What you should take for a stomach ache depends on what’s causing it. Acid-related pain, gas and bloating, cramps, and diarrhea each respond to different remedies. Most stomach aches resolve on their own or with simple over-the-counter options, but matching the right treatment to your symptoms makes a real difference in how quickly you feel better.
For Heartburn and Acid-Related Pain
If your stomach ache feels like burning in your upper abdomen or chest, especially after eating, excess stomach acid is the likely culprit. Three categories of medication target this problem, and they work on different timelines.
Antacids (the chewable tablets you’ll find under brands like Tums or Rolaids) neutralize acid that’s already in your stomach. They work within minutes but wear off relatively quickly, making them best for occasional flare-ups rather than ongoing problems.
H2 blockers reduce acid production by blocking the chemical signal that tells your stomach to make it. They take longer to kick in than antacids but provide relief for about eight hours. This makes them a better choice if you know a meal is likely to cause trouble and want to get ahead of it.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the strongest option. They shut down the acid-producing pumps in your stomach lining directly, reducing acid output for 15 to 21 hours a day. The tradeoff is speed: PPIs can take up to four days to reach full effect. They’re designed for frequent heartburn, not a one-off stomach ache after a spicy meal.
For Gas and Bloating
When your stomach ache comes with pressure, fullness, or visible bloating, trapped gas is often the problem. Simethicone (sold as Gas-X or Mylicon) is the standard remedy. It works by breaking up gas bubbles trapped in your digestive tract, dispersing the mucus-coated pockets of gas that cause that uncomfortable, distended feeling. It’s inert, meaning your body doesn’t absorb it, which makes it one of the safest options available.
If you notice gas specifically after eating beans, broccoli, or other high-fiber vegetables, an enzyme supplement taken with the meal can help your body break down the complex sugars that cause the gas in the first place. These work preventively, so you need to take them before or with the food rather than after symptoms start.
For Cramps and Spasms
Stomach cramps feel different from burning or bloating. They come in waves as the muscles in your digestive tract contract too forcefully. In the U.S., peppermint oil capsules are the only over-the-counter antispasmodic medication available. They work directly on the smooth muscles in your gut, reducing the contractions that cause cramping pain.
Chamomile tea offers a milder version of the same effect and can help calm both intestinal and menstrual cramps. For more severe or persistent cramping, prescription antispasmodics exist, but most occasional stomach cramps don’t require that level of treatment.
For Diarrhea and General Upset
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is the go-to for stomach aches that come with nausea, diarrhea, or a general “something isn’t right” feeling. It coats the stomach lining and has mild anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Adults can take up to 16 tablets in 24 hours, but if diarrhea doesn’t improve within two days or gets worse, that’s a sign something more than a simple stomach bug is going on.
One important warning: bismuth subsalicylate contains a salicylate, the same class of compound found in aspirin. Do not give it to children. Salicylates are linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can affect kids with viral illnesses like the flu or chickenpox. For children with stomach aches, stick to fluids and bland foods unless a pediatrician recommends something specific.
What to Eat (and Avoid) During a Stomach Ache
You’ve probably heard of the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It’s reasonable for a day or two if you’re dealing with food poisoning or a stomach bug, but there’s no need to limit yourself to just those four foods. Brothy soups, oatmeal, boiled potatoes, crackers, and unsweetened dry cereal are equally easy to digest and give you more nutritional variety.
Once your stomach starts settling, you can expand to cooked squash, carrots, sweet potatoes without skin, avocado, skinless chicken or turkey, fish, and eggs. These are gentle enough to keep things calm while giving your body what it needs to recover.
What to avoid matters just as much. Steer clear of dairy, fried foods, sugary desserts, caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods like citrus and tomato sauce, and anything spicy. High-fiber foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, popcorn, and beans can also aggravate an already irritated stomach.
Staying Hydrated Matters More Than Eating
If you’re nauseated and can’t keep food down, don’t force it. What matters most is fluids. Take small sips of water or suck on ice chips. Broth, popsicles, diluted fruit juice (half water, half juice), and weak decaffeinated tea all work well.
Skip sports drinks like Gatorade if you’re truly dehydrated. They don’t have the right balance of sugar and electrolytes for recovery. Oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte contain the correct ratio of sodium, sugar, and minerals to actually treat dehydration, not just quench thirst.
Probiotics for Faster Recovery
If your stomach ache involves diarrhea, probiotics can shorten the duration noticeably. A dosage of at least 5 billion colony-forming units per day is significantly more effective than lower doses. Two strains have the strongest evidence behind them: one reduced the duration of diarrhea in children by about 25 hours on average, while another cut it by roughly two full days compared to placebo. For diarrhea triggered by antibiotics, probiotics reduced the mean duration from 9 days down to about 2.3 days in one trial of hospitalized children.
Look for products that list specific strains and CFU counts on the label. Many commercial probiotic products contain far fewer organisms than what the research supports.
Symptoms That Need Immediate Attention
Most stomach aches are harmless and pass within hours. But certain patterns signal something that needs urgent evaluation. Sudden, excruciating abdominal pain that hits like a switch can indicate a perforated organ, internal bleeding, or a blocked blood vessel supplying the intestines.
Fever combined with abdominal pain raises the risk that an infection or inflammation is escalating. A rapid heart rate or feeling faint suggests your body is under significant stress, possibly from internal blood loss or severe dehydration.
If pressing on your abdomen causes sharp pain when you release (rebound tenderness), if your abdominal muscles tighten involuntarily when touched, or if coughing and walking send jolts of pain through your belly, these are signs of peritonitis, an inflammation of the abdominal lining that typically requires surgery. None of these symptoms should be managed at home with over-the-counter remedies.