Can't Stop Vomiting? Why Your Body May Be Rejecting Cannabis (CHS) & What to Do Next

If you use cannabis regularly and suddenly can't stop vomiting, you may be dealing with CHS (Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome).

CHS is a real and increasingly recognized medical condition where long-term cannabis use leads to repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It can feel confusing — especially if you've used cannabis for years without problems, or even used it to treat nausea.

Here's what's happening, why it occurs, and what medical steps you should take.

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What Is CHS?

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a condition seen in people who use cannabis frequently — often daily or near-daily — over a long period (usually months to years).

It is characterized by:

• Persistent nausea
• Repeated vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• Temporary relief from hot showers or baths

CHS was first formally described in 2004 in peer-reviewed medical literature. Since then, emergency departments across the U.S. and other countries have reported rising cases, especially as cannabis potency has increased.

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Why Would Cannabis Cause Vomiting?

This is the confusing part: cannabis is known to reduce nausea in some situations, especially short-term. But chronic use can have the opposite effect in certain people.

What Experts Believe Is Happening

Your body has an endocannabinoid system that helps regulate:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Digestion
• Pain
• Temperature control

With heavy, long-term cannabis use:

• Cannabinoid receptors may become overstimulated.
• The body's natural regulation of nausea can become disrupted.
• The digestive tract may slow down abnormally.
• The brain's vomiting center may become dysregulated.

High-potency THC products (concentrates, dabs, edibles with high THC levels) appear to increase the risk.

Importantly: Not everyone who uses cannabis develops CHS. But for those who do, the pattern is usually consistent.

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The 3 Phases of CHS

CHS typically develops in stages.

1. Prodromal Phase

This can last months or even years.

Symptoms may include:

• Morning nausea
• Anxiety about vomiting
• Mild stomach discomfort
• Continued cannabis use (often increased to treat nausea)

At this stage, many people don't realize cannabis is the cause.

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2. Hyperemetic Phase (The Crisis Phase)

This is when symptoms become severe.

• Repeated vomiting (sometimes dozens of times per day)
• Intense abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• Weight loss
• Inability to keep food or fluids down
• Frequent hot showers for relief

Many patients go to the emergency room during this phase.

Hot showers are a major clue. Temporary relief from hot water is considered a hallmark sign of CHS.

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3. Recovery Phase

Symptoms stop only after cannabis use is completely discontinued.

• Vomiting resolves
• Appetite returns
• Weight stabilizes
• Energy improves

If cannabis use resumes, symptoms usually return.

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Why Hot Showers Help

This is one of the most unique aspects of CHS.

Medical researchers believe hot water activates temperature-sensitive receptors in the skin. This may temporarily override the nausea signals in the brain.

But this is only short-term relief — not treatment.

If someone is taking multiple hot showers daily to manage vomiting, CHS should be strongly considered.

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How Serious Is CHS?

CHS can become dangerous if untreated.

Repeated vomiting can lead to:

• Severe dehydration
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Kidney injury
• Low blood pressure
• Heart rhythm abnormalities
• Tears in the esophagus (rare but serious)

While many cases resolve with proper care, untreated severe dehydration can be life-threatening.

This is not meant to cause alarm — but it is important to take persistent vomiting seriously.

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How Is CHS Diagnosed?

There is no single test for CHS.

Doctors diagnose it based on:

• History of long-term cannabis use
• Recurrent vomiting episodes
• Relief with hot showers
• Resolution after stopping cannabis
• Ruling out other causes

Other conditions that may need to be excluded include:

• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Gallbladder disease
• Pancreatitis
• Gastrointestinal obstruction
• Infection
• Pregnancy-related vomiting

Because CHS shares similarities with other vomiting disorders, it's important to differentiate between them—you can use Ubie's free AI-powered Cyclic Vomiting Symptom Checker to help identify whether your vomiting pattern aligns with CHS or another condition before your medical appointment.

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Medical Treatment for CHS

In the Emergency Setting

If vomiting is severe, treatment may include:

• IV fluids for dehydration
• Electrolyte replacement
• Anti-nausea medications
• Pain control
• Topical capsaicin cream (sometimes used for symptom relief)

Standard anti-nausea medications do not always work well in CHS.

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The Only Proven Long-Term Treatment

The only definitive treatment for CHS is:

Complete cessation of cannabis use.

Not reducing.
Not switching strains.
Not lowering THC.

Stopping entirely.

Symptoms usually resolve within days to weeks after stopping.

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How Long Does Recovery Take?

• Nausea often improves within a few days.
• Full recovery may take 1–2 weeks.
• In heavy users, it may take longer for the body to rebalance.

If cannabis use resumes, symptoms often return — sometimes even more severely.

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Why Some People Resist the Diagnosis

It can be difficult to accept that cannabis is the cause, especially if:

• You use it for anxiety, pain, or sleep.
• You believed it was helping nausea.
• You've used it for years without problems.
• You view cannabis as natural and safe.

But "natural" does not mean risk-free. Any substance that affects brain receptors can cause side effects in certain people.

Recognizing CHS early can prevent repeated ER visits and serious complications.

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When to Seek Immediate Medical Care

Go to urgent care or the emergency room if you have:

• Vomiting that won't stop
• Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dizziness, dark urine, confusion)
• Severe abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Blood in vomit
• Fainting
• No urination for 8+ hours

These can signal serious complications.

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Can CHS Be Prevented?

The only known prevention is avoiding chronic cannabis use.

Risk appears higher with:

• Daily or near-daily use
• High-THC products
• Long-term use (years)
• Starting use at a young age

There is no evidence that switching to CBD-only products reliably prevents recurrence.

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What If You're Not Sure It's CHS?

Persistent vomiting always deserves medical evaluation.

Other causes may include:

• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Hormonal conditions
• Neurological causes
• Medication side effects

If you're unsure, start by gathering information about your symptoms and pattern. Then bring that information to a medical appointment.

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A Calm but Clear Takeaway

If you:

• Use cannabis regularly
• Experience repeated unexplained vomiting
• Feel better with hot showers
• Have been to the ER more than once for nausea

CHS should be on your radar.

The good news is that it is reversible in most cases once cannabis is stopped.

The hard part is recognizing it early.

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Final Word: Speak to a Doctor

Vomiting that does not stop is not something to ignore.

If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, speak to a doctor promptly. Some causes of vomiting can be life-threatening if untreated.

Even if you suspect CHS, you still need medical evaluation to rule out other serious conditions and to safely manage dehydration and electrolyte issues.

Your body is not "betraying" you. It is signaling that something needs to change.

Listen to it. Get checked. And if CHS is the cause, stopping cannabis may be the reset your system needs.