Digestive
Medicines for Nausea and vomiting
Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) is a symptom rather than a disease in itself, so the most important step is to find and treat the cause — with anti-sickness medicines (antiemetics) chosen to match what is driving it.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Nausea and vomiting?
Nausea is the unpleasant feeling that you might be sick, and vomiting is the forceful bringing up of stomach contents. They are extremely common and are symptoms, not diagnoses — the body's response to a wide range of triggers.
- How it is treated: The guiding principle is to treat the cause wherever possible — rehydration and rest for a tummy bug, treating the migraine, reviewing a medicine that may be responsible — and to keep the person hydrated by encouraging small, frequent sips of fluid.
- Self-care: Sipping fluids little and often to avoid dehydration, resting, eating small bland meals when able, getting fresh air and avoiding strong smells or greasy food can all ease nausea while the underlying cause settles.
- When to seek help: Seek medical advice if vomiting is severe or persistent, if you cannot keep any fluids down and show signs of dehydration (very little urine, dizziness, a dry mouth, sunken eyes or lethargy, especially in children or older people), or if it comes with a severe headache, a stiff neck, confusion, severe or worsening tummy pain, a swollen abdomen, or signs of bleeding such as vomit that looks like coffee grounds or contains blood.
What it is
Nausea is the unpleasant feeling that you might be sick, and vomiting is the forceful bringing up of stomach contents. They are extremely common and are symptoms, not diagnoses — the body's response to a wide range of triggers. These include tummy bugs and food poisoning, motion (travel) sickness, pregnancy ("morning sickness"), migraine, the after-effects of an operation and anaesthetic, some medicines, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, inner-ear problems, and occasionally more serious conditions affecting the gut, the balance organs or the brain. Most short-lived nausea and vomiting settles on its own and the main risk is becoming dehydrated. Because the right treatment depends entirely on the cause, working out why someone is being sick matters more than simply suppressing the symptom.
How it is treated
The guiding principle is to treat the cause wherever possible — rehydration and rest for a tummy bug, treating the migraine, reviewing a medicine that may be responsible — and to keep the person hydrated by encouraging small, frequent sips of fluid. Anti-sickness medicines (antiemetics) are used to control the symptom, but they are not interchangeable: different classes act on different pathways, so the choice is matched to the likely cause. Some are favoured for motion sickness and inner-ear causes, some for sickness driven by the gut or by medicines, some specifically for the nausea of pregnancy, and dedicated options exist for the sickness caused by chemotherapy and by operations. Safety in pregnancy is considered carefully, with well-established choices used first. Treatment is reviewed: if simple measures and an antiemetic do not help, or the cause is unclear or worrying, further assessment is needed rather than continuing to mask the symptom.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Nausea and vomiting
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Symptom checker
Symptoms that can point to Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can be one cause of these symptoms. Each guide explains the other possible causes and the red-flag warning signs that mean you should get urgent help:
By active ingredient
Specific medicines used for Nausea and vomiting
Dose-free guides to individual active ingredients used in nausea and vomiting — what each is, how it works, how to take it, and its advantages and disadvantages:
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Sipping fluids little and often to avoid dehydration, resting, eating small bland meals when able, getting fresh air and avoiding strong smells or greasy food can all ease nausea while the underlying cause settles.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
Seek medical advice if vomiting is severe or persistent, if you cannot keep any fluids down and show signs of dehydration (very little urine, dizziness, a dry mouth, sunken eyes or lethargy, especially in children or older people), or if it comes with a severe headache, a stiff neck, confusion, severe or worsening tummy pain, a swollen abdomen, or signs of bleeding such as vomit that looks like coffee grounds or contains blood. Vomiting after a head injury, or alongside chest pain, also needs urgent assessment.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Nausea and vomiting: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for nausea and vomiting?
Anti-sickness medicines, called antiemetics, are the main treatment, but there is no single "sickness tablet" that suits everyone. Different antiemetics work on different pathways, so the choice depends on the cause — for example motion sickness, the nausea of pregnancy, migraine, sickness coming from the gut, after an operation, or with chemotherapy. A pharmacist or doctor will match the medicine to the likely cause, and treating that cause is just as important as easing the symptom.
Why does the cause of vomiting matter so much?
Because nausea and vomiting are symptoms, not a disease, and the body has several different "sickness" pathways. A medicine that helps travel sickness may do little for sickness caused by a tummy bug or chemotherapy, and vice versa. Identifying the cause means the right treatment can be chosen, any serious cause is not missed, and a medicine that might be responsible can be reviewed rather than simply adding another on top.
How do I avoid getting dehydrated when I keep being sick?
The main risk of vomiting is losing too much fluid. Take small, frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration solution rather than large drinks all at once, and reintroduce bland food gently as the sickness settles. Watch for signs of dehydration — passing little urine, feeling dizzy, a dry mouth or unusual tiredness — and get medical advice if you cannot keep any fluids down, particularly for young children and older adults.
I feel sick in early pregnancy — what can help?
Nausea and vomiting are very common in early pregnancy and usually ease as it goes on. Simple measures such as eating small, plain snacks, avoiding triggers and resting often help. If sickness is troublesome, there are well-established anti-sickness medicines considered suitable in pregnancy, and your GP or midwife can advise on these. Seek prompt advice if you cannot keep fluids down or are losing weight, as severe pregnancy sickness needs proper assessment.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Nausea/vomiting in adults.
- NICE CKS: Feeling sick (nausea).
Related conditions
Browse by body system
Building a patient-information or formulary resource?
We create evidence-led, dose-free clinical references and decision aids for teams.