Several over-the-counter medications, home remedies, and dietary strategies can help stop vomiting or at least reduce how often it happens. The right choice depends on what’s causing it: a stomach bug, motion sickness, pregnancy, or something else entirely. Here’s what works and when to use each option.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol, is one of the most widely available options for vomiting caused by stomach bugs or food poisoning. It works by coating the stomach lining and reducing inflammation in the digestive tract. The typical dose is two tablets every 30 minutes to one hour as needed, with a maximum of 16 tablets in 24 hours. It should not be used in children under 12.
Another OTC option is Emetrol, a phosphorated carbohydrate solution containing glucose, fructose, and phosphoric acid. It works differently from most anti-nausea medicines: the concentrated sugar solution helps calm stomach contractions directly. You take one to two tablespoons at a time and can repeat the dose every 15 minutes until the nausea passes, up to five doses per hour. For it to work, you shouldn’t dilute it or drink any fluids right before or after taking it. Children ages 2 to 11 take a smaller dose of one to two teaspoons.
Motion Sickness Remedies
If your vomiting is triggered by travel, two antihistamine-based medications are your best OTC options. Dimenhydrinate (sold as Dramamine) comes in 50 mg tablets and works well but tends to cause drowsiness. Meclizine (sold as Bonine) comes in 25 mg tablets and is less sedating, making it a better fit if you need to stay alert. Both work best when taken 30 to 60 minutes before travel rather than after vomiting has already started.
Ginger: The Best-Studied Natural Remedy
Ginger has more clinical evidence behind it than any other natural anti-nausea remedy. A meta-analysis of six clinical trials found that 1 gram per day of ginger, taken for at least four days, significantly reduced pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting compared to placebo. A separate meta-analysis of five trials found that 1 gram of ginger was also more effective than placebo at preventing post-surgical nausea. In cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, 500 mg twice daily taken 30 minutes before treatment reduced both the severity of nausea and the number of vomiting episodes.
The effective range across studies is 250 mg to 1 gram taken three to four times daily, and higher doses (2 grams per day) don’t appear to work better than 1 gram. Ginger capsules, ginger chews, and fresh ginger steeped in hot water are all reasonable forms. Ginger ale, on the other hand, typically contains very little actual ginger and a lot of sugar, so it’s not a reliable substitute.
What to Do During Pregnancy
Morning sickness affects most pregnant women, and the options are more limited because many medications aren’t safe during pregnancy. The first-line approach recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) at 25 mg taken three times daily, for a total of 75 mg per day. If that alone isn’t enough, adding a single 25 mg doxylamine tablet (the active ingredient in Unisom SleepTabs) at bedtime can improve results. This combination is the basis of the prescription medication Diclegis, but many women use the individual OTC components with their provider’s guidance.
Ginger at 1 gram per day, split into several doses, is also supported by clinical evidence for pregnancy nausea and is generally considered safe during pregnancy.
Prescription Options
When OTC options aren’t enough, doctors often prescribe ondansetron (Zofran). It works by blocking serotonin receptors in both the brain and the digestive tract, essentially intercepting the chemical signals that trigger the vomiting reflex. It’s commonly used for severe nausea from stomach viruses, post-surgical recovery, and chemotherapy. It dissolves on the tongue, which is helpful when you can’t keep anything down. Your doctor may also prescribe other classes of anti-nausea medication depending on the underlying cause.
What to Eat and Drink After Vomiting
Replacing lost fluids matters more than food in the first several hours. Small, frequent sips of water, clear broth, or an oral rehydration solution like Pedialyte are the safest starting point. Gulping large amounts at once can trigger another round of vomiting, so pace yourself.
For children ages 6 months to 4 years, start with just 5 mL (about a teaspoon) every five minutes for the first hour. If that stays down, increase to 10 mL every five minutes the next hour. Children over 4 can start with 10 mL every five minutes and move up to 20 mL.
When you’re ready for food, the old BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is fine for a day or two, but there’s no reason to limit yourself to only those four foods. As Harvard Health notes, brothy soups, oatmeal, boiled potatoes, crackers, and unsweetened dry cereal are equally easy on the stomach. Once things settle, adding cooked vegetables like butternut squash and carrots, along with skinless chicken, fish, eggs, and avocado gives your body the protein and nutrients it needs to recover faster.
Signs That Vomiting Needs Medical Attention
Most vomiting from stomach bugs or food poisoning resolves within 24 to 48 hours. But dehydration can develop quickly, especially in young children and older adults. Watch for these warning signs: no urination for eight hours or more, a rapid pulse, dizziness or fainting, confusion or slurred speech, dry skin that doesn’t bounce back when pinched, or a fever above 103°F (39.4°C). In infants, fewer than six wet diapers in a day is a red flag.
Vomiting that contains blood, looks like coffee grounds, follows a head injury, or comes with severe abdominal pain needs immediate evaluation. The same applies if vomiting lasts more than two days in adults, more than 24 hours in children under 2, or more than 12 hours in infants.