How to stop nausea from acid reflux

When you have acid reflux, you may feel sick and might experience nausea and vomiting. 

Acid reflux is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions. As many as about 28% of people in the United States have acid reflux, which causes uncomfortable symptoms like bad breath, a burning sensation in your throat, and an unsettled stomach.

If acid reflux is causing nausea, there are ways to ease this symptom and treat acid reflux.

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How does acid reflux cause nausea?

People with acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may sometimes experience nausea and vomiting. 

Acid reflux is the result of your stomach acid flowing back to your esophagus. This happens because the valve that controls the flow of drinks and food into your stomach, called the esophageal sphincter, doesn’t close completely because it’s weakened.

Acid reflux also commonly flares up when you lie down right after eating.

The stomach acid that flows back into your esophagus can cause a sour taste in your mouth and bad breath. Other symptoms of acid reflux and GERD include burping, a burning sensation in your throat, and coughing. All of these symptoms can lead to nausea. 

Treatments for acid reflux

If you treat your acid reflux and GERD, you can also ease the nausea that comes with it. Treatments for GERD and acid reflux include medication and lifestyle strategies.

A healthcare professional may prescribe you medications to treat acid reflux and GERD. There are also over-the-counter (OTC) options that can help reduce symptoms of infrequent acid reflux. 

Some OTC and prescription medications for acid reflux and GERD include:

• OTC antacids that neutralize your stomach acid, such as Maalox, Tums, and Mylanta
• H2 blockers that reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes, such as ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and cimetidine (Tagamet)
• proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that lower the levels of stomach acid, such as esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), and rabeprazole (AcipHex)
• prokinetics that help strengthen the esophageal sphincter, such as cisapride (Propulsid) and metoclopramide (Reglan)

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Treatments for nausea 

There are anti-nausea medications that are sold over the counter or need a prescription. Some OTC anti-nausea medications include:

• antihistamines (Dramamine, Gravol)
• sodium citrate (Emetrol, Nauzene)
• bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)

These medications take about 30 to 60 minutes to start working. 

Prescription examples include:

• hydroxyzine (Atarax)
• ondansetron (Zofran)
• scopolamine (Transderm Scop)

Remember, if your nausea is due to acid reflux, it may be more advisable to treat the underlying cause. Talk with a doctor or healthcare professional about your nausea and acid reflux. They can help determine the cause and tailor the best line of treatment for you.

Lifestyle strategies

Some lifestyle changes and strategies you can consider to address acid reflux include:

• eating smaller meals
• avoiding eating fried foods, acidic foods (like tomatoes and citrus), coffee, and carbonated drinks
• avoiding smoking, if you smoke 
• maintaining a moderate weight through a balanced diet and physical activity
• raising your head about 10 to 20 centimeters (cm) when you lie down in bed (this can prevent stomach acid from flowing back to your throat)
• reducing stress and anxiety with practices like meditation and yoga

For nausea, natural remedies and lifestyle strategies can help provide relief. These include:

• drinking or eating ginger, lemon water, and peppermint
• drinking lots of water and fluids
• eating bland foods and in small amounts
• exercising
• trying acupuncture, massage, yoga, and breathing exercises 

Online care for acid reflux

Acid reflux can be uncomfortable. To stop its symptoms, including nausea, it’s important to seek the right treatment.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Acid reflux can lead to nausea. Acid reflux happens when the stomach acid flows back into your esophagus and throat. This can cause burping, a burning sensation in your throat, a sour taste in your mouth, and an unsettled stomach. These all can lead to nausea.

There are ways to ease nausea from acid reflux. These include medications and natural remedies like ginger and lemon. Plus, lifestyle strategies like eating smaller meals and trying alternative treatments like acupuncture may also help.

Talk with a healthcare professional if the nausea caused by acid reflux isn’t improving with medication, natural remedies, and lifestyle strategies. They can help determine whether the nausea is actually caused by acid reflux and figure out the best treatment for your needs.

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