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Cyclizine Tablets from £20
Metoclopramide Tablets from £20
Prochlorperazine Tablets from £20
Advice for Nausea/Vomiting
Nausea is stomach discomfort and the sensation of feeling sick and wanting to vomit. It is not a condition in its own right as it is often a symptom of other conditions. Nausea can be short-lived or long-lasting, depending on the cause.
Nausea is usually accompanied by a variety of other symptoms including lightheadedness, dizziness, faintness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache and fever. Nausea by itself won’t give you much of a clue as to the cause of it, but looking at the other symptoms you are experiencing will give you more of an indication.
Nausea and vomiting are very common symptoms that can be caused by many medical conditions. Some common causes can include; viral infections, eating or drinking too much, food poisoning, pregnancy and motion sickness or seasickness.
Nausea is often nothing to worry about in adults and will often clear within a day or two. It is an unpleasant feeling but it is usually painless and can often pass by on its own. It can be quite difficult to diagnose nausea specifically. Sometimes, treating the underlying cause will improve your nausea without anti-sickness medicines. If nausea is associated with motion sickness this can often be dealt with prescription medication via our Pharmacinta clinical service.
However, in more severe cases where the nausea leads to bouts of sickness where blood is present in the vomit will indicate a condition that requires urgent attention, and as such you should go to the hospital immediately.
Nausea symptoms are not always painful but can be extremely uncomfortable sensations felt often in the chest, upper abdomen, or at the back of the throat. Nausea can be associated with;
- Headache
- Fever
- Diarrhoea
- Gas
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Abdominal Pain
Nausea is caused by imbalances in the vestibular system. This is a series of fluid chambers and nerves in each ear that controls the body’s sense of balance. When the brain detects conflicting information being relayed by the vestibular system and the eyes or muscles, it triggers the feeling of nausea. This type of nausea can affect anyone, but those who experience migraines may be much more susceptible.
Nausea is a non-specific symptom, meaning it can have various different causes. Nausea is not an illness itself, but rather a symptom of another condition. Some people may only experience nausea and others will experience nausea and vomiting, amongst other symptoms. The most common causes of nausea are listed below:
- Motion sickness
- Migraine
- Vertigo
- Pregnancy i.e. morning sickness
- Intense pain
- Enteroviruses
- Gastroenteritis
- Acid reflux
- Anxiety
- Food poisoning
- Dizziness
- Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Eating disorders e.g. Bulimia
- Drinking excess amounts of alcohol
- Medications
- Triggered by strong or unpleasant smells
- Urinary tract infections
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
If nausea is associated with diarrhoea, stomach pains and vomiting then the likely cause would be gastroenteritis i.e. food poisoning, and if you experience a fever and cold symptoms with it then you could have the flu.
If nausea is accompanied by a headache or vision problems then it could likely be a migraine, and if there is a head injury then it could lead to nausea and dizziness afterwards. Dizziness with nausea can also be an indication of vertigo or fainting.
There are many treatments used to treat nausea. Each treatment used will depend on the cause of your nausea. If you are experiencing persistent episodes of nausea, it may be that you have to see your GP to establish the cause of it.
Treatments for nausea and vomiting are called antiemetics. There are several antiemetics that are effective at preventing or treating nausea and are usually available over the counter from pharmacies without prescriptions. The most common prescription-only antiemetics that are available via Pharmacinta includes tablets such as Metoclopramide and Prochlorperazine.
Anti-sickness tablets work to control nausea and vomiting in different ways. Many of them work by blocking nausea messages from being sent to a part of the brain called the ‘vomiting centre’. By blocking these messages, the medicine helps to relieve nausea and the feeling of an upset stomach.
Metoclopramide is a medicine that acts in the gut. It works to speed up the transit of food through the gut. This treatment for nausea is often used when the symptoms are caused by gut problems or a migraine.
Prochlorperazineis a medicine that works by blocking a chemical in the brain called dopamine. Prochlorperazine is useful for treating nausea caused by several conditions including nausea caused by vertigo and inner ear problems.
There are some tips you can follow to help with nausea. For example, getting fresh air, having regular sips of a cold drink, eating smaller and more frequent meals, and drinking peppermint or ginger tea. Other things might worsen nausea such as eating large meals, lying down after eating, eating strong-smelling food, and eating too quickly. Try to avoid wearing clothes that are tight around the stomach as this could make you feel worse.
There are several anti-sickness medicines used to control nausea and vomiting and are available over the counter without prescriptions. Medicines used for travel sickness include cinnarizine, promethazine and Hyoscine. A medicine called buclizine is an effective treatment for nausea associated with migraines.
Other anti-sickness medicines available on prescription include cyclizine, domperidone and ondansetron. They can help to treat nausea and vomiting caused by various conditions such as vertigo, nausea after an operation, and morning sickness.
There are quite a few forms of therapy associated with help to reduce or control nausea. These methods will not work as quickly as medication, however they are often a good place to start. There is nothing stopping you from combining these methods with medication if it is needed.Most of them have few or no side effects, however there is very little scientific evidence that shows this works.
Self-hypnosis can be used to make behaviour changes to help control nausea and vomiting.Progressive muscle relaxation teaches a person to relax by progressively tensing and relaxing different muscle groups. It’s been used to decrease the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique where very thin needles are put into the skin. There are a number of different acupuncture techniques, including some that use pressure rather than needles (acupressure).
Frequently Asked Questions
Nausea is an unpleasant sensation in the upper stomach that accompanies the urge to vomit. Nausea can precede vomiting, although it is possible to feel nauseous without throwing up.
If however, you are persistently experiencing nausea, and its cause is unknown, then it is advised to speak with your doctor. Also, you should seek medical advice immediately should you present with any of the following associated symptoms: Blood in your vomit; Severe abdominal pain; A headache and stiffness of the neck; A persistent feeling of nausea that doesn’t go away in someone who isn’t pregnant; Dehydration
If you suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will likely suggest changes to your diet and daily life before prescribing medication. However, if these changes have little effect, or if the morning sickness is particularly severe, then your doctor or midwife may suggest a short-term course of medication.
<p>Nausea isn’t always possible to prevent. Trying to manage the underlying cause will be the most effective method for preventing the associated nausea. For example, if your nausea is being caused by your medication, then speaking to your doctor about an alternative should be your first course of action. </p><p> However, there are steps you can take to help prevent nausea, providing its cause and triggers are controllable e.g. Eating smaller meals </p>
Acute nausea and/or vomiting usually mean lasting less than 24-48 hours. They are most commonly due to gastric infection or food poisoning and are self-limiting. This sort of nausea and vomiting does not usually need any intervention. Persistent nausea and vomiting is that which lasts for 48 hours or more e.g. experienced in pregnancy, on a long sea voyage, when taking chemotherapy, or due to a chronic medical condition.
The best anti-sickness tablet for you depends on the cause of your nausea and vomiting. Different medicines will be more effective for nausea caused by different conditions. For example, prochlorperazine has less of a sedating effect than cyclizine or promethazine. This makes it more suitable for patients with persistent vomiting or with severe nausea.
Medicines used to treat nausea can be effective at preventing or treating nausea. For example, many people find travel sickness medicines effective when travelling.
There are several antiemetics available over the counter. For example, promethazine, hyoscine, and cinnarizine are available to buy for travel sickness. Buccal prochlorperazine 3mg is available to buy to treat nausea associated with migraine. Cyclizine can also be bought over the counter. It can be used to treat nausea associated with various causes.
Nausea is one of many symptoms that can be caused by anxiety. Taking medicines to help your anxiety, or using tips like calming breathing exercises, can help nausea associated with anxiety.
The British Medical Journal suggests that around 9% of people will experience nausea/vomiting if they have COVID.
Metoclopramide is used as an anti-sickness medicine. It can help with nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy and radiotherapy and can be used to treat nausea associated with migraine. It can also be used to relieve nausea and vomiting from other causes.
Metoclopramide, in the UK, is a prescription-only medicine. This means that you cannot buy it over the counter.
Prochlorperazine, in the UK, can be used for various conditions that cause nausea and vomiting such as migraines, vertigo, and Meniere’s disease. It can also be used as a short term treatment for anxiety and is used in the management of certain mental illnesses like mania.
It’s useful for vertigo because it can help to relieve the severe nausea and vomiting associated with vertigo.
You cannot buy prochlorperazine 5mg tablets over the counter in the UK. This medicine is only available on prescription. However, you can buy prochlorperazine buccal tablets over the counter at your local pharmacy. These are placed between the upper lip and the gum until they dissolve. They can be sold to treat nausea and vomiting associated with migraines.
