Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Treatment-a Systematic Review

It’s a serious medical problem that can cause major health issues if you leave it untreated. If you have any symptoms of severe dehydration, like dizziness, confusion and a rapid heartbeat, call 911 right away. The diagnostic criteria for CHS were ill-defined prior to the establishment of the Rome IV criteria of 2016.2223 Per the Rome IV criteria, all 3 of the following must be met to be diagnosed with CHS. They must be present for at least the last three months and the beginning of symptoms must be at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis being made.

Diagnosis and Tests

You’re more likely to get CHS if you use marijuana at least once a week and have been doing so since you were a teenager. “Cannabinoid” refers to cannabis (marijuana) and “hyperemesis” is a word meaning “prolonged vomiting.” Ultimately, the treatment of any illness is the removal of precipitating factors, not merely the management of its symptoms. The only definitive treatment of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is the removal of cannabis exposure, which may ultimately require extensive coordination between the committed patient, an empathic and dedicated primary care physician, and appropriate substance use counseling and resources.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Prevention

And a 2022 Canadian study found that ER visits for CHS-related problems had increased 13-fold between 2014 and 2021. (Recreational use and sale of cannabis in Canada was legalized starting in 2018). It’s not clear what percentage of all heavy marijuana users have experienced CHS.

What should we be considering at the time of discharge?

Laboratory evaluation findings were remarkable for increased values of serum albumin, bilirubin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, and total protein (Table 1). Values for potassium, chloride, and creatinine were slightly below the reference range. A pregnancy test was negative, and urinalysis showed the presence of ketones and a specific https://ecosoberhouse.com/ gravity of 1.032 (reference range, 1.002–1.030). Additional investigations on the second day of admission indicated decreased values for thyrotropin, ceruloplasmin, and total iron-binding capacity, and she was positive for hepatitis A antibody and had an indeterminate value for hepatitis B surface antibody (Table 1). Results of an autoimmune hepatitis panel were negative, and other results were within the reference range.

What are the possible complications of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?

A 2017 review of studies found that 97.4 percent of people who developed CHS reported using cannabis at least weekly. It may sound like a made-up condition to discourage teenagers from trying cannabis, but CHS is very real — and it can be dangerous if not properly managed. Researchers are trying to understand why some people develop it and others don’t. Right now, the only known effective treatment for CHS is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to stop using cannabis. Furthermore, heat-induced vasodilation might facilitate toxin elimination through the skin, aiding in the detoxification process and potentially contributing to symptom improvement in individuals with CHS.