How Emergency Departments Treat Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
This review summarizes current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in the emergency department setting.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CHS management in the ED includes both pharmacological approaches (antiemetics, capsaicin) and non-pharmacological strategies (hot showers), with emergency pharmacists playing an increasingly important role in treatment decisions.
Key Numbers
Review article — synthesizes existing evidence on CHS treatments including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
How They Did This
Review article summarizing current evidence on pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) in the emergency department.
Why This Research Matters
CHS is becoming more common as cannabis use rises. Patients often cycle through multiple ER visits before diagnosis, and clear treatment protocols can reduce suffering and healthcare costs.
The Bigger Picture
CHS was barely recognized a decade ago and is now a routine ED diagnosis. As cannabis potency and use frequency increase, clinical awareness and standardized treatment protocols become essential.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
CHS treatment evidence is largely based on case reports and small studies. No large RCTs exist for most recommended therapies.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which pharmacological treatments are most effective for acute CHS episodes?
- ?Can we identify cannabis users at highest risk for developing CHS before it occurs?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Review of existing treatment evidence, which is itself largely based on case reports and small studies rather than rigorous trials.
- Study Age:
- Recent review reflecting current clinical practices for a condition that has become significantly more common in recent years.
- Original Title:
- Managing cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in adult patients in the emergency department.
- Published In:
- American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 82(24), 1340-1352 (2025)
- Authors:
- Won, Kimberly J, Celmins, Laura
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07967
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
CHS causes cyclic vomiting and abdominal pain in people who use cannabis heavily and frequently. Symptoms are often temporarily relieved by hot showers but keep recurring until cannabis use stops.
How is CHS treated in the emergency room?
Treatment includes antiemetic medications, topical capsaicin cream, IV fluids, and sometimes benzodiazepines. Hot showers provide temporary relief. The definitive treatment is stopping cannabis use.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07967APA
Won, Kimberly J; Celmins, Laura. (2025). Managing cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in adult patients in the emergency department.. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 82(24), 1340-1352. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxaf125
MLA
Won, Kimberly J, et al. "Managing cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in adult patients in the emergency department.." American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxaf125
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Managing cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in adult patients ..." RTHC-07967. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/won-2025-managing-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.