Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a recently acknowledged condition involving recurring cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that is believed to be linked to exceptionally heavy, long-term cannabis use. Hot baths and showers provide the only reliable relief for most patients suffering hyperemetic episodes. CHS tends to progress through three phases beginning with a prodromal build up, escalating into acute hyperemetic vomiting episodes, and then concluding with a recovery phase when nausea and vomiting taper off after completely abstaining from marijuana. The root causes of CHS remain unknown but could potentially involve accumulation of cannabinoids in the system after extensive use without adequate periods abstinence. For now, permanently discontinuing any and all cannabis consumption seems to be the only proven treatment capable of resolving CHS symptoms long term in chronic sufferers. However, more research and far better understanding is still needed to develop proper diagnostic tools for identifying CHS versus other conditions and discovering possible alternative treatments beyond just quitting cannabis.