Nausea

4 medicines

Nausea is the queasy sensation that often precedes vomiting. It is a symptom rather than a disease, and mild cases usually settle with rest, while antiemetics like metoclopramide and domperidone treat more persistent cases.

Compazine

Prochlorperazine

5mg

Compazine is a digestive health medication containing Prochlorperazine, available as 5mg tablets.

from $0.46 / tablet View

Maxolon

Metoclopramide

10mg

Maxolon is a digestive health medication containing Metoclopramide, available as 10mg tablets.

from $0.57 / tablet View

Motilium

Domperidone

10mg

Motilium is a digestive health medication containing Domperidone, available as 10mg tablets.

from $0.46 / tablet View

Reglan

Metoclopramide

10mg

Reglan is a digestive health medication containing Metoclopramide, available as 10mg tablets.

from $0.43 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Nausea is the unsettled, queasy feeling that often comes before vomiting. It is a symptom, not a disease, and ranges from mildly inconvenient to debilitating.
  • Common triggers include gastroenteritis, motion sickness, pregnancy (especially in the first trimester), migraine, inner-ear disturbances, chemotherapy, and certain medications.
  • Antiemetics such as metoclopramide, domperidone, and prochlorperazine block the signals that trigger the vomiting reflex.
  • Most episodes settle within a day or two; seek care if nausea persists beyond 48 hours or comes with severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or blood in vomit.

What triggers it

Nausea has a wide range of causes. Gastroenteritis, usually a viral or bacterial infection of the gut, is one of the most common. Motion sickness affects many people during travel by car, boat, or plane, since it arises from a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the inner ear senses. Other frequent causes include pregnancy, migraine, disturbances of the inner ear's balance system, chemotherapy, and side effects of various medications, including opioids and some antibiotics. Anxiety and strong emotional stress can also trigger the sensation without any underlying physical illness.

Antiemetic medicines

Several medicines work by blocking the signals that set off the vomiting reflex. Metoclopramide and domperidone both act on dopamine receptors in the gut and brain to speed gastric emptying and reduce nausea; domperidone is particularly well tolerated because it has limited penetration into the central nervous system. Prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine antiemetic often used for more severe or prolonged nausea. All three sit within the broader digestive health range.

When to seek help

Most episodes of nausea settle within a day or two with rest and oral rehydration. Seek medical attention if nausea is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, blood in vomit, or lasts more than 48 hours without an obvious cause.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.