Vomiting: Quick Relief, Home Care, and When to Get Help

Throwing up wrecks your day and leaves you weak fast. This guide tells you what usually causes vomiting, simple steps to feel better, safe medicines to consider, and clear signs when you need medical help.

Common causes include stomach viruses, food poisoning, medication side effects, migraines, motion sickness, and overeating. Sometimes vomiting is a sign of something serious like appendicitis, bowel obstruction, or a bad reaction to medicine. Look at other symptoms — fever, bad belly pain, blood, or confusion — to judge urgency.

Quick steps to stop vomiting

Start slow. After the last episode, wait 30–60 minutes before trying fluids. Sip plain water, oral rehydration solution, or weak tea in teaspoon-sized amounts. If those stay down, increase to a few tablespoons every few minutes, then to small cups.

A bland diet helps once you tolerate liquids. Try crackers, toast, rice, or bananas. Avoid dairy, greasy foods, alcohol, and caffeine for 24–48 hours. Rest and sit up slightly; lying flat can make nausea worse.

Over-the-counter options can help motion sickness or mild nausea: dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or meclizine work for motion-related symptoms, and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can ease mild stomach upset. Don’t mix bismuth with aspirin and avoid it in teens with viral illness. If you have a prescription for ondansetron (Zofran), follow your doctor’s dose — it’s commonly used when dehydration or persistent vomiting is a risk.

If medication caused the vomiting, stop the drug and check with your prescriber before restarting. For people with chronic conditions, manage triggers — for example, take some opioids with food or split doses of strong medicines to reduce nausea.

When to see a doctor

Call for help if vomiting won’t stop, you can’t keep any fluids for 24 hours (12 hours for young kids), or you see blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. Seek immediate care for severe belly pain, high fever, fainting, confusion, or signs of severe dehydration like very low urine, dry mouth, or dizziness when standing.

Infants, older adults, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems need quicker evaluation. Also get help if vomiting follows a head injury or if you suspect poisoning or an overdose.

Prevention matters: wash hands, cook food fully, store leftovers correctly, and follow dosing directions for medicines. If vomiting is frequent or causes weight loss, ask your doctor about testing for infections, stomach disorders, or medication changes.

Want specific guidance for a medicine or situation? Check our drug guides or contact your healthcare provider. Small steps at home often work, but don’t ignore red flags — staying hydrated and safe matters most.

Make a simple oral rehydration drink: mix six teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt into one liter of clean water. Sip slowly. Commercial solutions like Pedialyte are better for children. Avoid plain sports drinks for babies since they have wrong salt level. If vomiting keeps a child from drinking, use small syringefuls or spoon-feed tiny amounts every few minutes and call your pediatrician sooner rather than later. Bring medication list too.