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 THC

To contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com