How to Stop Retching After Vomiting

Co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD

Last Updated: April 11, 2022 References

It’s common to feel like retching or gagging after vomiting, and home remedies can usually ease an upset stomach. Try sipping cold, clear liquid to soothe your digestive system and prevent dehydration. If possible, avoid activity and rest in an upright position until your symptoms pass. Manage stomach sensitivity by eating smaller meals, eating slowly, and drinking water in between meals instead of at meals. If your symptoms continue, ask your doctor to rule out an underlying condition or recommend medication.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Trying Home Remedies

1
Take small sips of a clear liquid. Sipping room temperature water, flat ginger ale, a sports drink, or other non-caffeinated drink will help prevent dehydration and may help settle your stomach. If possible, take a teaspoon-sized sip every few minutes.^{[1]
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- Try ice chips if you can’t keep anything else down.
- Avoid acidic drinks, like citrus juice, as these can upset your stomach. You should also stay away from caffeinated drinks, like coffee or cola, as these can worsen nausea.
2
Relax in an upright position. After vomiting, sit in an upright position or in a propped up lying position. Activity right after vomiting can cause worsen nausea and retching. Sitting upright will help ease your digestive system and, if you fall asleep and vomit again, lying flat could pose a choking risk.^{[2]
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- While resting, try relaxation techniques to distract yourself from feeling sick. Listen to soothing music, watch a funny movie, or talk to a friend or family member.^{[3]
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3
Get rid of bad tastes with mints. Hard candy, like lemon drops or mints, can help ease the urge to retch or vomit. Go for your favorite flavors to get rid of bad tastes that might make you sick.^{[4]
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- You shouldn’t brush your teeth after vomiting, since it could strip weakened enamel layers. As an alternative, you can get the bad taste out of your mouth by gargling with water or a mixture of water and nonalcoholic mouthwash.
4
Avoid solid food during a vomiting spell. Wait four or five hours until you’ve stopped vomiting before you try to keep down solid food. A meal could further upset your stomach and cause nausea, retching, or vomiting.^{[5]
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- After a few hours, go for bland foods, like crackers or dry, cold toast.
5
Drink ginger tea. Ginger can soothe the digestive system, and ease nausea and retching. Try making a tea by slicing a small piece of ginger root and steeping it in boiling water for a few minutes. Let the tea cool until it’s safe to drink, then sip it slowly.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Consulting a Doctor

1
Seek medical attention for vomiting that lasts more than four hours. Uncontrolled vomiting for more than more fours straight is a cause for concern. If you can’t stop vomiting and aren’t able to keep down any liquids, you might need medical attention to avoid dehydration.^{[7]
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- You should also see a doctor promptly if you vomit blood, are experiencing diarrhea, or have a fever.
2
Ask your doctor if you should stop taking oral medications. If you take any oral medications regularly, taking them during a vomiting spell could upset your stomach. Further, if you vomit them up immediately, your body didn’t absorb them.^{[8]
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- Call your doctor or pharmacist and tell them about your condition. Ask them, “Should I hold off taking my prescription until a few hours after I’ve stopped vomiting?”
- If you are vomiting for over 4 hours and have missed your diabetic, seizure, or blood pressure medication, consult a doctor or seek emergency medical care. They can give you the necessary medications via injections.
3
Have your doctor test for underlying conditions. Vomiting and retching could be associated with any number of medical conditions, from food poisoning to chronic digestive issues or migraines.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} If you experience regular patterns of vomiting and retching, you should talk to your doctor about imaging, urine, and blood tests to diagnose any underlying conditions.^{[10]
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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- X-ray and ultrasound imaging can rule out ulcers, blockages, gallstones, and other issues.
- Blood and urine tests can detect infections or kidney issues.
4
Ask your doctor to recommend a medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking an over the counter or prescription medication.^{[11]
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Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} Ask them if they recommend an anti-nausea or antacid, or combination of the two. If your digestive issues are related to anxiety, ask them about a prescription anti-anxiety medication.^{[12]
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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- If you’re undergoing cancer treatment therapy and haven’t already been prescribed an antiemetic, talk to your doctor or specialist about taking a medication to relieve your nausea for your specific form of treatment.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Managing Nausea and Vomiting

1
Take medication as directed. If your doctor has recommended an anti-nausea, antacid, or anti-anxiety medication, take it daily or at the first sign of nausea according to their instructions. If you find that your medication is ineffective, ask your doctor or pharmacist to modify your treatment regimen.^{[14]
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- It might take some time to tailor your treatment plan to combat symptoms of chronic conditions, like cyclic vomiting syndrome or migraine-related episodes.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend an alternative medication if you experience any side effects, such as diarrhea, headache, dizziness, or drowsiness.
2
Try an over-the-counter antacid. If you don’t have prescription medication and need a quick fix, first try getting an antacid, such as alka seltzer, from your local pharmacy. This may be all you need to settle your stomach. Typically, antacids come in chewable tablet, effervescent tablet, or gummy form.
3
Drink at least six to eight glasses of water between meals. To stay hydrated, you’ll need at least six to eight daily glasses of liquid.^{[15]
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Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} However, drinking during meals can upset your sensitive stomach. Try drinking water between meals instead of having a tall glass with a meal.^{[16]
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Cleveland Clinic
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4
Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Larger meals can overwhelm and upset your stomach. Try eating five smaller meals instead of three larger meals per day. Eat slowly and avoid rushing through meals.^{[17]
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- Rest after you eat in an upright position to make digestion easier.
5
Watch for potential food allergies. Sometimes nausea, retching, and vomiting can be the result of a food allergy.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} Pay attention to what you eat so that you can make note of any specific foods that upset your stomach.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.}
- If you discover that you may have a food allergy, make an appointment with your doctor to get tested.
6
Get plenty of rest. Whenever you feel like retching or vomiting, cease activity to avoid worsening your nausea. Take some time to rest until your symptoms pass.^{[20]
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- Vomiting and retching take a toll on your body, so make sure to get extra rest during a vomiting spell.

Expert Q&A

Question

What are the causes of nausea?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Common cold, flu, bacterial infection, constipation, food allergies, neurologic issues, and side effects of medications can cause nausea.
Question

How do you deal with cyclic vomiting syndrome?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

You should sleep well and stay hydrated. Avoid trigger foods like chocolates and cheese. Do not eat too spicy or salty food or food that has MSG. You can take over-the-counter treatments or use coenzyme Q10 or carnitine supplementation to prevent vomiting episodes.