Several over-the-counter medications, home remedies, and simple dietary strategies can help stop vomiting or ease the nausea that comes with it. What works best depends on the cause: a stomach bug, motion sickness, pregnancy, or something you ate. Here’s a practical breakdown of your options.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Two widely available OTC products target nausea and vomiting directly. Bismuth subsalicylate (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol) helps with nausea from overeating or an upset stomach. It coats the stomach lining and reduces irritation. One important note: children under 12 should not take it, and neither should kids or teenagers who might have the flu or chickenpox, because it’s related to aspirin and raises the risk of Reye syndrome.
Phosphorated carbohydrate solution, sold as Emetrol, works for nausea tied to stomach viruses, motion sickness, or food overindulgence. You take a dose every 15 minutes until symptoms ease, but you shouldn’t continue for more than an hour or exceed five doses. Because it’s high in sugar, people with diabetes or hereditary fructose intolerance should avoid it. Don’t dilute it with water or other liquids, as that reduces its effectiveness.
Motion Sickness Options
If your vomiting is triggered by travel or motion, antihistamine-based medications are your best bet. Meclizine (sold as Bonine or Dramamine Less Drowsy) is taken as a 25 to 50 mg dose about one hour before you travel, with one dose every 24 hours while you’re on the move. Dimenhydrinate (original Dramamine) works similarly but tends to cause more drowsiness. Both are most effective when taken before nausea starts, so timing matters.
Ginger: A Proven Natural Option
Ginger is one of the few natural remedies with solid clinical evidence behind it. A systematic review of randomized trials found that taking up to 1 gram of ginger per day for at least three to four days significantly reduced vomiting. The form doesn’t seem to matter much. Capsules of powdered dried ginger root, ginger tea made from fresh root, and standardized ginger extract all showed benefits across studies. For tea, steeping about 250 mg of fresh ginger root in 100 mL of boiling water is a common preparation. If you prefer capsules, splitting a total daily dose of 500 mg to 1,000 mg into two or more servings throughout the day is typical.
Ginger is also considered safe during pregnancy, though if you’re pregnant, the next section covers options designed specifically for morning sickness.
Pregnancy-Related Vomiting
Vitamin B6 combined with doxylamine (an antihistamine found in some sleep aids) is the standard first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A prescription version combines both ingredients in a single delayed-release tablet. The typical starting dose is two tablets at bedtime. If nausea persists the next afternoon, you add a morning tablet on day three, gradually increasing to a maximum of four tablets per day spread across morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime.
Many providers recommend trying vitamin B6 on its own first, as it’s available without a prescription. Talk to your OB about the right dose before combining it with doxylamine.
Prescription Medications
When OTC options aren’t enough, doctors have stronger tools. Ondansetron (Zofran) blocks serotonin receptors in the gut and brain that trigger the vomiting reflex. It’s commonly prescribed for severe nausea from stomach viruses, post-surgery recovery, and chemotherapy. It works well without causing heavy sedation, which makes it a go-to for many situations.
Promethazine (Phenergan) takes a different approach, blocking histamine and dopamine signals involved in nausea. It’s noticeably more sedating, which can actually be helpful if you need rest but makes it a poor choice when you need to stay alert. Your doctor will choose between these based on what’s causing the vomiting and how you need to function.
Acupressure at the Wrist
Pressing on a point called P6, located on the inside of your wrist, is a drug-free technique used widely in hospitals and by people with motion sickness. To find it, place three fingers flat across the inside of your opposite wrist, just below the crease. The point sits in the groove between the two large tendons, right below where your three fingers end. Press firmly with your thumb. It shouldn’t hurt. Wristbands designed to apply constant pressure to this spot (like Sea-Bands) use the same principle and are popular for travel and pregnancy nausea.
What to Eat and Drink After Vomiting
Staying hydrated matters more than eating. After vomiting, your body loses water, salt, and sugar rapidly. If you can’t keep commercial rehydration drinks down, you can make an effective oral rehydration solution at home: mix 4 cups of water with half a teaspoon of table salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Take small, frequent sips rather than gulping large amounts, which can trigger more vomiting.
You may have heard of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) as a recovery plan. While these foods are easy on the stomach, the CDC considers this approach unnecessarily restrictive and nutritionally inadequate, especially for children. A better strategy is to return to a normal, balanced diet as soon as you can tolerate food. Start with bland, low-fat options and expand from there. There’s no need to limit yourself to just four foods.
Warning Signs That Need Immediate Attention
Most vomiting from stomach bugs or food reactions resolves within a day or two. But certain symptoms alongside vomiting signal something more serious:
- Blood in your vomit, or material that looks like dark coffee grounds
- Green or yellow-green vomit, which can indicate a bowel obstruction
- Sudden, severe abdominal pain, especially if it spreads across your entire abdomen
- Severe chest pain
- Stiff neck with fever or sensitivity to bright lights
- A sudden, intense headache unlike anything you’ve experienced before
If you’ve been vomiting for more than two days, can’t keep any fluids down, notice signs of dehydration like confusion or a rapid heartbeat, or have diabetes and are struggling to manage your blood sugar, those situations also warrant medical help. For anyone who may have swallowed something toxic, call poison control or go to an emergency room right away.