Online Nausea Treatment

What are the treatment options for nausea?

Treatment for nausea depends on what is causing it. Most people start with fluids and bland food, and add medication if the nausea is not settling on its own.

• Fluids first: Sip small amounts of clear liquid often rather than drinking a lot at once. Aim for 8 to 10 cups a day, and cold water is usually the easiest to keep down.
• Small, bland meals: Six to eight small meals through the day are usually easier to tolerate than three large ones. Crackers, toast, rice, noodles, potatoes, and plain chicken or fish are good places to start.
• Prescription anti-nausea medication: If food and fluids are not enough, a doctor can send an online prescription for an antiemetic. These usually start working 30 to 60 minutes after you take them, and they work best if you take them when the nausea starts rather than waiting until you feel very unwell.
• Treating the cause: Nausea from a migraine, reflux, pregnancy, or a medication you have just started needs the cause treated too, not just the nausea.
• Fluids through a drip: If you cannot keep anything down at all, you need in-person care and fluids through a vein.

The right anti-nausea medication depends on what is causing the nausea, how severe it is and what else you take. A board-certified doctor can review your symptoms and send anti-nausea medication to the pharmacy you choose when it is medically appropriate.

How can you relieve nausea at home?

Most short-term nausea gets better with a few simple changes. Try these at home:

• Take it easy: Sit quietly and avoid too much movement. Stay upright after eating instead of lying down.
• Sip fluids: Take small, frequent sips of cold water or other clear liquids rather than drinking a lot at once. If you also have diarrhea, an oral rehydration solution is a better choice than juice or soda.
• Eat small, bland meals: Crackers, toast, rice, noodles, potatoes, and plain chicken or fish are usually easier on your stomach. Smaller meals throughout the day may be easier to tolerate than three large ones.
• Avoid common triggers: Greasy, fried, spicy, or very salty foods, as well as alcohol, caffeine, and fizzy drinks, can make nausea worse.
• Avoid strong smells: Fresh air and staying away from cooking smells may help.
• After vomiting: Rinse your mouth with water to get rid of the unpleasant taste and protect your teeth.
• Try ginger: Ginger may help with nausea during pregnancy, although it does not appear to help motion sickness.
• During pregnancy: Keep crackers by your bed and eat a few before getting up. Taking your prenatal vitamin at night with a small amount of food may also be easier on your stomach.

When should you see a doctor about nausea and vomiting?

Most nausea and vomiting gets better on its own, but some symptoms mean you should get medical care sooner.

• Go to the ER or call 911 if you see blood or dark, coffee-ground-like material in your vomit, or think you may have swallowed something poisonous.
• Get medical care the same day if you have been vomiting for more than 24 hours, cannot keep fluids down for 12 hours, have vomited three or more times in one day, have severe stomach pain, a headache with a stiff neck, or have not urinated for 8 hours or more.
• Watch for dehydration: Signs include a dry mouth, unusual thirst, dark urine, urinating less often, sunken eyes, or no tears when crying.
• For babies and young children: Fewer wet diapers can be a sign of dehydration. A baby 3 months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs same-day medical advice.
• Nausea that keeps going: If nausea lasts more than 48 hours or comes with unexplained weight loss, it is worth finding the cause rather than simply treating the symptom.

If your symptoms are not improving or are getting worse, you can talk to a doctor online. A doctor can review your symptoms and medical history, help identify the likely cause, and prescribe anti-nausea medication when medically appropriate.