Several options can stop or reduce vomiting, ranging from over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs to ginger, acupressure, and simple hydration strategies. What works best depends on what’s causing the vomiting in the first place, because different triggers respond to different treatments.
Over-the-Counter Medications
The most widely available OTC option for nausea and vomiting from stomach irritation is bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate. It coats the stomach lining and reduces inflammation in the gut. One important safety note: bismuth subsalicylate should not be given to children or teenagers who have, or are recovering from, a viral infection like the flu or chickenpox, because it contains a compound related to aspirin that raises the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition affecting the brain and liver.
Another OTC product combines fructose, dextrose, and phosphoric acid (sold as Emetrol). It’s marketed for nausea and vomiting, but it has not been proven effective in clinical testing. It’s unlikely to cause harm, but you may get better results from other options.
For motion sickness specifically, antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine) are effective, but timing matters. These pills need about two hours to kick in, and once vomiting starts, your stomach may not absorb them properly. Take them before you expect to feel sick. Dimenhydrinate and meclizine both last around eight hours per dose, with meclizine chewable tablets lasting up to 24 hours. All antihistamines in this class cause drowsiness.
Prescription Options
When OTC remedies aren’t enough, doctors can prescribe stronger anti-nausea drugs tailored to the specific cause of your vomiting.
For stomach bugs, food poisoning, and post-surgical nausea, dopamine-blocking medications are often first-line treatments. These work by quieting the brain’s trigger zone for vomiting. The same class of drugs is also used for nausea that accompanies migraines, where they can treat both the headache and the vomiting at the same time.
Serotonin-blocking medications (ondansetron, commonly known by the brand name Zofran) are among the most frequently prescribed anti-nausea drugs. They work by blocking signals between the gut and the brain’s vomiting center. Ondansetron is used for chemotherapy-related vomiting, post-surgical nausea, and as a backup option for stomach infections when other medications don’t help. It dissolves on the tongue, which makes it practical when you can’t keep a pill down.
Ginger
Ginger has a long reputation as a nausea remedy, and there is some clinical support behind it, though the results are more modest than many people expect. The most studied dose is about 1 gram of fresh ginger root (roughly a half-teaspoon grated). You can also get it through ginger capsules, ginger tea, or ginger chews. In a large, placebo-controlled trial of patients receiving chemotherapy, ginger did not provide a significant overall benefit, though it did reduce nausea in certain higher-risk subgroups, particularly women. For milder, everyday nausea, many people find it helpful, and it carries very few side effects.
Pregnancy-Related Vomiting
Morning sickness requires special consideration because most medications aren’t automatically safe during pregnancy. The standard first-line treatment is a combination of vitamin B6 and doxylamine (an antihistamine), available as a prescription delayed-release tablet. The typical starting regimen is two tablets at bedtime. If nausea persists the next afternoon, the dose increases to three tablets per day: one in the morning and two at bedtime. This combination has been specifically studied and approved for use during pregnancy.
Ginger is also considered a reasonable option for pregnancy nausea, and many providers suggest trying it before moving to medication.
Acupressure
Pressing or stimulating a point on the inner wrist known as PC6 (located about three finger-widths below the base of your palm, between the two tendons) has been studied extensively. A Cochrane review covering over 5,000 participants found that PC6 stimulation reduced vomiting by about 40% compared to a fake treatment, and it performed comparably to anti-nausea medications in preventing post-surgical nausea. The techniques ranged from simple wristbands you can buy at a drugstore to acupuncture needles. Side effects were minor and temporary, mostly limited to mild skin irritation. Acupressure wristbands are inexpensive and drug-free, making them a practical first option, especially for motion sickness or situations where you want to avoid medication.
Hydration and Eating After Vomiting
Staying hydrated is the most important thing you can do while vomiting, because fluid loss happens fast. The key is small, frequent sips rather than large gulps, which can trigger more vomiting. Aim for at least one ounce (about two tablespoons) of fluid per hour as a minimum. Water works, but oral rehydration solutions or drinks with electrolytes replace the sodium and potassium you lose. For the first 24 hours, focusing on fluids over solid food is reasonable.
Once you’re ready to eat, the old advice to stick strictly to the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is outdated. The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends it for children, and the Cleveland Clinic notes that it’s too nutritionally restrictive to help your gut recover. Bland, soft foods are fine to start with, but you should transition to a normal, balanced diet as soon as you can tolerate it. Your body needs the nutrients to rebuild strength.
Warning Signs That Need Immediate Attention
Most vomiting resolves on its own within a day or two, but certain symptoms alongside vomiting signal something more serious. Get to an emergency room if your vomit contains blood, looks like coffee grounds, or is green. The same applies if vomiting comes with severe headache (especially a new type you haven’t experienced before), chest pain, severe abdominal cramping, confusion, blurred vision, or a high fever with a stiff neck.
Watch for signs of dehydration: excessive thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, urinating much less than usual, and dizziness when you stand up. Dehydration can escalate quickly, particularly in young children and older adults, and may require IV fluids to correct.