.png)
Since 2018, medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription through licensed clinics like Alternaleaf for 50+ conditions. You can find out if you’re eligible by completing the quick questionnaire on our website. But what happens if you start to experience symptoms of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)?
Let’s rewind, and start with the question: What is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome?
CHS is a rare condition that can happen to people who’ve used cannabis for a very long time - usually from teen years through to adulthood. It’s one of the reasons why we won’t prescribe to anyone under the age of 18. Cannabinoid obviously refers to cannabis, and hyperemesis means prolonged vomiting.
Which brings us to some CHS symptoms:
- Repeated episodes of vomiting
- Severe nausea
- Stomach pain
- Dehydration
It can become serious if left untreated, so if you feel like you may be experiencing symptoms, contact your clinician as soon as possible.
Below we’ll be giving you an overview of medical cannabis and CHS including what you need to know, whether the two are related, how it’s diagnosed, managed, and steps you can take to prevent it.
What Causes Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome?
More research needs to be done to fully understand what causes CHS. Because whilst some people who consume often may experience CHS, others who consume more, may not. Let’s explore one theory:
The endocannabinoid system, or the ECS, is a messenger and receptor system that is integral to homeostasis (the management of balance) within the human body. The ECS influences and modulates pretty much every single function within your body, directing, correcting and managing your overall health.
One of the core components of the ECS are the cannabinoid receptors, which includes CB1 and CB2. They’re one of the main reasons behind why cannabis works so positively on so many different conditions. Many experts believe that, by consuming compounds like CBD and THC, two of over 100 cannabinoids or compounds that can cause effects throughout the body, it’s possible to interact with these receptors.
Experts think that repeated use could stop or slowly change the way our brain receptors respond to medical cannabis, causing nausea, vomiting and other CHS symptoms. But keep in mind, this is just a theory.
There’s also speculation around genetics playing a role. But again, a lot more research is needed.
CHS and Medical Cannabis: What You Need to Know
When it comes to consuming medical cannabis, medical supervision is essential. In fact, it’s probably the most important thing we’ll tell you in this article. Follow the dosage, guidance and advice your clinician gives you. They’ll work with you to choose a treatment plan that suits you and your symptoms.
It’s also important to mention that at Alternaleaf, we look at your NHS Summary Care Record (SCR) before deciding if medical cannabis is suitable for you. Your SCR is a short summary of your GP medical records. It includes diagnosis, medications and allergies. Everyone has one, and it should include everything we need to verify your application and confirm you qualify for medical cannabis treatment.
You may not get it right the first time you use medical cannabis, which is why we recommend starting slow. It’s also important to remember that everyone’s body can react differently, and you’ll have your own individual tolerance to the medication. Just monitor how you react, and feed this back to your clinician during your next appointment.
How CHS is Diagnosed and Treated
Unfortunately it’s not as simple as testing for CHS, because there is no single test to diagnose it. Unfortunately repeated vomiting could be a symptom of a range of conditions. Therefore, if you are experiencing symptoms, some of the tests your doctor may conduct include:
- A physical exam
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Drug tests
- An x-ray
- MRI
- CT scan
Just make sure to mention your medical cannabis prescription, and share information such as dosage, how often you consume, and how long you’ve been consuming for.
It also doesn’t help that only a small number of doctors know about CHS. However, your Alternaleaf clinician will - so if you think you might be experiencing symptoms, book an appointment with us as soon as possible.
There's also no treatment for CHS. However, symptoms almost always stop if you end your medical cannabis use. Obviously this isn’t ideal for someone with a medical cannabis prescription that potentially helps with their other health concerns. So, try to follow our advice on how to prevent it above: start low and go slow, and follow your prescribers advice.
If you are thinking about stopping medical cannabis use, we have a bit more information on cannabis withdrawal nausea here.
FAQs
Can You Prevent CHS?
As we mentioned above, the best way to avoid CHS is to follow the dosage, guidance and advice your clinician gives you. Also start slowly!
If you think you spotted an early warning sign, contact your clinician. They’ll go through the best course of action with you.
Can CHS resolve without quitting cannabis?
Currently there isn’t enough research to fully understand CHS. At the time of writing this article stopping use is the only known way to stop the symptoms of CHS. Symptoms should disappear after a few days.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean quitting medical cannabis completely. If the symptoms of CHS have stopped, and you feel ready to begin using medical cannabis again, speak to your clinician. They may advise you not to consume for the meantime, or they may prescribe you a much lower dose. It’s always best to ask an expert.
Does dosage affect the risk of CHS?
Not necessarily. The way the body reacts to medical cannabis is different for everyone. And like we said there isn’t currently much research around CHS. Consuming a higher dose than what’s prescribed by your clinician may potentially affect the risk of CHS.
However, as long as you’re following the dosage your prescriber feels is appropriate for you, you’ll minimise the risks of CHS and any other unwanted side effects.
Are certain cannabis strains more likely to cause CHS?
The answer to this is similar to the answer on dosage. We did say the most important thing is following your clinicians advice. They will prescribe a strain that they think is best suited to you and your needs.
Can cannabis cause nausea?
Yes, this can be a minor side effect of medical cannabis, but should only last for a few hours. It can usually be avoided if you follow your treatment plan, or speak to your clinician about altering your strain and dose if you’re experiencing unwanted side effects.
On the flip side, some people actually use cannabis to ease the symptoms of nausea, for example if it’s a result of treatments like chemotherapy.
Summary
Remember CHS UK is a very rare condition. Consuming your medication as instructed by your clinician should lead to safe use and effective results.
The best thing to do is speak to your Doctor or clinician, or seek the help of a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf if you’re considering medical cannabis treatment. Find out if you’re eligible by heading to our website and completing our 30 second questionnaire.