Vomiting: Causes, Home Care, and When to Get Help

Vomiting is your body's quick way to eject something it sees as harmful. It can be sudden and scary, but most times you can manage it at home. This guide gives clear, practical steps for what to do, which medicines can help, and the exact signs that mean you should get medical care.

Common causes include stomach bugs (viral gastroenteritis), food poisoning, medication side effects, migraines, pregnancy, motion sickness, and alcohol. Less common causes are bowel blockage, head injury, severe infections, or metabolic problems. If you recently started a new drug or had a head blow, treat vomiting more seriously.

First goal: prevent dehydration. Small, frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte) work best. Try a teaspoon or two every few minutes at first. Avoid sugary drinks, coffee, and soda until you’re keeping fluids down. Rest upright or propped on pillows; lying flat can make nausea worse.

Food-wise, skip solid meals until vomiting eases. When you feel better, start with bland items — plain toast, crackers, bananas, rice. That’s the BRAT approach. Avoid fatty, spicy, or greasy foods for a day or two. If nausea returns when you eat, go back to fluids and wait several hours before trying again.

Medicines that help — quick overview

Over-the-counter options include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) for motion sickness and meclizine for dizziness-related nausea. For stronger or persistent vomiting, doctors often prescribe ondansetron (Zofran) or promethazine. Always check with a provider if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have heart or liver problems, or take other meds that could interact.

Remember: many prescription drugs can cause nausea or vomiting — antibiotics, pain medicines, antidepressants, and some heart drugs. If a medication seems to trigger vomiting, call your prescriber before stopping it; they can suggest alternatives or anti-nausea cover.

How to handle vomiting in kids

For children, focus on small sips of oral rehydration solution and watch for fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, or lethargy. Avoid forcing food. If a baby under three months vomits repeatedly, or if a child shows high fever, severe belly pain, blood in vomit, or can't keep any fluid, seek care fast.

When to go to the ER: repeated vomiting with signs of dehydration (very dry lips, very little urine, dizziness), blood in vomit, severe abdominal pain, high fever, worsening headache or confusion after a head injury, or if vomiting follows a possible poisoning. Also get help if vomiting lasts more than 24–48 hours in adults or doesn’t improve in kids.

If your vomiting links to a medication you take, check our guides on specific drugs like antibiotics and antidepressants for details on side effects and safe options. When in doubt, call your doctor — fast treatment can prevent complications, and most causes are treatable with simple steps or a short prescription.