PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - A frightening and mysterious illness called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, is affecting some regular, long-term marijuana users.
The syndrome only affects certain people, and doctors aren’t quite sure who is at risk of developing symptoms, which can include uncontrollable vomiting, sometimes for days, as well as extreme stomach pain.
No, it's real, and we see a lot of it with the new stronger varietals. So we end up with puking stoners and their entourages clogging up our ER beds. And they just. Dont. Get. It. They think if they just smoke more of it, the barfing will go away. Nope. And no amount of explaining this gets thru to them.
When I was in college experimenting with stuff in the mid 1970s, I found out that I could not do marijuana because it always made me violently ill. For me, it was horrible nystagmus -- I lost my balance and the world kept spinning until I threw up. And that was with the mild 1970s stuff. Had to stick with more benign stuff like acid and mushrooms.
Back in the day, weed was around 10-15% thc. Now, with newer/older strains, it can be as high as 30%. Strong stuff for sure. Just don't over do it. It's a waste of good weed. After all, you know when your mouth is dry, you plenty high. Ohio Guy
Frightening? Meh, not really. Mysterious? Not so much, been known for many years. Common? Not really, majority of people will not experience it. For those that do, either quit or cut back. If you don't, well, you do you then.
The first article I read on it was in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology (2010, IIRC). The key is the percentage of THC - 15% for you old-timers, upwards of 80% for today's users. Per the Journal article, its almost diagnostic IF the vomiting gets better with hot shower. IME, 100% of my patients who had HCS (Hyperemesis Cannabinoid Syndrome), felt better with a hot shower. The drug of treatment is Haldol.
While the literature states its most common amongst chronic users, my experience does not bear that out.
An interesting point is that those who are pregnant and smoked MJ, now with HCS, rubbing hot sauce on the belly provides relief. (can't use Haldol in pregnancy)
Link is broke, BUT.... When I was first experimenting with weed in the 80's it always gave me a stomach ache so I just didn't do it anymore and stayed with alcohol.
Seen a lot more of this syndrome recently with the legalization of marijuana. Sometimes three or four people in a week. Probably not going to kill anyone but the people suffering with it are utterly miserable.
I’ve seen a lot of it. Jen and Why Me are correct. It really increased after weed was legalized here in Michigan. The higher THC strains seem to be connected and it makes sense. The marijuana plant only makes a certain amount of the precursor to all the canabinoids. The amount of various enzymes determines which canabinoid it is converted into. The high THC strains convert much more of this into THC and less into the other canabinoids. I believe that the balance between them is involved. When the older strains were prevalent, CHS didn’t happen nearly as often. As why me said, Haldol seems to work best. Usually 2.5 mg IV. Treating it with other antiemetics doesn’t work. Capsaicin cream to the abdomen can help as well if they can’t take Haldol. I always told them that they used up their lifetime limit of weed and it’s time to stop. After CHS starts, any continued use can bring it back. The potheads never believed me until at least the third time they were in the EC for it. The higher the THC or the more often they smoked, the sooner it can happen. Never saw it in true recreational smokers. Almost always in the all day, every day group.
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ReplyDeleteI know who is not at risk....
ReplyDelete--Generic
Well, it's really something when someone has to be treated for it.
ReplyDeletePro tip: If you've been vomiting for hours and only find relief in a warm shower, you probably have it
Couldn't have anything to do with any/all of the weird shit they wolfed down afterwards?
ReplyDeleteIt only affects those who are doing psilocybin 'shrooms at the same time. So I've heard.
ReplyDeleteShit, I can't count the number of times I've eaten mushrooms and smoked some killer bud.
DeleteI laughed out loud when you typed my exact thoughts. Love the blogs, you folks keep me sane.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's real, and we see a lot of it with the new stronger varietals. So we end up with puking stoners and their entourages clogging up our ER beds. And they just. Dont. Get. It. They think if they just smoke more of it, the barfing will go away. Nope. And no amount of explaining this gets thru to them.
ReplyDeleteI'll be damned, I've never heard of such a thing.
DeleteIt has nothing to do with the strength of the pot, this is such obvious bs
DeleteYeap, saw plenty of it, here in central Texas. And another yeap, for "they just don't get it" when you try to explain it to them.
DeleteWhen I was in college experimenting with stuff in the mid 1970s, I found out that I could not do marijuana because it always made me violently ill. For me, it was horrible nystagmus -- I lost my balance and the world kept spinning until I threw up. And that was with the mild 1970s stuff. Had to stick with more benign stuff like acid and mushrooms.
DeleteBack in the day, weed was around 10-15% thc. Now, with newer/older strains, it can be as high as 30%. Strong stuff for sure. Just don't over do it. It's a waste of good weed. After all, you know when your mouth is dry, you plenty high.
ReplyDeleteOhio Guy
Broken link, here is the correct one.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.wbtv.com/2022/02/22/frightening-mysterious-illness-affects-some-regular-marijuana-users/
Frightening? Meh, not really. Mysterious? Not so much, been known for many years. Common? Not really, majority of people will not experience it. For those that do, either quit or cut back. If you don't, well, you do you then.
ReplyDeleteThe first article I read on it was in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology (2010, IIRC). The key is the percentage of THC - 15% for you old-timers, upwards of 80% for today's users. Per the Journal article, its almost diagnostic IF the vomiting gets better with hot shower. IME, 100% of my patients who had HCS (Hyperemesis Cannabinoid Syndrome), felt better with a hot shower. The drug of treatment is Haldol.
ReplyDeleteWhile the literature states its most common amongst chronic users, my experience does not bear that out.
An interesting point is that those who are pregnant and smoked MJ, now with HCS, rubbing hot sauce on the belly provides relief. (can't use Haldol in pregnancy)
Link is broke, BUT....
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first experimenting with weed in the 80's it always gave me a stomach ache so I just didn't do it anymore and stayed with alcohol.
Seen a lot more of this syndrome recently with the legalization of marijuana. Sometimes three or four people in a week. Probably not going to kill anyone but the people suffering with it are utterly miserable.
ReplyDelete"Describe your experience with pot"....."Happy. hungry, horny, sleepy".....
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen a lot of it. Jen and Why Me are correct. It really increased after weed was legalized here in Michigan. The higher THC strains seem to be connected and it makes sense. The marijuana plant only makes a certain amount of the precursor to all the canabinoids. The amount of various enzymes determines which canabinoid it is converted into. The high THC strains convert much more of this into THC and less into the other canabinoids. I believe that the balance between them is involved. When the older strains were prevalent, CHS didn’t happen nearly as often. As why me said, Haldol seems to work best. Usually 2.5 mg IV. Treating it with other antiemetics doesn’t work. Capsaicin cream to the abdomen can help as well if they can’t take Haldol. I always told them that they used up their lifetime limit of weed and it’s time to stop. After CHS starts, any continued use can bring it back. The potheads never believed me until at least the third time they were in the EC for it. The higher the THC or the more often they smoked, the sooner it can happen. Never saw it in true recreational smokers. Almost always in the all day, every day group.
ReplyDelete