How to Stop Throwing Up

how long after drinking can i take pepto bismol
how long after drinking can i take pepto bismol

Prevention

Preventing nausea and vomiting may be as easy as changing a few habits. These suggestions may help you stop throwing up:

  • Avoid hard-to-digest foods: Foods high in fat tend to be hard for your body to process. Those low in fat are easier to digest and move through your gut faster.
  • Eat smaller portions: Eating smaller amounts at one time may give you relief from feeling like you have to throw up. To get your calorie and protein needs, you may have to eat more often.
  • Eat meals slowly: Take your time to chew your food and don’t rush the next bite.
  • Drink clear, cool beverages: Take sips slowly, especially when sipping through a straw, and drink only as much as you can tolerate.
  • Avoid trigger smells: The smell of cooking food, especially greasy foods, can induce nausea. Switch to cold foods, like dairy products, sandwiches, and fruits instead. Have someone else cook if smells make you nauseated.
  • Avoid liquids when eating: Drink liquids 30 to 60 minutes before and after eating.
  • Maintain an upright posture after eating: Avoid lying down flat for at least two hours after you eat.

There may be certain times when you know you’ll have nausea or vomiting. For example, you may feel nauseated at certain times of the day due to morning sickness. Or you may have nausea at night due to various conditions or medications, after eating, or after cancer treatment.

If you know you’re going to be sick, avoid your favorite foods. Throwing up foods you like can cause you to stop enjoying them.

Vomiting in Children

The risk of dehydration is greater in infants and children who have been vomiting, especially if they also have a fever or diarrhea. This is because their bodies are less efficient at conserving water than adults. Also, it takes less fluid loss to cause dehydration due to their smaller size.

Remedies and treatments for vomiting in children are the same as they are for adults. Breastfeeding infants can be given breast milk as part of the liquids-only step.

But caretakers should be on the lookout for signs of dehydration in children, such as:

  • Crying without tears
  • Dry mouth
  • Less urination/fewer or no wet diapers
  • Irritability
  • Tiredness
  • Sunken abdomen, eyes, cheeks, or fontanel (an infant’s “soft spot”)

If you notice these signs, contact your child’s healthcare provider right away.

Constant Vomiting: When to See a Healthcare Provider

Most illnesses that cause vomiting resolve on their own. In some cases, however, vomiting can be a sign of something more serious. See a healthcare provider at once if:

  • You think your vomiting is from poisoning.
  • You’ve been vomiting for longer than 24 hours.
  • You’re throwing up blood, which may be red or maroon or may look like coffee grounds.
  • You have severe abdominal pain.
  • You have a severe headache and a stiff neck.
  • You have signs of dehydration, including dry mouth, infrequent urination, or dark urine.

If you or someone else experiences severe symptoms such as seizures, confusion, or difficulty remaining conscious after drinking alcohol, call 911. These can be signs of alcohol poisoning.

If you are pregnant, severe morning sickness may be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. See a healthcare provider if you have dehydration or weight loss of one to two pounds within a week or more.

Call a pediatrician or healthcare provider if:

  • Your child has vomiting that doesn’t go away after 24 hours or starts again once the child returns to a normal diet.
  • Your child has vomiting accompanied by fever (over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit in an infant or over 101 degrees Fahrenheit in a child over six months).
  • Your child is vomiting blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds.
  • Your child is vomiting yellowish or greenish fluid.

Take your child to the hospital if your child vomits after a head injury.

Summary

Resting your stomach, sipping small amounts of fluid, and then eating foods that are “safe” for your stomach will help stop vomiting in most cases. If these tips don’t provide relief within a day or two, call your healthcare provider. They can check to see if you are dehydrated and advise you on how to proceed.