Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many health conditions, ranging from stomach flu and excess stomach acid to concussions and migraines. Pregnant women experience nausea quite frequently in the early part of their pregnancy. Nausea can also happen in children.

Please continue reading to learn which medical conditions can cause nausea, how to avoid nausea after eating, and some of the medications used to treat this symptom.

What does nausea feel like?

Nausea is a sensation of uneasiness in the stomach. It can feel like a heaviness, tightness, or feeling of indigestion. Nausea is often accompanied by an urge to vomit, but does not always result in vomiting.

What causes nausea?

Nausea is not a disease but rather a symptom of various medical conditions. Some triggers for nausea originate in the digestive tract, such as food allergies, excess stomach acid, and appendicitis.

However, triggers outside the digestive system can also result in nausea or vomiting, such as pregnancy-associated nausea (morning sickness), chemotherapy-associated nausea, and nausea caused by motion sickness, inner ear problems, migraine headaches, head injuries, brain infections, or tumors.

Some of the common health conditions in which nausea can be a symptom include:

Early pregnancy
Motion sickness
Food poisoning or stomach flu
Food intolerances or food allergies
Overeating
Bezoars (balls of hair, fibers, and solid food that collect in the stomach)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Appendicitis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Gallbladder diseases
Acute pancreatitis
Intestinal obstruction
Mesenteric ischemia
Intense pain
Chemical toxins
Concussion or brain injury
Migraines
Heart attack
Kidney disease
Liver disorders
Immune system disorders
Brain tumors
Certain types of cancer
Emotional stress, anxiety, or fear
Viral infections
Eating disorders
Smells of certain foods can bring on or increase nausea
Side effects of medications such as painkillers, antibiotics, chemotherapy and radiation therapy (cancer treatment)

Why do I get nauseous so easily after eating?

If eating makes your nausea worse, it could be something as simple as an odor trigger or a viral infection from contaminated food. Your symptoms should improve by avoiding the trigger foods or using supportive measures until the infection clears. If you continue to feel nauseated after one week of home remedies or have persistent vomiting, make an appointment with your healthcare professional. They can figure out what is causing your symptoms, for example, a food allergy, a pregnancy, stomach malfunctions, gallbladder disease, or something outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and treat it accordingly.

What can worsen nausea after eating?

Eating spicy, greasy, or fried food; eating too quickly; and eating large meals can worsen nausea after eating.

How to prevent nausea after eating?

These tips might help to ease nausea after eating:

Eat healthy foods. Avoid fried, greasy, and spicy foods as well as foods high in sugar.
If you have a stomach virus, eat light, bland foods (low-fat foods) like toast and crackers.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
Eat slowly and drink slowly.
Eat foods at room temperature (the smell of cooked food makes some people queasy).
Avoid mixing hot and cold foods.
Relax, practice deep breathing, and avoid activity after eating to allow your digestive system to digest the meal.
Suck on crushed ice or ice cubes.
Drink clear liquids and ice-cold beverages, such as cold water, iced ginger tea, and ginger ale.
Avoid triggers if you have known food intolerances.
Avoid brushing your teeth after you eat.

What medications are used to relieve nausea?

There are several medications available to relieve nausea and vomiting. They are called antiemetics and work in different ways. Most of these medicines only need to be taken for a few days to ease symptoms of nausea and vomiting. However, before prescribing an anti-nausea medication to you, your healthcare provider will want to find out what is causing your symptoms. This will help your doctor choose the right nausea medicine for you. Some of the prescription medications used to treat nausea include:

Antihistamines

Examples: Cinnarizine, promethazine, and cyclizine.

These medicines block receptors in the brain that cause nausea. They are given to people who experience nausea from motion sickness and inner ear problems.

Anticholinergics

Examples: Hyoscine.

These drugs work by blocking a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain. They work well when someone is feeling sick due to motion sickness, vertigo, and other inner ear problems.

Antidopaminergics

Examples: Haloperidol, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, levomepromazine, and perphenazine.

These medicines block a chemical called dopamine in the brain. They are used to treat nausea caused by certain cancers, radiation therapy, and opiate drugs like morphine and codeine.

5HT3 antagonists

Examples: Ondansetron, granisetron, and palonosetron.

These medicines block a chemical called 5HT in the gut and brain, which causes nausea. They are used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea.

Prokinetic agents

Examples: Metoclopramide and domperidone.

These medicines work by speeding up the movement of food through the gut and thereby easing nausea. They are used when you feel nauseated due to digestive tract problems and migraines.

Steroid medicines

Examples: Dexamethasone.

Steroid medicines can reduce nausea (the exact mechanism is unclear).

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists

Examples: Aprepitant and fosaprepitant.

These drugs block a chemical called neurokinin in the brain, which causes nausea and vomiting. They are used for nausea caused by certain types of chemotherapy.

Cannabinoids

Examples: Nabilone.

These antiemetics work by affecting the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting. They are prescribed for nausea associated with chemotherapy.

What is equivalent to Zofran over-the-counter?

Zofran is the brand name of a generic medicine called ondansetron. It is a prescription drug used to ease nausea associated with cancer treatment. However, if you have nausea from gastrointestinal problems, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines like bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and dimenhydrinate (Gravol) may help. For nausea from motion sickness, an OTC drug like Dramamine or an acupressure wrist band like Sea-Band may be effective.

When to see a doctor for nausea?

You should see a doctor if you have been experiencing nausea for more than one week. Pregnant people should consult their healthcare provider for appropriate antenatal care. You should seek immediate medical attention if you feel sick and vomiting lasts more than 2 days, or you have other symptoms like coffee grounds vomit, severe headache, neck stiffness, lethargy, decreased alertness, confusion, severe abdominal pain, fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, chest pain, rapid breathing, or rapid pulse.

References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting

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