Why does cannabis make me feel sick

Terpenes are one part of the equation when it comes to determining cannabis's effects. We break down the limited research and offer tips. New to cannabis? A seasoned consumer and cannabis journalist shares her expert tips for making the most of your first time.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Understanding Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome. Takeaway As more states legalize cannabis, more people are learning whether cannabis is right for them. What is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome? What causes cannabis hyperemesis syndrome? What are the symptoms of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome? How common is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome? How is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome treated? What happens if cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is left untreated?

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Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. Smoke or Vape? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. More Teens Are Vaping Cannabis. Why Health Officials Are Alarmed Health officials are concerned about the increase in teens vaping cannabis because of the effects the drug can have on the brains of people under I thought marijuana was a treatment for nausea, how can cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome be caused by marijuana?

Research is ongoing regarding the exact cause of CHS, but it is likely due to the reactions of the more than active compounds in marijuana. Some of these cannabinoids trigger receptors in the brain reducing nausea, whereas others trigger receptors within the stomach, gut and intestines which seem to promote vomiting.

Furthermore, in animals, one THC metabolite cannabidiol has been shown to have an anti-nausea effect at low doses and at higher doses stimulates vomiting.

Experts believe that periods of vomiting are caused when there is a loss of balance between the anti-nausea and pro-vomiting properties of marijuana within the body. Because of confusion regarding this issue, many CHS sufferers actually increase their marijuana use thinking that it will reduce their nausea and vomiting, but it only makes the problem worse. Will everyone who smokes marijuana develop cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome was first recognized in Australia in , and initially it was thought to only rarely occur among people with several years of heavy marijuana use up to times daily. However, the number of cases of CHS seems to be increasing and more recent studies have found some cases of CHS have occurred in people who have been using marijuana heavily for less than a year and others who only use marijuana weekly.

The authors of one recent study estimate that as many as 2. In the early s, marijuana had an average of 3. As of in Colorado where marijuana has been legalized, some strains containing nearly 30 percent THC are available in marijuana dispensaries, though the average THC content is Is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome permanent? Once a patient has developed cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, avoiding marijuana is the only known cure. Patients who have had CHS will almost always have symptoms if they start using marijuana again.

Can you die from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome? In general, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome leads to dehydration and the other health consequences e. While it is theoretically possible, a severe electrolyte abnormality could lead to a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm, it would be very rare. Are cyclic vomiting syndrome and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome the same thing? Heavy, frequent use is thought to deregulate receptors, causing the symptoms of CHS. Cannabis use, however, has been common for centuries in countries like India , and symptoms of CHS have only begun to be reported in the last couple of decades.

In addition, there are no reports of CHS by chronic users in some regions, such as South Asia, at least not to the extent we see in the United States. This has led some doctors to be skeptical of the idea that cannabis itself is the problem, theorizing that additives may be the issue instead. In the case of Asia, however, lack of reports may also be due to the fact that weed remains strictly illegal in many of its largest countries, even as it gains acceptance in the West.

In my case, my fertility specialist believed CHS was directly linked to changes in my receptors caused by the hormones I was taking. I was scheduled to undergo a second round of egg donation, and he thought it was possible my receptors would revert back to normal afterward. Sure enough, following the second procedure, I no longer experienced the symptoms of CHS when using cannabis. Cannabis use is increasing across the country as states not only legalize its recreational use, but also as it becomes increasingly seen as an effective alternative treatment to many commonly used pharmaceuticals, including opioids.

Regardless of its cause, doctors expect to see a rise in cases of CHS coinciding with its increased use. Hospitals across the country have already seen more and more cases of CHS in states where weed has been legalized.