Can constipation cause nausea?

Constipation and nausea can happen together as symptoms of several health conditions. This might make you think constipation is causing nausea.

However, constipation can lead to nausea because the accumulation of stool in your intestinal tract can make you feel queasy. 

Constipation, which happens to about 16 in 100 adults in the United States, is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying health condition. Constipation happens when you have fewer bowel movements than usual, and your stool is hard and painful to pass. 

Likewise, nausea can be a symptom of several health conditions and is characterized by an unsettled stomach. 

Understanding the connection between constipation and nausea, what can cause these symptoms, and treatment options can help you to feel better as quickly as possible.

How does constipation make you nauseous?

Constipation happens when it’s difficult to pass stool, leading to a buildup of feces in your intestinal tract. This stool buildup increases the accumulation of bacteria and toxins in your body, which can cause you to feel nauseous.

Constipation and nausea can occur together as symptoms of health conditions, such as:

• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• intestinal obstruction 
• pregnancy
• inflammatory bowel disease
• dehydration

They may also be side effects of medications, such as:

• laxatives
• drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease, intestinal conditions, and blood pressure 
• antidepressants
• antihistamines  
• antacids
• iron supplements
• narcotic pain relievers

Also, constipation and nausea are common co-occurring symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Constipation can also result from other factors, including:

• changes in your routine, such as travel 
• stress and anxiety
• lack of physical activity
• not drinking enough water
• not eating a balanced diet

Other symptoms of constipation

Other signs of constipation include:

• stool that’s hard, lumpy, and dry
• fewer than three bowel movements in a week
• pain when passing stool
• feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels
• bloating
• abdominal pain 
• sluggishness

Depending on the cause and severity, constipation can happen with other signs and symptoms, such as:

• bloody stool
• bleeding from your rectum
• fever 
• vomiting 
• constant abdominal pain
• inability to pass gas

If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with a healthcare professional.  

Treating constipation

You can alleviate and treat constipation with lifestyle strategies and medication. 

Some lifestyle strategies that can help relieve constipation include:

• drinking lots of fluids
• exercising
• eating a balanced diet that’s high in fiber

There are over-the-counter (OTC) medications, supplements, and prescription drugs that can help relieve constipation. These include:

• fiber supplements (Benefiber and Metamucil)
• laxatives (MiraLAX)
• stool softeners like prunes
• senna
• suppositories and enemas
• medications like linaclotide (Constella), linaclotide (Linzess), lubiprostone (Amitiza), and prucalopride succinate (Resotran)

One 2021 review of research into remedies for constipation found that OTC and natural remedies were generally effective and didn’t cause any serious negative effects. This included senna, prunes, and fiber supplements.

Talk with a healthcare professional before taking any of these medications or supplements. Your treatment option may vary depending on what’s causing your constipation. 

Treating nausea 

If you have nausea, you can find relief by addressing what’s causing it, such as constipation, infections, or a side effect of medications.

There are natural remedies, lifestyle strategies, and medications to treat nausea. 

Natural remedies to help relieve nausea include ginger, lemon, and peppermint. Lifestyle strategies that can help prevent and alleviate nausea include:

• drinking lots of water and fluids
• eating bland foods and in small amounts
• exercising
• trying treatments like acupuncture, massage, and breathing exercises 

There are also anti-nausea medications. Talk with a healthcare professional before taking these medications, even if they’re sold over the counter. They can help determine the source of your nausea and direct you to the right medication for your unique needs. Some anti-nausea medications include:

• antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine (Bonine), and promethazine (Phenergan)
• sodium citrate (Emetrol and Nauzene)
• bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)
• antiemetics like scopolamine (Transderm Scop), prochlorperazine, and granisetron (Kytril)

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Summary

Constipation and nausea can happen together as symptoms of different conditions, from pregnancy to viral infections.

Constipation can also lead to nausea due to the accumulation of toxins in the body because of the buildup of stool in your intestinal tract. 

Constipation and nausea are not diseases but symptoms of different health conditions. Therefore, treating constipation and nausea starts with identifying the source of these symptoms. 

However, there are things you can do to alleviate constipation and nausea, which include natural remedies, lifestyle strategies, and medication. 

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