CHS visits rose from 4.36 to 22.33 per 100,000 visits during that period, peaking at 33.06 per 100,000 in quarter 2 of 2020. Cyclic vomiting syndrome visits declined from 300 to 186 per 100,000 visits, perhaps suggesting a growing clinical awareness of CHS. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that leads to repeated and severe bouts of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. Symptoms of CHS usually appear after 10 to 12 years of chronic use.
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- As cannabis becomes more potent and widely available, CHS is increasingly prevalent.
- Most people who quit using cannabis experience no more CHS symptoms within 10 days, but sometimes it may take weeks or months for symptoms to stop.
- The leading theory is that the active compounds in cannabis (like THC and CBD) interact with cannabinoid receptors in the brain and digestive system.
- One 2018 study estimates that approximately 2.75 million Americans may suffer from CHS each year, but the true prevalence of the illness is largely unknown.
- Possibly an unknown genetic or environmental trigger is an underlying contributor for those who do develop it.
Doctors also noticed that individuals with CHS would take frequent hot showers and baths. They also experience episodes of vomiting that return every few weeks or months. The first reports came from doctors treating regular users of marijuana for nausea and vomiting in South Australia.
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A newer study, published in July 2025, found emergency room visits for adolescents aged 13 to 21 years across the nation increased more than 10-fold between 2016 and 2023. Yet another November 2025 study found the rate of CHS among adults 18 to 35 rose sharply during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 and remained high. “It’s pretty universal for these patients to say they need a really, really hot shower, or a really hot bath, to improve their symptoms,” he said. Problematically, despite the increase in cases, doctors often fail to spot the signs of CHS, as it is medically quite similar to stomach flu or food poisoning.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
This seems to be the most effective way to completely resolve symptoms. Symptoms are typically mild during the first stage of the condition. In the hyperemetic phase, however, symptoms can be quite severe. Even though there is a recovery phase, it is important to seek medical care if you think you https://ecosoberhouse.com/ have CHS. When a person experiences CHS, they may need timely and effective treatment to prevent health complications.
Since CHS is often mistaken for other conditions, many people endure symptoms longer than necessary. Recent developments in cannabinoid research have led to the creation of novel modulators aimed at specifically targeting the CB1 receptors, which are integral to the psychoactive effects of cannabis. When these receptors are activated, they can influence mood and behavior, and in some individuals, may contribute to adverse psychological effects such as depression and suicidal ideation.
To prevent worsening CHS symptoms, medical advice suggests complete cessation of all cannabis usage. If cannabis use is resumed, symptoms chs condition of CHS can return, often heralding a return of the hyperemesis many weeks or months later. Full recovery, marked by the complete absence of CHS symptoms, can take several weeks or even months after stopping cannabis use. When it comes to Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) treatment, it’s essential to differentiate between controlling the symptoms and treating the actual condition.
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The culprit is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a gut-wrenching disorder that triggers relentless nausea, abdominal pain and severe vomiting that can strike four or five times an hour, according Alcoholics Anonymous to the Cleveland Clinic. A rare but severe condition, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is caused by heavy cannabis use and is “marked by nausea, vomiting and pain,” said The New York Times. It can lead in some cases to extreme dehydration, seizures, kidney failure and cardiac arrest.
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Psychiatric comorbidities (e.g. panic attacks, depression), history of migraine attacks and rapid gastric emptying may serve as supportive criteria for the diagnosis of CVS. Compulsive bathing behaviour, a clinical observation previously attributed only to CHS patients is equally present in CVS patients. “It comes and goes and it happens in cycles,” Deepak Cyril D’Souza, the director of the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids, said to the outlet.