or increase cannabis use because they believe it will ease symptoms. They don’t make the connection between their symptoms and cannabis use because the symptoms don’t occur immediately after consumption. Charlotte Skinner, RN.
Stronger cannabis may be contributing to the rise in cases of the syndrome. A Facebook group for Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome has more than 20,000 followers.
“Marijuana changed my life. Now I’m on a mission to raise awareness.” I want to tell the story of how marijuana changed my and my family’s lives forever. My son, Brian, began using marijuana at age 13. I was not aware he was using it that young. I did find out later he was smoking,…