Cannabis use has been linked with several medical and mental health concerns, including delayed brain development, addiction, and an extremely painful condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). What is CHS, and what types of symptoms does it cause?
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What Is CHS?
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, is a health condition that is characterized by intense gastrointestinal distress. Originally identified by a team of Australian researchers in 2004, the syndrome affects some, but not all, people who have long histories of heavy cannabis use.
CHS is a progressive disorder, which means that its symptoms will continue to get worse as long as a person continues to use cannabis. It has no known cure.
What Are the Symptoms of CHS?
The primary symptoms of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Though these symptoms can eventually become quite severe, their initial appearance is often overlooked or mistaken for a minor health concern.
The progression of CHS symptoms typically occurs in three phases: prodromal, hyperemetic, and recovery.
Phase 1: Prodromal
The prodromal phase is sometimes described as the early warning stage of CHS. At this point, the most common symptoms are a slight stomach ache and occasional nausea. The nausea is usually strongest in the morning and dissipates throughout the day.
Some people with CHS also feel a persistent need to vomit. That sensation is rarely followed by actual vomiting, but it can contribute to anxiety and appetite loss.
People who are in the prodromal phase usually don’t realize that they have CHS. Symptoms are commonly dismissed as the effects of stress, anxiety, or unhealthy eating habits.
The prodromal phase can last for several months or even multiple years before progressing to the hyperemetic phase. During this period, people may unknowingly make the problem worse by increasing their cannabis use in an attempt to ease their physical and psychological discomfort.
Phase 2: Hyperemetic
The hyperemetic phase is the period at which the answers to questions like, “What is CHS, and is it really that bad?” become unfortunately obvious.
This phase is relatively brief, usually lasting 24-48 hours. But those hours can be excruciating.
Symptoms during the hyperemetic phase include:
- Severe nausea
- Debilitating abdominal pain
- Repeated bouts of uncontrollable vomiting
To underscore the agony of the hyperemetic phase, people often use the word “scromiting” to describe what they went through. This word was created by combining “screaming” and “vomiting.”
When you’re in the hyperemetic phase, your ability to function will be reduced significantly. You won’t be able to work, attend school, or participate in virtually any other everyday activities. But you may spend a significant amount of time in the tub.
According to a March 2021 article in the journal BMJ Case Reports, more than 90% of CHS patients compulsively took hot showers or baths in an attempt to relieve the symptoms they experienced during the hyperemetic phase.
Though this behavior can temporarily ease symptoms, it can also create other problems. The BMJ Case Reports article also noted that symptom relief requires extremely hot water, to the point that many patients arrive at emergency departments with scalding skin damage.
Phase 3: Recovery
After a particularly unpleasant day or two, the symptoms of the hyperemetic phase should begin to subside. If you start to use cannabis again, they may quickly return. If you stop, your body will enter the recovery phase.
Depending on your cannabis use history, it may take a few weeks to fully recover from the hyperemetic phase. Once all of your symptoms have dissipated, the only way to ensure that they don’t return is to never use cannabis again.
What Causes CHS?
After learning what CHS is, a common follow-on question is, how do I avoid getting it?
Though CHS is clearly associated with heavy cannabis use, researchers have not yet been able to determine exactly why some people develop the condition and others don’t. But they have identified a few behavior patterns that can increase a person’s risk.
CHS risk factors include:
- Frequent use: A recent survey of people with CHS found that almost all had used cannabis on a daily basis, with more than 40% of respondents reporting that they used marijuana at least five times per day.
- Long-term use: 44% of the survey respondents said they’d been using cannabis for at least five years before they began to develop CHS symptoms.
- High-potency use: Using cannabis products that have a high concentration of THC may increase risk.
- Early use: The likelihood that a person will develop CHS seems to be strongest among those who began to use cannabis before age 16.
Is CHS Treatable?
Certain medical interventions may be able to ease some CHS symptoms, but there is currently no way to treat the syndrome itself.
Once a person develops cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, the only way to prevent the recurrence of symptoms is to stop using marijuana and other cannabis products.
If you are unable to end your cannabis use on your own, please know that help is available and treatment works. With the right type of care and a concerted effort on your part, you can learn to manage your urges, regain control of your behaviors, and start living a much healthier life in recovery.
Find Help for Marijuana Addiction in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Recovery Center offers customized outpatient care for adults who have developed addictions to cannabis and other substances. We also serve clients with anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our rehab in St. Petersburg, FL, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and virtual (online) services.
To learn more call 813-733-8774 or verify your insurance now.
