Don’t get too full and bloated with large meals — it may make nausea worse. Instead, eat smaller meals throughout the day. Don’t skip meals. Eat regularly, even if it’s just a snack, such as a piece of bread or fruit or a few saltine crackers. Eating a light meal a few hours before a chemotherapy treatment also may help combat nausea. [3] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
It’s also a good idea to avoid cooking foods that leave an unpleasant odor in your house, such as fatty foods, garlic and onions. Consider making and consuming fresh fruit smoothies before taking medications. Add in some veggies for fiber, protein powder and plain yogurt to buffer any acidity. Chemotherapy patients should cook and freeze bland meals prior to treatment to avoid cooking when they don’t feel well.
Avoid drinking coffee and colas — they are too acidic and may upset your stomach. It’s better to drink small amounts throughout the day, rather than large amounts less frequently. Don’t drink too much liquid with your meals because your digestive enzymes get diluted and your stomach can get too full.
Instead of lying on the sofa, sit up in a comfortable chair and read or watch TV. Go for a relaxing slow-paced walk around your neighborhood and get some fresh air if the weather allows it.
Medications in larger than recommended doses are toxic and commonly trigger nausea and vomiting because your body is trying to prevent over-toxicity. Tell your doctor if you’ve suddenly lost a lot of weight because your medication dosages will likely have to be lowered to prevent side effects such as nausea. Really going overboard with too much medication can lead to overdose symptoms, which may include loss of consciousness and potential death — the nausea and vomiting stage is often skipped.
This strategy can be used for essentially all medications, although eating before bedtime can be risky for indigestion and heartburn. As such, have a little snack about an hour before bedtime, then take your medication right before retiring. If you’re taking medications for pain relief, you’ll likely want the symptomatic relief while you’re awake during the day.
You can eat pickled ginger (the stuff that often comes with sushi), or take capsules/pills. Beverages made with real ginger may also be helpful. Peppermint is another traditional remedy used for nausea, indigestion and upset stomachs. Both peppermint leaves (made into a tea) and peppermint oil (taken under the tongue) can be used to combat nausea from medication use. Red raspberry leaf herbal tea is a traditional remedy used to combat morning sickness, but it might also be helpful for other types of nausea. Make sure to steep the leaves in hot water for at least 15 minutes for best results.
Switching from tablets to liquid formulations might significantly alleviate nausea, especially in people who gag when they take tablets, pills or capsules. In some cases, changing to a different manufacturer or to a generic brand can make a difference due to the use of different dyes, binders and sweeteners used in pills. The taste of medication can make a big difference. Some people prefer sweet flavors, others prefer bitter or tasteless medication.
Dopamine agonists minimize the effect of dopamine at the brain’s vomiting/nausea center, which is in the medulla. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source Dopamine agonists are a good choice for reducing nausea if you’re taking medications short-term, such as antibiotics or NSAIDs. Using dopamine agonists for too long (or taking too much) can actually trigger nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting.
Selective serotonin antagonists inhibit the action of serotonin in the small intestine, vagus nerve and chemoreceptor trigger zone in the stomach. Consequently, the medullary vomiting center is not stimulated. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source Due to their diffuse blockage of serotonin, these drugs are the primary choice for a variety of causes of nausea. Ondansetron (Zofran, Zuplenz) is one of the most commonly prescribed anti-nausea drugs.
