While marijuana seems to bring on nausea in the stomach, in the brain it usually has opposite effect. When cannabinoids bind with brain receptors, they tend to prevent nausea and vomiting. When you use marijuana for many years, it can start to slowly change how the receptors in your body respond to the cannabinoid chemicals. For example, the drug affects the receptors in the esophageal sphincter, the tight band of muscle that opens and closes to let food go from your throat to your stomach. If this flap doesn’t work properly, your stomach acids might flow upward and cause you to have nausea and vomiting.
ADDICTIONS WE TREAT
✔️ CHS is rare but real – Primarily affects long-term, heavy THC users. Splanchnic vasodilation – THC alters blood flow, potentially contributing to nausea and abdominal pain. Gallbladder Disease – Biliary dysfunction causing nausea and vomiting. We have opportunities for nurses, technicians and other highly skilled medical Alcoholics Anonymous professionals, administrators and support staff.

How common is CHS?
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) appears in some chronic cannabis users. It presents as repeated nausea and vomiting to the point where it endangers you and your wellbeing. As a trusted Georgia addiction treatment center, we are dedicated to serving our clients through various alcohol and drug addiction programs. We have a firm belief that it is possible for YOU to achieve and sustain long-term recovery. By quitting marijuana and sticking to a well-structured program, you can free yourself from the revolving door of nausea, vomiting, and hospital visits that CHS often brings. Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent effort, you’ll likely see your symptoms ease.
- Smoking extra marijuana won’t help your nausea but will make it worse.
- Research into how cannabis interacts with the gastrointestinal tract, and how this may affect CHS, is ongoing.
Division of Food and Drug Safety

If it comes about once, it is more likely to come about every time you use it, even if you abstain for longer periods. For that reason, I want to introduce you to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. There are some things in life where you put your hand on a hot stove, and it burns. But there are other things that are deviously unclear, and you can’t really trace back how you’re feeling to what is exactly causing it. «We give patients IVs to hydrate them. We do basic testing, just to make sure their kidneys aren’t failing, that their electrolytes are not very disturbed,» he said.
Researchers have identified two receptors called CB1 and CB2 to which marijuana molecules attach. Receptors are specialized cells that respond to specific stimuli or changes in the environment. The best and only way to prevent or reduce your risk for CHS is to avoid or quit marijuana use. One study looking at Reddit posts on the subject found that spicy food, greasy food, coffee, black tea, and alcohol were frequently mentioned as CHS triggers. These foods/beverages are mostly acidic, but relationships between them and CHS have not been studied scientifically, although the co-use of weed and alcohol is well-known, the study authors said. This word is a combination of «screaming» and «vomiting.» You’re in so much pain that you’re screaming while you’re vomiting.
Developing and operating healthcare delivery systems in 36 distinct markets across 14 states, CHS is committed to helping people get well and live healthier. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is marked by waves of severe nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain after long-term cannabis use. People living with CHS often discover that hot baths and showers offer temporary relief from their intense nausea.
Once you do that, your repeated nausea and vomiting should go away and not return. Since THC is stored in your body fat, it can take weeks to months before all the symptoms go away and you notice a difference. Smoking extra marijuana won’t help your nausea but will make it worse.
Let your doctor know how much marijuana you use and how often you use it. Researchers aren’t sure exactly why weed causes CHS symptoms only in some people. The only proven way to prevent cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is to avoid cannabis (marijuana). Our Family Support Centers provide a safe and fun place where all families benefit chs illness from diverse resources and learning opportunities while making community connections. The Center for Health Statistics (CHS) collects, manages, and disseminates various health data and information.

The report estimates the disease burden across major population groups and describes trends over time that impact efforts to protect the health of millions of Texans. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (CYH) since June 2000, this organization reaches out to the investor community and engages in many presentations throughout the year. Links to these presentations can be found listed on this site as they are scheduled, and presentation recordings are available for approximately 60 days. «I feel like maybe before just making marijuana available to the masses, maybe some of these things should have been looked into. You know, too much of anything might be bad,» said Ramsey. Ramsey is part of one of them — a CHS Facebook group described as a «safe place to recover and learn» with 3,000 members.
- But when it does, it represents a potentially serious health condition.
- But not every person who uses marijuana, even long-term use, develops CHS.
- CHS causes recurring nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in regular cannabis users.
- Receptors are specialized cells that respond to specific stimuli or changes in the environment.
- «But really, to cure them of this condition, they need to stop smoking.»
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Diagnosis
Speak with a doctor or healthcare professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of CHS. An illness linked to marijuana use is landing more people in Duke Health emergency rooms with painful and sometimes debilitating symptoms. Emergency medicine specialists are raising awareness, because the condition comes as a surprise to many people who use cannabis. CHS shares overlapping symptoms with many conditions, making misdiagnosis common.