Hot Showers and Horror Stories: Scromiting and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), also known as "scromiting," is a debilitating condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that affects heavy cannabis users. Dr. Casey Grover explains this increasingly common syndrome caused by high-potency cannabis products, which paradoxically improves with hot showers and proves challenging to treat with conventional medications.• First identified in 2009 and named "scromiting" to reflect the combined screaming and vomiting patients experience• Cannabis potency has increased dramatically from 1% THC in the 1970s to 25-30% THC in today's products• Patients experience cyclical episodes of diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting lasting 24-48 hours• Compulsive hot bathing is a hallmark symptom, with patients focusing hot water on their abdomen for relief• Standard anti-nausea medications like Zofran don't work well; psychiatric medications like Haldol often provide better relief• Many patients question the diagnosis because cannabis is thought to help nausea rather than cause it• Treatment requires cannabis cessation, though symptoms may persist for months after quitting• Multiple theories explain CHS, including nerve hypersensitivity and paradoxical stress responses from high-dose THCTo contact Dr. Grover: [email protected]