What should I do for nausea?

It is useful to know what to do with nausea, because, firstly, this nasty feeling in the esophagus and in the epigastric region (under the xiphoid process of the sternum) is familiar to everyone. And secondly, there are many serious reasons that cause increased irritation of the receptors of the mucous membrane of the upper gastrointestinal tract, which transmit a signal to the chemoreceptor trigger zone and the vomiting center of the brain. Nausea, as the first phase of the vomiting act, can be a consequence of a dietary error, intestinal infection, a number of gastrointestinal diseases and CNS pathologies, as well as serious metabolic disorders, vitamin deficiency, medication intake, etc. So information about what to do with nausea will not be superfluous.

What to do if you have nausea during pregnancy?

In terms of etiology, this is probably the simplest case, since most women have to deal with this problem during pregnancy. But most often, nausea during gestation has nothing to do with gastrointestinal diseases. Nausea and other unpleasant stomach "surprises" are a consequence of changes in the hormonal sphere of pregnant women. On the one hand, the level of estrogen, progesterone and cortisone increases, which reduce the intensity of contraction of the abdominal muscle tissue. On the other hand, there is a temporary reduction in the production of the digestive hormone gastrin by the gastric mucosa and pancreas, and closer to the middle of pregnancy, the polypeptide hormone motilin, which regulates gastrointestinal motility.

In any case, you should not resort to medication. During pregnancy, even regular mint tablets used to relieve nausea and prevent vomiting can be harmful. Peppermint, which soothes the stomach, contains β-sitosterol, a plant sterol that reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines and removes it from the body. And a decrease in cholesterol levels in a pregnant woman threatens not only the birth of a premature baby, but also negatively affects the development of the child's brain. In addition, mint tablets for nausea are contraindicated for use with low blood pressure.

Therefore, you need to fight nausea during pregnancy in safe ways: drink 150-200 ml of plain water in small sips in the morning (on an empty stomach); after waking up - lying in bed - eat a rye crouton; drink green tea with ginger and cranberry juice; hold a slice of lemon in your mouth or gnaw pumpkin seeds.

By the way, almost the same advice is given to those women who are interested in what to do if they feel nauseous during their period.

What to do if a child is nauseous?

Parents should know what to do if their child is nauseous, and remember that the sensitivity of the vestibular system receptors in children is extremely high and will gradually decrease and stabilize only by the age of 12-13. That is why children often get motion sickness in transport. Half an hour before the start of the trip, give the child a drug (50 mg tablets) against nausea during sea and air sickness Dramina (also available under the name Ciel), which begins to act 25 minutes after taking, and their effect lasts on average 4-4.5 hours. Children 2-6 years old are given a quarter or half a tablet, children 7-12 years old - half or a whole tablet.

Children often feel sick when they have worms - helminthiasis. In severe cases, in addition to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and constipation, dizziness, headache and even nervous tics may occur. To diagnose and treat the child, you need to see a doctor who will prescribe a stool test and, based on its results, appropriate antihelminthic drugs.

What to do if you have a fever and nausea?

Nausea and high body temperature require special attention, because these are typical symptoms of an intestinal infection - salmonellosis, dysentery or rotavirus gastroenteritis. What to do to stop nausea in a child with rotavirus gastroenteritis? As doctors note, nausea is not the biggest problem with this disease, although nausea and vomiting are the first symptoms of rotavirus entering the body. The main thing to do with diarrhea and nausea is to prevent life-threatening dehydration, which can result from frequent vomiting and severe diarrhea. To do this, you need to give the child solutions of special powders containing potassium and sodium salts - Regidron, Trigidron, Glucosolan, etc.

Nausea with vomiting and headache is a reason to call an ambulance, as it may be meningitis. But what to do with constant nausea, which is accompanied by a headache, but the temperature is normal? Contact a doctor without delay, since there is every reason to suspect that the child has increased intracranial pressure, which is often associated with pathologies such as hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain) and cerebral tumors (astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma).

In general, the first thing you need to do if your child is nauseous is to go to the doctor, because in order to cure the symptom, you need to know what causes it.

What to do if you feel nauseous and dizzy?

What to do in case of nausea and dizziness depends on the origin of these ailments. And the reasons can be very different. Thus, nausea is accompanied by dizziness (or vice versa) in case of labyrinthitis, endolymphatic dropsy (labyrinth dropsy of the inner ear or Meniere's disease), vertebrobasilar insufficiency syndrome, stress, etc.

With labyrinthitis, which occurs as a result of infection of the inner ear and can have a purulent or chronic form, there is often noise in the ear and hearing is reduced. To diagnose and treat labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency, you need to see an otolaryngologist who will prescribe the appropriate medications. In particular, the antihistamine Meclozine (Bonine) (in tablets of 25 mg) is most often prescribed for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. The maximum daily dose for adults and children over 12 years of age is 100 mg. Taking this drug can cause side effects: drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, and in children - increased excitability.

Dimenhydrinate (other trade names - Dedalon, Adrazin, Dramil, Emedil, Permigal, Teodramin, etc.) is also a Hi-receptor blocker. The drug (0.05 g tablets) is used for nausea and vomiting of various etiologies; it is taken 1-2 tablets (before meals) - up to 6 times a day (the doctor should clarify).

What to do with constant nausea if it does not lead to vomiting? Ginger tea, chewing dry green tea, and a small pinch of salt placed on the tongue and washed down with a glass of water help with constant nausea.

But in the case of vertebrobasilar insufficiency syndrome, this will not bring relief, since it develops due to deterioration of the blood supply to the brain. This pathology is reversible, but without the intervention of a neurologist and determination of the functional characteristics of cerebral circulation, it is unlikely to be possible to get rid of it. So you cannot do without a visit to a neurologist. For vestibular dysfunction, doctors recommend using the antihistamine Betahistine (synonyms - Betaver, Betaserk, Asniton, Vestibo, Microzer): 8 mg 3-4 times a day (during meals).

In addition, to activate cerebral circulation, drugs such as Piracetam (0.8 g three times a day), Cinnarizine (12.5-25 mg 3 times a day) or Nicergoline (5 mg three times a day) are prescribed.

What to do if you feel nauseous due to stress?

Visit a good psychotherapist who will objectively assess your condition and give you the necessary recommendations. And before you decide to take this step, when a nauseating lump rises in your throat, you need to straighten your back, square your shoulders and breathe deeply and slowly for 1-2 minutes - to relieve muscle spasm in the esophagus and stomach, and also to saturate the blood with oxygen. This usually helps. You can also put a validol tablet under your tongue or brew tea with mint or lemon balm.

What to do with diarrhea and nausea?

Diarrhea and nausea (usually with vomiting) are classic signs of food poisoning. You need to drink at least two glasses of plain water at room temperature and induce vomiting by irritating the root of the tongue. This will free the stomach from everything unnecessary, and most importantly, from toxins. If you managed to quickly cope with nausea, do not rush to eat anything: it is better to drink a cup of freshly brewed strong tea with sugar after 35-40 minutes. In addition, you must take an enterosorbent: activated carbon, Karbolong, Sorbex, Polysorb or Atoxil.

A decoction of dried blueberries (a tablespoon of berries per 200 ml of boiling water), an aqueous infusion of pomegranate peel, oak bark, plantain leaves (in the same proportion) or walnut partitions (10-12 nuts per glass of water) help stop diarrhea.

An effective drug that stops diarrhea is Desmol (Bismuth subsalicylate) - tablets and suspension. The standard dosage for adults is 30 ml of suspension or 2 tablets 6 times a day; for children 3-6 years old - 5 ml of suspension or a third of a tablet, for children 6-9 years old - 10 ml of suspension or two thirds of a tablet (every 4-4.5 hours).

What to do if you have vomiting and nausea?

Nausea and vomiting, in addition to the already considered case of poisoning, are signs of gastric ulcer, stenosis of the esophagus or pylorus, gastroparesis (impaired motor activity of the stomach), for example, with gastritis, diabetes mellitus or scleroderma. They are also part of the symptom complex of gastric distension, the development of many acute infections, migraine attacks, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, craniocerebral trauma. Nausea accompanied by vomiting can occur with myocardial infarction, severe renal failure, etc.

What to do if you have vomiting and nausea associated with a distended stomach? Doctors recommend temporarily switching to eating dry food and limiting liquid intake to a minimum.

Gastroenterologists associate nausea and vomiting with bile with a violation of the motility of the biliary tract (dyskinesia), with gallstone disease or a kink in the gallbladder. And in such cases, choleretic agents are prescribed.

To increase the tone of the gastroesophageal sphincter and improve the movement of food from the stomach cavity to the small intestine, the drugs Metoclopramide (Cerucal, Gastrosil, Perinorm) or Domperidone are used to eliminate nausea and vomiting. The recommended therapeutic dose of Metoclopramide for adults is 1 tablet 3-4 times a day (30 minutes before meals); for children aged 3-14 years - 0.1 mg of the drug per kilogram of body weight. This drug also quickly relieves nausea and vomiting in migraines and head injuries, but has side effects such as dizziness, increased fatigue and muscle weakness, impaired concentration, and long-term use of this drug can cause extrapyramidal disorders (as in Parkinsonism), gynecomastia and menstrual irregularities.

Domperidone (synonyms Motilium, Nauzelin, Peridal, Cilroton) - tablets of 10 mg - taken a quarter of an hour before meals: adults and children over five years old - one tablet three times a day, and in case of acute nausea and vomiting - two tablets 3-4 times during the day.

What to do if you feel nauseous after eating?

The most correct answer to the question of what to do with nausea after eating can only be given by a doctor. Most often, this is a gastroenterologist, although nausea can occur with renal failure, thyroid disease (hypothyroidism), arterial hypertension...

When nausea occurs after eating, the first on the list of possible causes, according to experts, are problems with the digestive system: gastritis, stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers, gastroduodenitis, cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

What to do if you have nausea due to pancreatitis?

Doctors recommend strictly adhering to the recommended diet for pancreatitis, as well as taking the same Cerucal (Metoclopramide). And to improve the secretory supply of the digestive process in chronic pancreatitis, as well as in pathologies of the liver, gall bladder and large intestine, enzyme preparations are prescribed, for example, Pancreatin (it is also produced under other trade names - Mezim, Festal, Biozim, Pancitrate).

What to do if you feel nauseous after chemotherapy?

Most of the alkylating, cytostatic and cytotoxic drugs used in oncology cause severe nausea and vomiting in patients.

It is necessary to take the medications prescribed by the doctor. Thus, the antiemetic drug Ondansetron (Domegan, Zofran, Latran, Osetron, Emetron) completely blocks the gag reflex by temporarily "switching off" the serotonin receptors of the central and peripheral nervous system and the receptors of the trigger zone of the brain. The drugs are available in tablet form, in the form of an injection solution, in the form of syrups and even rectal suppositories. Ondansetron is administered intravenously before a chemotherapy session. The dosage is determined by the attending physician individually for each patient, and the standard dose is 5 mg - taken once a day, in the morning (an hour before breakfast). The drug has side effects in the form of headache and chest pain, decreased pulse and blood pressure, constipation or diarrhea.

The drug Tropisetron (Tropindol, Navoban) has the same mechanism of action, taken one capsule per day (on an empty stomach, one hour before breakfast). And Granisetron (Kytril) in tablets of 0.001 g (and also as a concentrate for infusions) is prescribed 1 tablet twice a day during the chemotherapy cycle. The already mentioned antiemetic drug Metoclopramide (Cerucal) is also used. After chemotherapy, it is administered intramuscularly or intravenously in a medical institution, and then Cerucal tablets should be taken - 3-4 times a day, one tablet (half an hour before meals).

What to do if you feel nauseous after drinking alcohol?

Even those who often face this problem do not always have a clear idea of what to do when nausea occurs due to a hangover.

First of all, you should induce vomiting and take a sorbent (activated carbon). However, relief may not come immediately, since ethanol, or rather, the toxic product of its metabolism for the body - acetaldehyde - is in the liver and continues to break down into acetic acid and also removes magnesium from the liver.

To neutralize acetaldehyde, you can take a tablet of magnesium citrate, or drip 25-30 drops of motherwort tincture, or eat a spoon of dark (buckwheat) honey, or drink a cup of cocoa. Succinic acid helps well with nausea after alcohol: dissolve 250 mg in water and drink.

Due to the presence of lactic acid, kefir and brine are effective, but, in principle, any sour juice will do, since citric acid also helps relieve hangover symptoms.

What to do if you feel nauseous from antibiotics?

In most cases, antibiotic therapy is indispensable for infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. However, antibacterial drugs have many side effects.

Experts recommend, firstly, not to take these medications without need (that is, without a clear indication for use and a doctor’s prescription).

Secondly, strictly follow the rules for taking a specific drug, and if nausea occurs, inform your doctor. Most often, nausea is caused by erythromycin, its derivatives and other macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, sumamed, etc.), as well as fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ofloxacin, lefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, etc.). It should be noted that in case of mild nausea, the doctor can change the dosage of the drug, and in case of more severe nausea, replace it with a similar one that does not cause discomfort. Parenteral administration of the antibiotic can also be used.

Doctors do not recommend swallowing an antiemetic (from those listed above). After all, the nausea from antibiotics will go away on its own after the course of treatment is completed…

What to do if you feel nauseous after anesthesia?

Anesthesiologists know exactly what to do if you feel nauseous after anesthesia, and they don’t hide the fact that it is the painkillers that cause nausea and vomiting.

When administering anesthesia, specialists use appropriate pharmacological drugs to relieve nausea after anesthesia in a hospital setting - Thiethylperazine (administered intramuscularly half an hour before the end of open surgeries), Droperidol, Scopolamine, Metacin (for abdominal laparoscopy), Promethazine (after surgery on the middle ear).

If morphine, promedol, fentanyl, sufentanil and other narcotic analgesics were used for general anesthesia, then Metoclopramide is administered intravenously as a preventative measure against subsequent nausea. An hour before the start of surgery on abdominal organs, anesthesiologists administer Ondansetron to patients so that they do not have nausea and vomiting after anesthesia.

It is also well known what to do to stop nausea after coming out of inhalation anesthesia (using Fluorothane or Enflurane). And the best thing in this case is an aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide - familiar to everyone ammonia. When inhaling its vapors, there is irritation of the receptors of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and neurons of the trigeminal nerve, which innervates almost all the muscles of the face and the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx. Thus, the signal ends up in the medulla oblongata and causes reflex stimulation of the respiratory, vasomotor and vomiting centers of the brain. As a result, inhaling ammonia quenches nausea and stops vomiting.

How to make a potion for nausea?

There is no single folk remedy for nausea, since this symptom has a great many causes. Both herbalists and herbalists offer several ways to make a potion for nausea.

The first potion is prepared from the roots of valerian (1 tablespoon), peppermint (2 tablespoons), chamomile flowers (2 tablespoons) and rhizomes of cinquefoil (3 tablespoons). After mixing the plants in the specified quantities, take a tablespoon of this mixture and brew 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 1.5-2 hours. After straining the infusion, it should be taken three times a day before meals - 50 ml at a time.

To prepare another infusion, take a tablespoon of dry chicory root and two tablespoons of dry stinging nettle leaves, steam them in 250 ml of boiling water, close the container tightly and leave to cool. Take two tablespoons three times a day (20-25 minutes before meals).

Although the problems of nausea and vomiting are dealt with by a separate field of medicine – emetology, we have tried to tell you what to do with nausea in various cases.