What To Take For Sick Stomach

When Are Medicines For Nausea And Vomiting Prescribed

Medicines for nausea are usually only prescribed once your doctor is sure what is causing your feeling of sickness . This is because, in a lot of cases, if you treat the condition causing your nausea, it will go away. For example, if your nausea is caused by taking too much of a particular medicine, your doctor will reduce the dose and your nausea will often go away. If the cause of your nausea is not known, your doctor can still prescribe a medicine for you but it is much better to know what the cause is so the right medicine can be chosen.

When Should A Doctor Be Consulted

The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When it appears shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may indicate a mental disorder or a peptic ulcer. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may indicate food poisoning. Foodborne diseases, such as Salmonella, may take longer to produce symptoms because of the incubation time.

A person who is experiencing nausea should consult a physician if it lasts more than one week, and if there is a possibility of pregnancy. Vomiting usually lessens within six to 24 hours, and may be treated at home.

You should see your doctor if home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury is causing the vomiting.

Take your infant or a child under 6 years old to the doctor if:

• Vomiting lasts more than a few hours
• Diarrhea is also present
• There is a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• The child hasn’t urinated for six hours

Take your child over 6 years old to the doctor if:

• Vomiting lasts one day
• Diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours
• There are signs of dehydration
• There is a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
• The child hasn’t urinated for six hours

Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, if diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, and if there are signs of moderate dehydration.

You should see a doctor immediately if the following signs or symptoms occur:

• Blood in the vomit
• Severe headache or stiff neck
• Lethargy

During Pregnancy Cuases Of Nausea And Vomiting

Vomiting in pregnancy is caused by hormone level changes in the bloodstream. Most women have moderate symptoms of morning sickness, especially during the first trimester. The symptoms of morning sickness during pregnancy usually resolve by the fourth month. Rarely, a woman may experience severe vomiting, dehydration, and weight loss, which is referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum.

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When To Call Your Doctor

If your stomach troubles are due to a GI bug or food poisoning, you usually should feel better within 48 hours. If you dont, call your doctor. It could be a more serious bacterial infection or an early sign of COVID-19. You should also reach out to them immediately if you:

• Might be severely dehydrated. Signs include dark urine, extreme weakness, a dry mouth and tongue, and dizziness.
• Have diarrhea that is bloody or black, or severe belly pain
• Are feverish, coughing, or feel short of breath

American Journal of Gastroenterology: Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with digestive symptoms in Hubei, China: a descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study, Digestive Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients with Mild Disease Severity: Clinical Presentation, Stool Viral RNA Testing, and Outcomes. “Stay Healthy: COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Manifestations

UpToDate: Acute Diarrhea in Adults .

Cleveland Clinic: Moms Advice Is Still the Best for Treating Diarrhea.

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019: What to Do if You Are Sick.

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Important Information About All Medicines

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Peppermint May Relieve Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

For some people, upset stomach is caused by irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. IBS is a chronic gut disorder that can cause stomach pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

While IBS can be difficult to manage, studies show that peppermint may help reduce these uncomfortable symptoms.

Taking peppermint oil capsules daily for at least two weeks can significantly reduce stomach pain, gas and diarrhea in adults with IBS (

19 ).

While the research is promising, additional studies need to determine whether peppermint leaf or peppermint tea have the same therapeutic effects .

Peppermint is safe for most people, but caution is advised for those with severe reflux, hiatal hernias, kidney stones or liver and gallbladder disorders, as it may worsen these conditions .

Summary Peppermint, especially when consumed as peppermint oil, may help reduce stomach pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea for those with irritable bowel syndrome.

Let Your Stomach Rest

When you are treating vomiting due to a stomach bug, or gastroenteritis, the first step is to let your stomach rest. After you stop throwing up, don’t try to eat or drink anything for 15 to 20 minutes so you can allow your stomach time to recover.

Giving the muscles in your stomach time to rest will lower the chances that you will vomit once you start eating and drinking again.

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When To Contact A Clinician

Persistent or severe abdominal pain, especially if unrelieved by vomiting or passing a bowel movement

Fever greater than 101 degrees F, not relieved by acetaminophen, or any fever that lasts more than three days

Vomiting or diarrhea without any improvement for more 24 hours

Blood in vomit or stools

No urination for more than 8 hours, or painful urination

What Causes Nausea Or Vomiting

The causes of nausea and vomiting are quite similar. Many things can bring on nausea. Some common causes are:

• Seasickness and other motion sicknesses
• Early pregnancy
• Various viruses
• Certain smells or odors

The causes of vomiting differ according to age. For adults, vomiting is commonly a result of a viral infection and food poisoning, and occasionally a result of motion sickness and illnesses in which the person has a high fever. For children, it is common for vomiting to occur because of a viral infection, food poisoning, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, and illnesses in which the child has a high fever. Although rare, blocked intestines can cause vomiting, most typically in early infancy.

Usually vomiting is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Some examples of serious conditions that may bring on nausea or vomiting include:

• Concussions
• Migraine headaches
• Brain tumors

Another concern with vomiting is dehydration. Adults have a lower risk of becoming dehydrated because they can usually detect the symptoms of dehydration . Children have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated, especially if the vomiting occurs with diarrhea, because young children may often be unable to tell an adult about symptoms of dehydration. Adults caring for sick children need to be aware of these visible signs of dehydration:

• Dry lips and mouth
• Sunken eyes
• Rapid breathing or pulse

In infants, parents should look for decreased urination, and a sunken fontanelle .

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How To Get Rid Of Nausea

Nausea can be prompted by a wide variety of circumstances such as motion or sea sickness, certain medications, emotional distress, intense pain, food intolerances, drinking too much alcohol, overeating, and early pregnancy, explains Sunitha Posina, MD, an NYC-based internist.

There are two primary ways to treat nausea: nausea medication and home remedies. Medications work in a variety of ways, depending on which drug you take. One way anti-nausea drugs work is by blocking the receptors that cause the sensation of nausea. Another way is to coat and calm the stomach. Some nausea medicines may also move food through the stomach faster.

Chamomile May Reduce Vomiting And Soothe Intestinal Discomfort

Chamomile, an herbal plant with small white flowers, is a traditional remedy for upset stomachs.

Chamomile can be dried and brewed into a tea or taken by mouth as a supplement.

Historically, chamomile has been used for a variety of intestinal troubles, including gas, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting .

Yet despite its widespread use, only a limited number of studies support its effectiveness for digestive complaints.

One small study found that chamomile supplements reduced the severity of vomiting after chemotherapy treatments, but its unclear whether it would have the same effects on other types of vomiting .

An animal study found that chamomile extracts relieved diarrhea in mice by reducing intestinal spasms and decreasing the amount of water secreted into the stool, but more research is needed to see if this applies to humans .

Chamomile is also commonly used in herbal supplements that relieve indigestion, gas, bloating and diarrhea, as well as colic in babies .

However, since chamomile is combined with many other herbs in these formulas, its difficult to know whether the beneficial effects are from chamomile or from a combination of the other herbs.

Although the gut-soothing effects of chamomile are widely recognized, research has not yet shown how it helps to relieve stomach upset.

Summary Chamomile is a commonly used remedy for stomach and intestinal discomfort, but more research is needed to understand how it works.

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For Nausea And Vomiting

Last nights Chinese take-out leftovers seem like a great meal ideauntil your stomach clearly begins to disagree with you. Nausea and vomiting are one of your bodys major defenses against food poisoning, and can also arise from problems like motion sickness and overeating. While the best way to cure an upset stomach from most cases of food poisoning is to let your body rid itself of the bacteria causing your discomfort, over-the-counter antiemetics can come in handy when dealing with nausea and vomiting symptoms caused by motion sickness and certain other conditions. There are two main types of OTC medications used to treat nausea and vomiting:

• Bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in OTC medications like Kaopectate® and Pepto-Bismol, protects your stomach lining. Bismuth subsalicylate is also used to treat ulcers, upset stomach and diarrhea.
• Other medicines include cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, and meclizine. These can be found in medicines such as Dramamine, Bonine, or others, and they dull motion sickness by acting on your brain. They block messages from reaching the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting

What You Should Do

If you have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, it doesnt mean that you have COVID-19. But its wise to pay extra attention to your symptoms during this pandemic, especially if you have a health condition that raises your chances for an infection or if you live in an area where the new coronavirus is widespread.

Stay home. Most people who test positive for the coronavirus get mildly sick and get better without treatment. Avoid going out unless you must, such as for urgent medical visits.

Have a sick bedroom and bathroom. If you can, use a separate bathroom for yourself if you live with others to prevent spreading illness through your poop.

Wash your hands often. Soap and water for at least 20 seconds is best, especially after you use the bathroom, blow your nose, or sneeze, and before eating or cooking. Next best is a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

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Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly. This includes the toilet seat and flush handle, bathroom doorknobs, phones, counters, and other things you touch often.

Drink lots offluids. If you have diarrhea or are vomiting, its important to replace the lost fluids. An oral rehydration solution from the drugstore is best because it has salt and sugar that your body loses in diarrhea. Or you can sip watered-down fruit juices or soft drinks, along with salted crackers and broths.

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Who Shouldnt Take Otc Antiemetic Medicines

Some people are allergic to aspirin or other salicylate medicines. They shouldnt take bismuth subsalicylate. Dont give bismuth subsalicylate to children 12 years of age or younger. Dont give it to children or teenagers who may have the flu or chickenpox. This increases their risk for Reye syndrome. This is a serious illness that can lead to death.

Before taking an antihistamine, talk to your doctor if you have any of the following problems:

• Glaucoma.
• Trouble urinating .
• Breathing problems, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.
• Thyroid disease.

Which Medicine Is Usually Prescribed

The choice of medicine depends on various factors, including:

• What is causing your feeling of sickness .
• Whether you have any other medical conditions.
• Whether you are pregnant.
• Possible side-effects of the medicines.

It is not possible to list all the conditions that can cause nausea and which treatments are usually prescribed. However, some examples include:

• Migraine: both metoclopramide and domperidone work well for nausea caused by a migraine. See the separate leaflet called Migraine Medication, Treatment and Prevention for more detail.
• Chemotherapy: it is not unusual to take a combination of different medicines to control nausea and vomiting if you have chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy medicines are more likely than others to cause nausea and vomiting. If you have chemotherapy that has a low risk of nausea, your doctor will usually prescribe metoclopramide or domperidone. If you have chemotherapy that has a high risk of nausea, three medicines that work in a different way to each other may be prescribed – for example, ondansetron, dexamethasone and aprepitant. See the separate leaflet called Chemotherapy for more detail.

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What To Say When You Call In Sick On The Phone

If you prefer to call in sick rather than sending an email, you should ask to speak with your direct supervisor. Once youre speaking with them on the phone, be clear and direct, and tell them that youre feeling sick and would like to use a sick day.

Then, tell them if/how youll be available throughout the day .

Its also a nice gesture to say, Ill keep you updated and let you know how Im feeling before the end of the day. This makes you seem a lot more responsible and reliable.

Finally, thank them for their understanding.

Medications To Stop Nausea And Vomiting

Drugs used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting are called antiemetics. Many types of antiemetics can decrease the severity of nausea, although most require a medical evaluation and a prescription medication, for example:

• Meclizine hydrochloride
• Dimenhydrinate
• Emetrol

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of an underlying illness and due to a not a specific disease. Nausea is the sensation that the stomach wants to empty itself, while vomiting or throwing up, is the act of forcible emptying of the stomach. The term “dry heaves” refers to an episode of vomiting where there is no food in the stomach to vomit, and only small amounts of clear secretions are vomited.

Vomiting is a violent act in which the stomach, the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine forcibly expel contents of the stomach in a coordinated fashion.

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Is It Nausea Or Something Else When To See A Doctor

Nausea may often have a benign cause but can also be a harbinger of something dangerous, Dr. Barsky says. If nausea persists, recurs, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms, one should consider seeking medical attention.

If you have the following symptoms in addition to nausea, seek medical advice immediately:

• Chest pains

Home Remedies For Upset Stomach

The severity of an upset stomach can range from slightly annoying to extremely uncomfortable and even painful. But if treated timely and effectively, it is usually not a serious problem.

An upset stomach often is coupled with diarrhea, which is the frequent passage of stools that are loose and watery.

There can be many causes of this problem, including food poisoning, an infection, an allergic reaction, overeating, too much stress, excessive drinking, motion sickness, a side effect of medication, a gastrointestinal disease or even pregnancy.

Symptoms vary depending on the cause, but may include watery or loose stools, abdominal bloating, cramps, heartburn, chills, nausea and vomiting.

To quickly alleviate symptoms and prevent health complications, try some simple home remedies at the first sign of trouble to soothe an upset stomach and restore regularity to your GI system.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for upset stomach.

Contents

• 10. Fennel Seeds

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Bland Carbohydrates May Be More Easily Tolerated

Bland carbohydrates like rice, oatmeal, crackers and toast are often recommended for people suffering from upset stomachs.

While this recommendation is common, there is little evidence to show that they actually help relieve symptoms.

However, many people report that these foods are easier to keep down when youre not feeling well .

While bland carbohydrates may be more palatable during an illness, its important to expand your diet again as soon as possible. Restricting your diet too much may keep you from getting enough of the vitamins and minerals your body needs in order to heal .

Summary

Many people with an upset stomach find bland carbohydrates easier to tolerate than other foods, but there is little evidence to show that they actually relieve symptoms.