health topics

How Do You Make Nausea Go Away?

Nausea is an uncomfortable feeling of being queasy, which can be present before vomiting or without vomiting. To make nausea go away, you can opt for home remedies such as inhaling peppermint oil and medical treatment such as fluids administered intravenously (IV) and medications.
Nausea is an uncomfortable feeling of being queasy, which can be present before vomiting or without vomiting. To make nausea go away, you can opt for home remedies such as inhaling peppermint oil and medical treatment such as fluids administered intravenously (IV) and medications.

Nausea is a queasy, unpleasant feeling in the stomach or throat when you feel like you will throw up (vomit). It may be accompanied by vomiting. Nausea is not an illness in itself, but a symptom of other conditions. 

Often, nausea goes away on its own and can be treated at home. Home remedies to make nausea go away include: 

  • Drink plenty of fluids, if you are able to keep them down
  • Eat foods that have a lot of fluid in them such as soup, Jell-O, and popsicles
    • If you are able to keep down foods that have lots of fluids, you can move on to try soft, bland foods and foods high in carbohydrates such as bread or crackers to help settle the stomach
    • Ginger sometimes helps with nausea
    • Avoid foods with a lot of fat in them
    • Avoid dairy products
  • Inhaling peppermint oil may help relieve nausea
  • Avoid strong scents, such as the smell of perfume
  • Take medicines with meals when possible
    • Some medications must be taken on an empty stomach, so check the label first
  • Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-nausea medicines
    • Bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol)
    • Some antihistamines may help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness
      • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) 
      • Meclizine hydrochloride (Dramamine Less Drowsy)
      • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Medical treatments for nausea include:

  • Fluids administered intravenously (IV)
  • Medications to help control nausea and vomiting
    • Dopamine antagonists 
      • Prochlorperazine (Compro, Compazine)
      • Metoclopramide (Reglan)
      • Promethazine (Phenergan)
      • Droperidol (Inapsine)
    • Antihistamines
      • Buclizine (Bucladin-S)
      • Cyclizine (Marezine)
      • Meclizine (Antivert)
    • Serotonin antagonists 
      • Ondansetron (Zofran)
      • Dolasetron (Anzemet)
      • Granisetron (Kytril)
    • Anticholinergic
      • Scopolamine (Transderm Scop)
    • Other drugs
      • Dexamethasone
      • Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
      • Trimethobenzamide (Tigan)

What Are Symptoms of Nausea?

Nausea is a queasy feeling in the throat or stomach. Depending on the cause, nausea may be accompanied by:

  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Body aches
  • Feeling unwell (malaise)
  • Diarrhea

See a doctor if nausea symptoms last longer than two days, are severe, or if they are accompanied by: 

  • Chest or abdominal pain
  • Throwing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • A bowel movement with blood, or a black, tarry bowel movement 
  • A fever higher than 101°F (38°C)
  • A severe headache or stiff neck
  • Feeling extremely tired or having trouble getting up
  • Signs of dehydration
    • Being very thirsty or having a dry mouth or tongue
    • Muscle cramps
    • Tiredness
    • Dizziness
    • Confusion
    • Dark yellow urine 
    • Not urinating for more than 5 hours

What Causes Nausea?

The most common causes of nausea include: 

  • Food poisoning 
    • Can occur from eating food that has gone bad
    • Can also occur from eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages
  • Infections that affect the stomach or intestines 
  • Dizziness or motion sickness 
    • Can occur when a person is in something that moves, such as a boat, car, or amusement park ride
    • Can also happen due to an inner ear disturbance that affects balance
  • Certain medications
  • Pregnancy
    • Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are often called “morning sickness” but can occur any time of day
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 
    • A condition that causes stomach juices to leak back up into the esophagus
  • Problems with the stomach or intestines 
  • Migraine headaches 
  • Alcohol consumption 

How Is Nausea Diagnosed?

The cause of nausea is diagnosed with a medical history and physical examination. Tests used to help determine the underlying cause of nausea may include: 

  • Blood tests 
  • Urine testing to check for dehydration, pregnancy, and infection
  • Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head if there is a new onset of headache or head trauma associated with nausea or vomiting 
  • For chronic nausea: 
    • Gastric emptying study
    • Wireless capsule gastrointestinal monitoring system
    • Gastroduodenal manometry 
    • Esophageal manometry
    • Autonomic function testing

From WebMD Logo

Digestive Disorders Resources
Featured Centers
References
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nausea-and-vomiting-in-adults-the-basics?search=nausea&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2

https://journals.lww.com/nursing/fulltext/2016/07000/Inhaled_peppermint_oil_for_postop_nausea_in.15.aspx

https://familydoctor.org/antiemetic-medicines-otc-relief-for-nausea-and-vomiting/

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/digestion-and-metabolic-health/chronic-nausea/diagnosis.html

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0301/p1169.html