Nausea
Nausea is the unsettled, queasy sensation that often precedes vomiting. It is not a disease in itself but a symptom, one that ranges from mildly inconvenient to debilitating depending on the underlying cause.
Key points
- Timing, triggers and associated abdominal, neurological, pregnancy or inner-ear symptoms help identify the cause.
- Hydration and cause-specific care matter more than suppressing nausea alone.
- Antiemetics are not interchangeable and can affect movement, alertness or heart rhythm.
An antiemetic listing cannot diagnose nausea or identify the safest medicine; other symptoms, pregnancy, heart health and interactions guide care.
What can cause nausea?
Gastroenteritis, pregnancy, migraine, motion, inner-ear disease and medicines are common possibilities. Persistent nausea can also accompany obstruction, metabolic illness or raised pressure in the skull. Examination and targeted testing depend on the accompanying pattern.
How do antiemetics differ?
Metoclopramide can cause neurological adverse effects. Domperidone has important heart-rhythm restrictions, while prochlorperazine can cause sedation and movement disorders. Selection should match the likely cause; see digestive health for class context.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for severe or localised abdominal pain, a rigid abdomen, fainting, confusion, severe headache, neurological symptoms, blood or green vomit, very little urine or inability to keep fluids down.