How to Treat Vomiting and Nausea at Home

Everyone gets sick, but it's not always necessary to run to the doctor. These tips will help you care for yourself or a loved one suffering from nausea and vomiting.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Drink Plenty of Fluids

1. Start with small amounts of liquid, such as 4 to 8 ozs. at a time for adults and 1 oz. or less at a time for children.
2. Only use clear liquids like clear soup broth, juice or lemon-lime soda. A liquid is considered clear if you can read something looking through it.
3. Avoid milk and any dairy products, as they can make nausea and vomiting worse.
4. Children should be given oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Rehydrate, Resol and Rice-Lyte.
5. Children should avoid cola, tea, fruit juice and sports drinks, which will not correctly replace fluid or electrolytes lost from vomiting.
6. Adults should start by eating ice chips and clear, noncaffeinated, nondairy liquids such as Gatorade, ginger ale, fruit juices and other commercial drink mixes.
7. After 24 vomit-free, liquid-diet hours, adults can begin a soft, bland solid diet. Try to remember the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce (without sugar), toast (or pasta or potatoes).
8. You can more slowly work your way to soft foods with choices like gelatin, oatmeal and yogurt, but go back to liquids if the nausea and vomiting return.

Tips & Warnings

• If your symptoms last more than a few days, seem particularly severe or do not improve, call your doctor.