Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many conditions and illnesses. They can be triggered by any changes in your immune system or central nervous system. Some common nausea and vomiting causes include:¹ 

• Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions.

• Seasickness and other motion sicknesses.

• Pregnancy.

• Intense pain.

• Food poisoning.

• Indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux or GERD.

• Infections.

• Migraine headaches.

• Vertigo.

• Certain smells or odors.

• Overindulgence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs.

• Medications.

Nausea and vomiting can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Usually, vomiting in adults lasts for one to two days. If it lasts longer than that, please seek medical attention.² 

Chronic nausea is extended or frequent incidents of nausea and sometimes vomiting. Symptoms include feeling like you might throw up, lack of appetite, stomachache and retching. Chronic nausea sometimes results in vomiting but not always.³ 

Some causes of chronic nausea include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

• Peptic ulcer disease.

• Slow stomach emptying due to stomach muscle issues or medications like GLP-1 weight loss prescriptions.

• Discomfort in your upper stomach that is not related to an ulcer (nonulcer dyspepsia).

• Problems with the area of your brain that controls the digestive processes. 

• Migraine headaches.

• An abnormal change in heart rate when you change your posture (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS).

• Anxiety or depression.⁴

Nausea and vomiting will often go away on its own, depending on the cause. In some instances, nausea and vomiting can be dangerous or a symptom of a serious condition. When to see a doctor about your nausea and vomiting:⁵

• You think the vomiting is from poisoning.

• You are vomiting blood, or the vomit is dark colored (coffee colored).

• You have been vomiting for more than 24 hours.

• You are unable to keep any fluids down for 12 hours or more.

• You have a headache or stiff neck.

• You have not urinated in eight or more hours.

• You have severe stomach pain.

• You have vomited three or more times in one day.

You may be able to prevent nausea by:⁶ 

• Eating small meals throughout the day instead of large meals.

• Eating slowly.

• Avoiding hard-to-digest foods.

• Consuming foods at cold or room temperature, if heated foods make you nauseated. 

• Resting after eating.

• Elevating your head 12 inches above your feet after eating (avoiding lying down).

If you are experiencing nausea, here is how to help nausea and not throw up:⁷ 

• Drink small amounts of clear, diluted, sweetened liquids, such as 25% strength soda or fruit juice diluted with water.

• Eat ice pops or popsicles.

• Rest in a seated position or lie with head elevated.

While there is not a permanent cure for chronic nausea and vomiting, there are many ways you can manage the symptoms. With the right treatment or lifestyle changes, you may be able to avoid nausea and vomiting. However, there is always a chance that something will trigger those symptoms again.

You can find relief from chronic nausea with treatments like:⁸

• Medications.

• Nutrition therapy or counseling.

• Oral rehydration therapy.

• Parenteral nutrition (nutrients delivered intravenously).

• Tube feeding.

1. Cleveland Clinic

2. Mayo Clinic

3. Standford Medicine

4. National Library of Medicine

5. Penn Medicine

6. Cleveland Clinic

7. Cleveland Clinic

8. Standford Medicine

Nausea and vomiting can be treated with medications. Commonly prescribed antiemetics, medications that help with nausea and vomiting, include:⁹ 

• Serotonin-receptor antagonists like ondansetron (Zofran®).

• Glucocorticoids like prednisone.

• Anticholinergics like scopolamine (Transderm Scop®) patches.

• Dopamine receptor antagonists like chlorpromazine (Promapar®).

• Cannabinoids.

• Antihistamines like meclizine (Antivert®).

There are also some medications that treat other conditions that can result in less nausea and vomiting, including:

• Prokinetic agents like metoclopramide (Reglan®). These medications help speed up the movement of food through the digestive system to avoid GERD, nausea and vomiting.¹⁰ 

There are certain home remedies and foods for nausea that you can use at home. You can try:¹¹ 

• Drinking beverages known to settle the stomach such as ginger ale or chamomile tea.

• Avoiding caffeinated beverages like cola or coffee.

• Drinking lots of clear liquids to stay hydrated.

• Eating small meals to let your stomach digest foods more gradually.

• Eating a diet with foods that are easy for your stomach to digest such as plain rice and bananas.

• Avoiding foods that can upset your stomach such as spicy, fried and processed foods.

• Taking over-the-counter medications such as antacids (Tums®), pink bismuth (Pepto-Bismol®) and motion sickness medication (Dramamine®).

The biggest risk with nausea and vomiting is dehydration. Signs of dehydration to watch for include:¹²

• Crying without tears.

• Dry mouth.

• Increased thirst.

• Eyes that appear sunken.

• Skin changes: For example, if you touch or squeeze the skin, it doesn't bounce back the way it usually does.

• Urinating less often or having dark yellow urine.

Nausea and vomiting are sometimes symptoms of a serious condition or illness. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• You suspect you have ingested poison.

• Vomiting blood or the vomit is dark colored (coffee colored).

• Vomiting for more than 24 hours.

• You are unable to keep any fluids down for 12 hours or more.

• A headache or stiff neck.

• You have not urinated in eight or more hours.

• Severe stomach pain.

• Vomited three or more times in one day.

You can get prescriptions to treat nausea and vomiting online with RedBox Rx. Start an easy, online assessment and one of our licensed providers will help determine the best treatment for you.

9. National Library of Medicine

10. MedlinePlus

11. Stanford Medicine

12. Penn Medicine

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