NAUSEA, VOMITING: Nausea is unpleasant, but vomiting isn't normally something that should be suppressed. It usually represents the body's attempt to get rid of harmful bacteria or other toxins. Other common causes of nausea include motion sickness, stress, pregnancy (morning sickness), migraine headache, and allergies. Nausea and vomiting can also be caused by drugs. Cancer chemotherapy is well known to cause severe nausea, but there are other less well-known suspects as well, including antibiotics, certain heart medications, narcotic painkillers such as codeine, birth control pills and other female hormones, and prescription asthma medications. Iron supplements and salt substitutes have also been implicated.
Nausea can indicate something more serious, including ulcers, colorectal cancer, diabetes, an impending heart attack, Crohn's disease, meningitis, mononucleosis, or gallstones. If you are vomiting up blood or have abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, fever, or a racing heartbeat, or if the vomiting lasts more than four hours, or if your are very old or debilitated, you should consult a doctor.
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DRUG TREATMENT: No over-the-counter drugs are recommended by the FDA for treating nausea and vomiting. There are drugs that work, but they either require a prescription or the FDA permits their over-the-counter sale only to treat motion sickness. Motion sickness isn't caused by something your body is trying to get rid of, so suppressing it with drugs doesn't involve retaining potential poisons. The downside of over-the-counter motion sickness drugs is that they make you tired and drowsy.
HELPFUL TIPS: Contrary to popular belief, liquids -- especially carbonated drinks -- are hard to keep down on an upset stomach. A cracker or other dry food is better. You can drink colas or ginger ale, but they should be flat, at room temperature, and taken in small sips. Other good fluids are apple and grape juices drunk at room temperature. Citrus juices aren't as good, since their acidity can irritate the stomach and they often contain solid pulp that is hard to digest.
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