Updated

Updated · Ynetnews · Aug 10

US ER Diagnoses of Cannabis Vomiting Syndrome Rise 16%, Hitting Ages 15 to 24 Hardest

Updated

Updated · Ynetnews · Aug 10

US ER Diagnoses of Cannabis Vomiting Syndrome Rise 16%, Hitting Ages 15 to 24 Hardest

Q: Standard anti-nausea drugs fail to stop this cannabis-induced vomiting, so what unexpected treatments are ER doctors forced to use instead?

ER doctors often have to turn to nonstandard CHS treatments such as antipsychotic-type drugs — especially haloperidol or droperidol, and sometimes olanzapine — along with topical capsaicin cream, the chili-pepper ingredient rubbed on the abdomen. That is because the usual anti-nausea medicines, including drugs like ondansetron, frequently do not work well for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. In the emergency setting, clinicians instead focus on IV fluids and electrolyte replacement, then use dopamine-blocking medicines that have shown better symptom control in CHS. Capsaicin is the more unexpected option. It is used because many CHS patients get temporary relief from very hot showers or baths, and capsaicin appears to trigger a similar heat-sensitive pathway, known as TRPV1. Small studies and case reports suggest it can quickly reduce vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain, though it is still considered an adjunct rather than a cure. The only lasting fix remains stopping cannabis use altogether. ER treatment can calm the acute episode, but if patients continue using marijuana or high-THC products, the vomiting syndrome often comes back.

3 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · Aug 10

CDC data show U.S. emergency departments diagnosed cannabis hyperemesis syndrome 16% more often from October 2025 to May 2026, with the sharpest rise among patients ages 15 to 24.
About 7,500 facilities reported nearly 200,000 CHS-related visits from January 2023 through summer 2025; rates were mostly stable until a dedicated diagnostic code was introduced.
Doctors say the increase likely reflects better recognition and reporting as much as any real rise in cases, though growing daily marijuana use may also be contributing.
CHS causes severe nausea, repeated vomiting and abdominal pain in frequent users, can mimic other disorders, and usually improves only after cannabis use stops completely.
The CDC report also found larger increases among girls and women, Black Americans, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, underscoring broader public-health concerns as marijuana use expands.