What is the home treatment for nausea?

From the Guidelines

Home treatment for nausea should prioritize hydration and gentle remedies, with the most effective strategy being to sip clear fluids like water, ginger ale, or clear broth, and consider over-the-counter medications like dimenhydrinate or meclizine for relief, as supported by recent studies 1.

Key Strategies for Home Treatment

• Start by sipping clear fluids to prevent dehydration, taking small, frequent sips rather than large amounts at once.
• Ginger can be particularly helpful, consumed as tea, candies, or capsules (typically 250mg four times daily) 1.
• Over-the-counter medications like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, 50-100mg every 4-6 hours) or meclizine (Bonine, 25mg every 24 hours) can provide relief, especially for motion sickness.
• Avoid strong odors, greasy or spicy foods, and large meals; instead opt for bland foods like crackers, toast, or plain rice when you feel able to eat.
• Rest in a cool, quiet environment, and try acupressure by pressing on the P6 point (three finger-widths above your wrist on the inner forearm).

When to Seek Medical Attention

• If nausea persists beyond 24-48 hours.
• If accompanied by severe abdominal pain, high fever, signs of dehydration, or if you're pregnant.
• Recent guidelines suggest that for patients with persistent nausea, adding therapies that target different mechanisms of action may be helpful, such as serotonin receptor antagonists like granisetron or ondansetron 1.

Additional Considerations

• The use of antimotility, antinausea, or antiemetic agents can be considered once the patient is adequately hydrated, but their use is not a substitute for fluid and electrolyte therapy 1.
• Neurokinin (NK-1) receptor antagonists, such as aprepitant, may also improve nausea and vomiting in some patients, although their effectiveness can vary and costs should be considered 1.

From the Research

Home Treatment for Nausea

• The studies provided do not directly address home treatment for nausea, but rather focus on the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and seasickness in various settings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
• However, some of the medications and substances mentioned in the studies, such as dimenhydrinate, ondansetron, metoclopramide, ginger, and meclizine, may be used to treat nausea in a home setting.
• According to the studies, ginger has been shown to be effective in preventing PONV when added to ondansetron 4, and meclizine has been found to be effective in combination with ondansetron for preventing PONV in a high-risk population 5.
• Dimenhydrinate has been shown to be as effective as ondansetron in preventing PONV in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy 2.
• It is essential to note that these medications and substances should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional, and their effectiveness and safety for home treatment of nausea may vary depending on the individual and the specific circumstances.

Medications and Substances Mentioned

• Dimenhydrinate: an antihistamine that can be used to treat nausea and vomiting 2, 6.
• Ondansetron: a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist that can be used to treat nausea and vomiting 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Metoclopramide: a dopamine receptor antagonist that can be used to treat nausea and vomiting 3.
• Ginger: a natural substance that has been shown to have antiemetic properties 4.
• Meclizine: an antihistamine that can be used to treat nausea and vomiting 5, 6.