Find Guidance on CHS Symptoms and Treatment Support Options
Are you finding that your marijuana use is becoming harder to sustain? Some people will have painful symptoms that start years into their experimentation with the drug in a condition known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. Being able to identify this condition and get help for it is imperative.
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome surfaces with chronic marijuana use and results in cyclical nausea and vomiting. You’ll definitively know that your symptoms are indicative of CHS if they resolve when you stop using cannabis. Treatment includes IV fluids, medication-assisted treatment, and medical detox.
Catalina Behavioral Health offers the help you need to enter into recovery from cannabis use disorder. We offer medical detox, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient programs for help at every level. Keep reading to learn more about CHS and how you can treat it for good.
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What are the Qualifications for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
Many people staunchly believe that there are no negative effects to long-term or even heavy marijuana use, but there is one condition you should be aware of: cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. How do you know if you are struggling with CHS symptoms and it isn’t just a bout of food poisoning?
Telling the difference between CHS and general sickness can be challenging, which is why you should always take caution with marijuana use. A clinician or medical professional can help pinpoint the early signs of this syndrome, but it starts with knowing when you might fall victim to it.
The first qualification for CHS is that you must have a history of cannabis use, usually lasting for several years before the onset of symptoms. After this, you may experience cycles of ailments while still using the drug at regular intervals. The final criteria is a bit more challenging: you’ll know it was CHS if all of your symptoms resolve with cessation of use.
What are the Symptoms of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome?
Even if you have been able to handle cannabis consumption in the past, there is no predictability for a future ability to tolerate the substance. In fact, one of the qualifications for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is several years’ worth of cannabis consumption with no issue.
What risk factors and symptoms should you look out for if you want to spot hyperemesis syndrome at the outset?
Similarity to Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Severe Nausea
Oftentimes, the most acute symptom that people want relief from is the severe vomiting accompanying CHS. A medical provider may initially diagnose CHS as cyclic vomiting syndrome if they have no knowledge of your drug use. This is why it’s imperative to be honest with your doctor.
Of the CHS symptoms you might encounter, this one is often the most uncomfortable. The result is vomiting episodes that have you running to the trash can multiple times in one hour. It can be hard on the esophagus and digestive tract as a whole.
Initially, this may seem counterintuitive as many people use marijuana to combat long-term conditions like multiple sclerosis and the nausea that accompanies chemotherapy treatments. However, research now points to the idea that constant stress on the receptors responsible for soothing nausea can cause them to go haywire over time.
Severe Abdominal Pain
Severe abdominal pain is another one of those uncomfortable cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms. This goes hand-in-hand with the cyclical vomiting syndrome we covered above. Stomach pain often worsens with increased trips to the bathroom to void your stomach.
Some people may seek emergency medicine for the pain associated with hyperemesis syndrome. If you go to the hospital, it’s likely that they will prescribe opioids if they are unaware of your marijuana use or if they don’t administer a drug test.
Keep in mind that opioids will not help with nausea, vomiting, or pain associated with CHS.
Dehydration from Vomiting Episodes
Imagine the serious health complications that can come with repeated vomiting over days, weeks, or even months. If you struggle with chronic marijuana use and have this type of cyclical nausea with vomiting, you will eventually end up dehydrated–and it may happen sooner than you realize.
When you have persistent nausea, the last thing you want to do is add more food or drink into your digestive tract. The problem is that you need to stay hydrated if you want to feel better. Continue sipping sports drinks with electrolytes during cyclic vomiting, or start to drink small sips of water throughout the day.
Weight Loss Despite Cannabis Use Disorder
One of the reasons that marijuana is used in chemotherapy patients is because it activates appetite in the brain. Patients who may not have been inclined to eat before due to their treatment are now able to partake in small meals to keep up their strength. But when CHS backfires and leads to nausea, you may see the opposite issue.
Instead of gaining weight from the “munchies,” you might start to actually lose weight due to vomiting the few foods you try to consume. Severe cyclic vomiting episodes make you less prone to eating and can result in rapid weight loss.
This is particularly important for those who struggle with CHS for weeks to months without the ability or willingness to seek medical care to help quit cannabis.
Repeated Bathing for Relief of CHS Symptoms
Have you found that you can relieve CHS symptoms by taking hot baths or hot showers? This increase in bathing is about more than personal hygiene. The majority of people who struggle with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) will engage in more compulsive bathing.
Research is still ongoing as to why compulsive bathing is so popular when suffering from hyperemesis syndrome, but it may have something to do with the thermoregulation of the body. The hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for temperature regulation, may create a need for more stimulation.
On the other hand, it could result from the brain’s receptors (specifically CB1) activating this same part of the brain without a marked difference in core body temperature. Either way, this compulsion is often a telltale sign that someone with all of the other symptoms has cannabis hyperemesis syndrome.
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What are the Treatment Options for Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome?
Unfortunately, CHS patients often don’t want to hear the advice that a medical professional will give when they present with this condition. The only definitive treatment for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is to simply stop substance abuse, even on a small scale or for recreational purposes.
In other words, you need to flush the marijuana out of your system if you want the symptoms that are plaguing you to disappear. This often means entering into a rehab setting on a residential or outpatient basis.
In the meantime, there are a few things that a provider can offer you while you detox from substance use.
Medication Assisted Treatment for Nausea and Discomfort
While we already saw that opioid medication isn’t going to be the most effective course of treatment for your abdominal pain, that’s not to say that all medication-assisted therapy is ineffective. If you enroll in a sub-acute detox with Catalina, we might be able to prescribe medications that are easy for your body to process and can scale back some nausea.
We may also be able to provide you with medications to ease some of that abdominal pain beyond the normal Tylenol and ibuprofen. Benzodiazepines are a popular option for MAT when you’re trying to quit substance use. These drugs decrease the activation of receptor CB1 and can limit your nausea and its subsequent vomiting.
There are several options on the market, depending on your unique needs and substance use issues. At Catalina Behavioral Health, we’ll assess your situation to determine the right path forward and the right prescription drugs to make you more comfortable.
Hot Showers or Baths and Capsaicin Cream
One of the most effective methods for temporary relief from CHS symptoms is to take a hot bath or shower. Not only is this relaxing and may take your mind off troubling symptoms, but it also seems to have a powerful pain-relieving effect.
If you’re not in a position to take yet another shower, you may decide to try capsaicin cream in lieu of the hot water. This is a cost-effective way to gain the same relief with minimal side effects. All you have to do is rub it on the belly where you’re experiencing the pain and wait for relief to come to you.
Both of these are natural ways to relieve CHS symptoms and should be considered first-line treatments for anyone who wants to try to cope with the syndrome on their own at home before seeking medical help for additional pain relief.
IV Fluids for Dehydration
The first thing that they may offer is IV fluids. If you’ve been throwing up for days on end and have yet to find some symptom relief, your body will be grateful for a simple infusion of fluids. While these fluids may not solve all nutritional deficiencies, they do provide you with electrolytes and much-needed hydration.
Medical Detox for Marijuana Users
Of course, the only real solution for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is simply to give up the drug and quit cannabis intake altogether. It will take time for your cannabinoid receptors to settle down once there is no more marijuana in your system, but the worst of the CHS symptoms is usually over within a few days.
Sub-acute detox with us allows Catalina Behavioral Health to monitor you for signs that you need additional help. This is the best option if you’re interested in pursuing medication-assisted treatment, as this enables us to evaluate your progress and improvement as we adjust your dosages.
You’ll be free from the pressure to return to your substance use while within the confines of our facility. Long-term abstinence from the drug is easier when you reside in our accredited facility for a longer period as you transition to long-term residential programs.
Transition to Long-Term Care Options
Catalina Behavioral Health knows that detox may not be the end of the road for you. Most people only remain at this level of treatment for a few days to a single week. It isn’t enough time for you to gain the coping skills and tools necessary to turn away from drug use on your own.
Instead, we offer a complete continuum of care from residential treatment to intensive outpatient care. No matter which method you end up pursuing, our clinicians are available to support you and offer the type of care you most need.
While in our programs, you’ll engage in individual therapy as well as group therapy. Our clinicians will present you with various treatment modalities to ensure that you have the tools you need in the future.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment to Cope with Cannabis Use Disorder
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one in four adults with a mental illness also have a substance use disorder. Cannabis use may cover the symptoms and help you to cope with a mental health issue initially, but Catalina Behavioral Health can help you get to the core of your struggle for recovery.
We believe in offering comprehensive evaluations at the start of treatment to assess you for common complaints like anxiety, mood issues, and more. Only once we have this crucial data can we assess you for more targeted treatment like CBT, DBT, or medication-assisted treatment.
Don’t underestimate the power of a mental health diagnosis to help you enter into the recovery phase.
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Get Help Now for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome at Catalina
Are you ready to face the prospect of life without marijuana use? Catalina Behavioral Health is ready and waiting to welcome you into our program and to help you heal from painful CHS symptoms with a sub-acute detox. If you think our program is a good fit for you, our enrollment team will happily answer your questions.
All it takes is a quick, fifteen-minute phone call to verify your insurance benefits, go over which program best fits you, and help you enroll. Reach out to us today to start your recovery journey now!
References
- Sorensen, C. J., DeSanto, K., Borgelt, L., Phillips, K. T., & Monte, A. A. (2017). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Treatment-a Systematic Review. Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 13(1), 71โ87.
- Cue L, Chu F, Cascella M. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from:
- Chang, Y. H., & Windish, D. M. (2009). Cannabinoid hyperemesis relieved by compulsive bathing. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 84(1), 76โ78.
- Kheifets, M., Karniel, E., Landa, D., Vons, S. A., Meridor, K., & Charach, G. (2019). Resolution of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome with Benzodiazepines: A Case Series. The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ, 21(6), 404โ407.
- Graham, J., Barberio, M., & Wang, G. S. (2017). Capsaicin Cream for Treatment of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents: A Case Series. Pediatrics, 140(6), e20163795.
- Mental health and substance use co-occurring disorders. SAMHSA. (n.d.).
