When nauseous, sit upright, sip clear fluids, try ginger or crackers, and get fresh air. See a doctor if it lasts or you can’t keep fluids down.
What helps
- Sit upright and avoid lying flat.
- Sip clear fluids slowly.
- Try ginger, peppermint or crackers.
- Get fresh air.
- Avoid strong smells and greasy foods.
Medicines
Over-the-counter options include bismuth subsalicylate or dimenhydrinate for motion sickness.
See a doctor
If nausea lasts more than 2 days, or if you cannot keep fluids down, have severe pain or signs of dehydration.
Fluids and diet
Sip small amounts of clear fluids such as water, ginger ale or an oral rehydration solution, every few minutes. When able, eat bland foods like toast, rice, bananas, applesauce and crackers (BRAT foods).
Avoid
Greasy, spicy and heavy foods, strong smells, alcohol and caffeine.
Natural options
- Ginger: studies in pregnancy and chemotherapy suggest benefit. Up to 1 gram per day is commonly used in pregnancy studies.
- Peppermint tea or aroma.
- Acupressure at the P6 point (inner wrist, about 2 inches below the wrist crease), as wrist bands.
- Cool air and a cold compress.
Position
Sit upright or lie with the head raised. Avoid lying flat right after eating.
Medicines
- Over the counter bismuth subsalicylate for upset stomach in adults.
- Antiemetics such as ondansetron or promethazine are prescription drugs.
- Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate or meclizine for motion sickness.
- Vitamin B6 with doxylamine for pregnancy nausea, as recommended by ACOG.
Causes to consider
Food poisoning, stomach viruses, migraines, motion sickness, pregnancy, medications, anxiety, or alcohol.
Dehydration signs
Dark urine, dry mouth, dizziness and little urination. Children and older adults dehydrate faster.
See a doctor if
Nausea lasts more than 2 days, or you cannot keep fluids down for 12 to 24 hours, or there is severe abdominal pain, chest pain, blood in vomit, a stiff neck with fever or confusion. Call 911 for suspected heart attack or stroke.
Home steps and remedies
Sip small amounts of clear fluids such as water, oral rehydration solution, broth or weak tea every few minutes, then add bland foods like crackers, toast, rice or bananas once nausea eases. Avoid greasy, spicy and very sweet foods, strong smells and lying flat right after eating. Ginger, at about 1 gram a day, has evidence for nausea in pregnancy and after chemotherapy, and peppermint tea can soothe the stomach. Acupressure at the P6 point on the inner wrist has mixed evidence. Fresh air and slow breathing help.
Medicines and when to get care
For motion sickness, dimenhydrinate or meclizine can help if taken before travel. Bismuth subsalicylate relieves upset stomach but should not be given to children recovering from viral illness because of the risk of Reye syndrome with salicylates. Signs of dehydration include dark urine, dizziness, dry mouth and very little urination. See a doctor if nausea lasts more than 2 days, you cannot keep liquids down for 24 hours, or you have severe abdominal pain, chest pain, a stiff neck, a head injury, vomiting blood or signs of pregnancy.
Based on data from the Mayo Clinic and the NIDDK
