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Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Support Thread

I would write my story here but it just sounds like so many stories already posted so I will spare all of the details and summarize. I am 53 years old and have been a steady daily user of cannabis for 40 years. I started having CHS attacks 3 years ago. Of course I could not believe that after 37 years of steady use I was now suffering. I spent 2-1/2 years trying to figure out what it could possibly be besides CHS but the only real relief comes when I abstain from smoking.

Since I have not been able to permanently give up the drug I am looking for ways to reduce the occurrence of symptoms. Not how to relieve the symptoms but useful ways to delay the onset of symptoms. During each of my many hospital stays I was given probiotics and acid reducers during recovery. Has anyone had any experience with using probiotics to delay onset?
 
For all of the people who are not affected by this syndrome and speculate on the cause and how it must be something related like paper used to roll or pesticides or whatever YOU ARE VERY WRONG. I speculated about all of these things for several years while I suffered. The fact is there is nothing that will relieve the symptoms except abstaining from the drug. This is real. I have learned to cope with this by taking several days off every three months. It is the only thing that works for me.
 
I had reasoning that I posted on a few pages back, it would indeed seem to be caused by the cannabis itself if this is the cause:

THC is a 5HT-3 receptor antagonist.

When 5HT-3 is agonised, it causes vomiting. I'm assuming antagonising it prevents this, hence why THC is an anti-emetic (it prevents nausea).

With over use of THC (extreme over use) for some people, I'm guessing the 5HT-3 receptor upregulates (or downregulates, not sure on the exact word) itself to maintain balance or starts producing more serotonin (or another agonist) to keep balance. When the THC intake stops, there is now either a greater amount of natural 5HT-3 agonists being released or the receptor is extremely sensitized.

This increased agonizing level (or sensitization of the receptor) results in nausea + vomiting, i.e. Cannabis Hyper*emesis* Syndrome.

Why do showers ease the symptoms?

Well, if my above idea is right, I'm guessing there is now more serotonin being produced or the 5HT-3 receptors are now more sensitive to serotonin levels in the body. Serotonin is also involved in heat maintenance. If I understand it right, more serotonin = higher body temperature.

If you go for a hot shower, your body tries to cool down by producing *less* serotonin, and thus less serotonin is available to agonise the 5HT-3 receptor.

Decreased agonism = decreased vomiting = easing of the symptoms.

This is all guesswork but it's what seems to make sense to me so far from what I've read.
 
Spot On

Jackeh said:
I had reasoning that I posted on a few pages back, it would indeed seem to be caused by the cannabis itself if this is the cause:

THC is a 5HT-3 receptor antagonist.

When 5HT-3 is agonised, it causes vomiting. I'm assuming antagonising it prevents this, hence why THC is an anti-emetic (it prevents nausea).

With over use of THC (extreme over use) for some people, I'm guessing the 5HT-3 receptor upregulates (or downregulates, not sure on the exact word) itself to maintain balance or starts producing more serotonin (or another agonist) to keep balance. When the THC intake stops, there is now either a greater amount of natural 5HT-3 agonists being released or the receptor is extremely sensitized.

This increased agonizing level (or sensitization of the receptor) results in nausea + vomiting, i.e. Cannabis Hyper*emesis* Syndrome.

Why do showers ease the symptoms?

Well, if my above idea is right, I'm guessing there is now more serotonin being produced or the 5HT-3 receptors are now more sensitive to serotonin levels in the body. Serotonin is also involved in heat maintenance. If I understand it right, more serotonin = higher body temperature.

If you go for a hot shower, your body tries to cool down by producing *less* serotonin, and thus less serotonin is available to agonise the 5HT-3 receptor.

Decreased agonism = decreased vomiting = easing of the symptoms.

This is all guesswork but it's what seems to make sense to me so far from what I've read.
Click to expand...


I believe your Hypothesis is correct but I don't know how this symptom fits in. Each and every attack that I have had begins with an episode of lose watery stools that are accompanied by severe stomach pain. The vomiting begins almost simultaneously. Because of the way this occurs I have added mega doses of probiotic. This seems to have helped delay the onset. I am better at sensing the onset of symptoms.
 
I'm 18 and have smoked daily for about two years. I get bouts of nausea and the other night didn't fall asleep, I felt sick the whole night, and at 4am I started being sick. I was sick for the next 12 hours but inbetween being sick I felt no other symptoms. I experience constant bowel noises and think that there is some possible gastritis. I haven't been sick since, but have had bad nausea particularly immediately after smoking and in mornings
 
As a fluent marijuana smoker in a state that does not have any kind of Marijuana support expect for HB-1 ( Haileys Law ) Where Oil can be used on patients that are deemed sick by the government.

I have been smoking 13 years. Every day. Not a single day off. 9-15 times aday depending on where I am. What I am doing or fixing to do. So yes unfortunately when I can not locate bud or my 1 and only connect is in jail ( Like now ). I am forced to the dark side of the "Coming Down" the body trying to do what it was meant to do. Control the moods and tell me when I am suppose to eat.

I found taking 2 - 4 Hits of Resin and reading or being active the best method for the first 3 days. After 3 days just do not smoke anything. You will find that the side affects of not having bud will be minimal.

I wake up - About 30 minutes after I take a couple hits.
Before lunch I take a couple hits so I can eat.
Before bed I take 4-5 hits to put me to sleep.

Cough Drop takes care of the nasty taste ( Apple is best as its strong and will coats ) get non medicated unless you need it.
 
Hmm. The bodily systems which Cannabis affects are definitely responsive to temperature and tactile stimuli, as well the enclosed privacy and security of a shower. It sounds like a parasympathetic abreactive syndrome of some kind, with a strong need to limit all but the most comforting and secure stimuli, and to drown out any other stimuli.

I know quite a few drug addicts, as I actually live in a harm reduction transitional housing facility. One of them is smoking weed several times a day, and is taking showers a lot. I wonder if he's in the middle zone between no problems and having the problem you describe. He's 39. This other user, whose in his 60s, he smokes so many doobies a day I expect he has to use two hands to count them sometimes. He seems not bothered by any syndrome other than a sort of terror at the thought of running out of "weed" even for one day. It seems that people's relationship to substances are as varied as their relationships to many other things that involve the mind and spirit.

This sounds more like a physical syndrome, while the paranoid-reaction syndromes sound psychological and perhaps spiritual. Conversions between these two categories are also possible (psychosomatic conversion, for example).
 
My husband is in the middle of an episode, and I'm digging through all the research online to try and find some kind of relief. Thanks to all who are sharing what has worked for them!

Something else to consider -- for a while, I thought he might have Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome, because the symptoms are indistinguishable. The only way to diagnose CVS is to show that they are free from mj use. Well, my husband is a heavy smoker, 41, with a history of smoking (eating, vaporizing, etc) since he was a wee lad. So it is more likely that he has CHS. He has just started having problems in the last few years, with these particular issues manifesting about 3 years ago. He's been to the hospital for 7 days while they ran every test, and to the ER or Urgent Care where they treat him like he is crazy, or seeking drugs. I just bought some capsaicin to see if that will help, as I discovered the poster presentation by Dr. Lapoint this morning and figured we could give it a try. He's taken over 50 hot showers in the last 3 days, but now that is not working very well either. My dad gave him one of his sleeping pills, which at least got him to sleep for a few hours, and he just took another one. Sleep often seems to 'restart' him so the pain is gone when he wakes up. Fingers crossed that is the case this time.

One of the things I am wondering is if the people who end up with CHS have an underlying mitochondrial dysfunction the way many with CVS do. That might explain why so few people who are heavy smokers end up with this syndrome -- it is epigenetic. CoQ10 and L-Carnitine are a successful treatment for many with that issue, so I've ordered those too, and will try them with my husband. Unfortunately, quitting mj seems to the be the foolproof way to stop the attacks, but I know that he really struggles with quitting. He says he wants to quit, but even this pain he gets into several times a year is not enough to motivate him. (I'm an occasional smoker too -- I support mj legalization, I have no issues with adults engaging when it works for them. But this clearly isn't working for him!)

I'm kind of curious if others have the same issues he has, though, between episodes. He has terrible insomnia/chronic fatigue and bowel/lower GI issues. The weed does not help either of these, although I don't know that it hurts them either. Some articles I've read about mitochondrial dysfunction indicate that these, along with migraines, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and others, can be related to mitochondrial dysfunction.
 
Going to share my story here hope maybe someone can gain some insight into this illness, or maybe i can gain some myself. I am a 27yo female, Daily smoker since i was about 18. Smoking since 15. About two years ago i my signifigant other and i made the switch from herb to concentrates, still smoking them heavily. A year later i was taken to the Emergency room after a wicked 4 days of severe nausea,stomach pain and vomiting. I'm talking 30-40 times an hour. I was unable to even keep sips of water down. I was treated with fluids and pain meds and sent home not feeling any better than i did to begin. This episode lasted six days. I must mention here i also found solace only in hot showers it seemed to be the only relief from the pain.

Fast forward to two months later and another episode began, this time hospitalized after 3 days, treated the same way as the first time (nausea meds not helping with nausea or vomiting at this point). Blood test, ct scans, gastro scans, numerous tests are performed and the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me, spent the next few weeks with various specialists. This episode lasted 7 days. Two months later and surprise! episode number three! Same symptoms, same treatment, still no prognosis, third episode lasted 7 days as well.Starting to notice a pattern here. Nurse at the hospital tells me to look into CVS, But my gastroenterologist wont seem to entertain the idea.

I was episode free for Nine Months! resumed smoking concentrates as i had been normally, finally felt like i was in the clear. Two months ago i had another episode. This last one was my worst to date. I vomited for fourteen days loosing twenty-six pounds in the process. I was taken to the Emergency room 4 times for fluids as i was unable to keep any kind of food or liquid down. The doctors at this hospital (different from first episodes) immediatley asked me if i smoked marijuana. It was explained to me that this is an escalating problem not only in their hospitals but hospitals across the country. I believe this illness is very real! Maybe not very common but very real. CVS is a disease that mostly affects younger children, i honestly believe most adult cases are misdiagnosed. Weed is so much stronger now than it was ever intended to be, we've cross bred and concentrated and made everything so potent now.

I can update as this goes on, I have tried to cut back on smoking but honestly its hard, we are coming up on that two month mark so we will see what happens!
 
For anyone who thinks CHS is bs, ask yourself this: what drug doesn't cause toxicity problems with it being present in excessive amounts in cells.. The answer: none. Even too much water can kill you.

My story: I'm 44 and have been smoking since 13. About 30 years of hardcore toking. For the past few years i have been getting "food poisoning" or some "stomach flu" with greater and greater frequency.the sickness lasts about 12 hour beginning in the morning. The severeness of the attacks have been getting more intense, and smoking pot only seem to make it worse, until symptoms are alleviated, then the pot is great. In recent years i have added dabs to my daily regiment of smoking which includes about 2 grams of organic high grade, and 1/4 gram wax. I can not eat until i have smoked in the morning. I'm in very good health otherwise for my age, but I do smoke cigarettes(about 7/day).
I have recently diagnosed myself with CHS and stopped smoking completely. It's very hard because I love the doobie, and don't drink or use any other drugs. I'm totally bummed because i know that I can never smoke moderately. One toke and I'm back in the loop of not wanting to come down. It's the unexpected attacks of CHS that have frightened me into sobriety.
I had to be hospitalized while on vacation visiting my family, the doc said it was some strange virus and gave me a bill of 3 grand.
 
Jackeh said:
I had reasoning that I posted on a few pages back, it would indeed seem to be caused by the cannabis itself if this is the cause:

THC is a 5HT-3 receptor antagonist.

When 5HT-3 is agonised, it causes vomiting. I'm assuming antagonising it prevents this, hence why THC is an anti-emetic (it prevents nausea).

With over use of THC (extreme over use) for some people, I'm guessing the 5HT-3 receptor upregulates (or downregulates, not sure on the exact word) itself to maintain balance or starts producing more serotonin (or another agonist) to keep balance. When the THC intake stops, there is now either a greater amount of natural 5HT-3 agonists being released or the receptor is extremely sensitized.

This increased agonizing level (or sensitization of the receptor) results in nausea + vomiting, i.e. Cannabis Hyper*emesis* Syndrome.

Why do showers ease the symptoms?

Well, if my above idea is right, I'm guessing there is now more serotonin being produced or the 5HT-3 receptors are now more sensitive to serotonin levels in the body. Serotonin is also involved in heat maintenance. If I understand it right, more serotonin = higher body temperature.

If you go for a hot shower, your body tries to cool down by producing *less* serotonin, and thus less serotonin is available to agonise the 5HT-3 receptor.

Decreased agonism = decreased vomiting = easing of the symptoms.

This is all guesswork but it's what seems to make sense to me so far from what I've read.
Click to expand...
no it has to do with resetting the hypothalamus. and its not from not having enough thc. it's from too much.
 
chalsrandal69 said:
Okay so I need some help. I can't find solid answers anywhere. I started smoking weed after my 18th birthday. I just turned 21. Last November I took myself off my antidepressants and mood stabilizers because I noticed that if I went a day or two without them I would get horrible nausea and vomit in the morning. Nausea was a withdrawal symptom so I thought that it would go away, but it is nearly nine months later and it hasn't gone away. At the time I was smoking weed, but not regularly or very heavy usage. Since then if I don't smoke weed at least every other day or so my nausea and vomiting returns. I cannot drink coffee anymore or more than a drink of alcohol or else later I get very sick. The nausea starts right when I wake up and usually gets better by 4 or 5 pm. It makes it to where anything I eat makes me feel sick. My doctor wants me to go two weeks without smoking to see if the vomiting is Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, but so far I have not been able to go more than four days. Every day that I don't smoke my nausea and vomiting gets worse and I get very dehydrated. I don't know what to do! I live on my own and have to go to work so I can pay my bills. Does this sound like CHS? It seems to me like Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome unrelated to cannabis.

So a question to all CHS sufferers: Do you experience nausea and vomiting WHILE you're still smoking weed? Or does it happen to you whenever you STOP smoking weed?
Thank you to anyone who answers me, I have been obsessively googling for answers but haven't found anything yet.
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I'm pretty sure you can't catch CHS before you start smoking weed regularly, even if it does exist at all.

Find another doctor & tell them you've been vomiting since you came off your antidepressants & mood stabilizers, get a second opinion.
 
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So I think I may have been a long term(couple of years) suffer from this years ago. Waking up nauseous and puking 2-5 times was part of my morning routine before heading off to work. It never made me late, but it did replace breakfast and all that. Would basically wake up feeling like i'm near shaking with anxiety and then have to run to the bathroom.

At the time I was smoking at least an ounce a week, sometimes more. I've since cut down quite a bit on my intake as I have a regular cough among other reasons for cutting back, but I had a question for everyone that reads this- does this sound like cannabis hypermesis syndrome or something else like anxiety/panic attack related? I am prone to high anxiety a lot of time, something I am working on controlling. Anyways, I ask because I am pretty sure there have been other times in my life when I smoked as much as I did and didn't have the problem, but then I wasn't waking up stressed about my job. Also, on those days that I would puke I would smoke afterward and it would level me out enough to head out to work. Any thoughts? At the time I wasn't doing any other drug except drinking a lot more, but not to the point that I would wake up puking most times. Thoughts?
 
I have smoked for about 2 years. I had abdominal pain and had to get my gallbladder out about a year after i started smoking. Now I'm either nauseous or don't have an appetite unless I smoke. It's much worse in the mornings though.
 
Heya! I'll try not to repeat everything everyone has already said in here 8)

I'd like to think that I haven't been a heavy smoker throughout my 6 years of dabbling with cannabis on and off, but if I said that I'd be lying! For the last few years my use has gone up, and I began feeling the usual symptoms of CHS that everyone's described over here. One day I even had to call ambulance service on the phone as I had endless diarrhea and vomiting and couldn't understand what could it be caused by? After searching I found threads on CHS. What I found surprising about 'CHS' in particular, is that everyone seems to be experiencing the same sort of symptoms, yet everyone's use/consumption habits are different....

Now I won't repeat what everyone's already said, but I'll mention this small factor that I think was at play here too. I'm assuming that a majority of peeps don't only consume cannabis (admit it), so there is always some medications on the side + other drugs like drone/MD etc that kids seem to ingest nowadays without having any idea what's in it. I've always had a few mates who would puke whenever they took MD/x, and I always found it strange that nothing they did (e.g. eating before, not eating before, avoiding alcohol etc) would change the outcome, and they'd still puke it out. What I've notice though is they were all heavy cannabis users... This year I've had a similar experience (multiple times), and it was strange to me as I have never ever vomited from this. Straight after this experience I began getting CHS symptoms more and more (even if I lowered my consumption to a small j a day). I'm wondering if mixing/stimulant use along with cannabis could increase the likelihood of developing CHS?

Why I found this interesting? Because during my 2nd year at university I used to smoke like a train and never ever ever got the CHS symptoms or anything close to that (I did get insomnia when I quit abruptly, but that's normal). Ever since that experience I've had regular problems with feeling nauseous and loose stools in the morning from prolonged cannabis use.
 
Bump

A patient came in the other day with very similar symptomatic, and admitted to abusing synthetic cannabinoids for a few months. He also talked about temporary relief from hot bathes. Crazy stuff. Back when I used to smoke regular weed all the time I also often experienced the morning nausea, non-existent appetite, and hot shower relief. It would also get worse with stress. Never had anything close to as bad as what some people here are explaining, but I also was having some gastro-abdominal problems at the time too (bloating, loose stools) that have since gone away when I stopped smoking so heavily.

I would love reading more experiences with the hyperemesis, but I would also be interested in more accounts of IBS like symptoms (including but not limited to bloating, loose stools, bit smelly) which tend to abate with discontinued consumption of cannabinoids.

After seeing this dude, I wish everyone here who has to deal with this a quick and full recovery. Also, if you all treat your kidneys right (drink recommended amount of water, and don't hold your pee too long) even if you aren't having an acute problem they will be much better off when they are under strain.
 
15 month Update:

billboto said:
Well after not smoking for three months I started smoking a little here and there.
Now I'm back up to about an eighth a week. However I no longer take bong hits; only one hitters and occasional dube sharing.

Knock on wood. I've had no issues since and sort of feel cured.
I'll update again if I get slammed with another bout.

BTW: I still feel CHS is real.
Click to expand...
 
Denial

billboto said:
billboto said:
Well after not smoking for three months I started smoking a little here and there.
Now I'm back up to about an eighth a week. However I no longer take bong hits; only one hitters and occasional dube sharing.

Knock on wood. I've had no issues since and sort of feel cured.
I'll update again if I get slammed with another bout.

BTW: I still feel CHS is real.
Click to expand...

I have gone 2 months between episodes and 9 months between episodes. I usually feel cured in between episodes. I can't say I did anything different each time. I do have signs that an episode is eminent as much as a week before. Unfortunately I don't usually recognize the signs until I have the episode. Some of it can be attributed to denial.
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