Rest your stomachTry fluids before foodEat a mild diet, like the BRAT dietGradually return to your normal way of eatingMedication
Trying certain strategies too soon can backfire and get you vomiting again.
This article will take you through the steps you can take to stop throwing up so you can get closer to feeling better, faster.
Giving the muscles in your stomach time to rest will lower the chances that you will vomit once you start eating and drinking again.
The best fluids to try include:
Water Sports drinks (such as Gatorade) Electrolyte drinks (such as Pedialyte) for children
Drinks such as sodas and milk should be avoided until you are able to begin eating your normal diet.
If you are caring for a small child who is sick, be careful not to let them drink a lot of fluid all at once. It may be easier to keep an eye on those amounts by using a syringe or a spoon to give liquid, rather than a cup or baby bottle.
If vomiting begins again after you started fluids, go back to step 1. If you or your child can keep down small sips of fluid, slowly drink more with each sip.
If you feel like you can eat something by then, start with bland, starchy foods. Foods that are heavy, fat, or acidic—think tomatoes or oranges—should be avoided until you are better.
The BRAT diet includes bland foods that are easy to digest when you have a stomach bug. These include bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, though the diet can be modified with the addition of similar foods as well.
If you start throwing up again after you try these foods, go back to step 1.
Once you decide you can eat again, take it slowly even if you feel better. If you start to feel sick after eating but do not vomit again, go back to the BRAT diet. If you do start throwing up again, go back to step 1 and call your healthcare provider.
There are prescription drugs that can help control vomiting. Depending on the case, a healthcare provider may decide that one of them will help you feel better. They may be used to keep you hydrated or replace the fluids you’ve already lost.
Phenergan (promethazine) is an antihistamine that can also be used to control nausea and vomiting. It is not usually used in children. Zofran (ondansetron) was first used to treat severe nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy. It has fewer side effects than Phenergan and is often used to treat vomiting from other illnesses as well.
They also may contain bismuth subsalicylate and should never be given to children under the age of 12. If someone is under the age of 18 and recently had the flu or chickenpox, they should not take them either because of a chance of Reye’s syndrome.
Avoid large meals. Instead, eat smaller, more frequent meals. Take note of your triggers. If certain smells or foods make you nauseous, take steps to avoid them. It is important to stay hydrated, especially if you’ve been vomiting. Ginger ale or ginger tea can help soothe your stomach. Eat bland foods like crackers and toast. If you have severe symptoms, call your healthcare provider at once. They may recommend anti-nausea medication.
It may also be helpful to know that this symptom often disappears as your pregnancy progresses.
You have symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, dark urine, and dizziness You’re throwing up blood or your vomit looks like coffee groundsYou have a severe headache
Less urgently, you should see a healthcare provider if:
You’ve been vomiting for more than two daysYour child is one to two years old and has been vomiting for more than 24 hoursYour baby has been vomiting for more than 12 hoursYou’ve been vomiting off and on for more than one monthYou’re experiencing ongoing nausea and vomiting with weight loss
You will most likely need to be checked for dehydration and to find out the cause of your illness. If you need medicine, your doctor will be able to choose the right one and help you on the road to recovery.
