Acid reflux can make you feel nauseated. Acid flows back into your throat, causing a sour taste in your mouth, burping, and a queasy stomach. But there are ways to find relief.
Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP
When you have acid reflux, you may feel sick, and you might experience nausea and vomiting.
Acid reflux is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions. As many as 28% of people in the United States have acid reflux, which causes uncomfortable symptoms such as bad breath, a burning sensation in your throat, and an unsettled stomach.
If acid reflux is causing nausea, there are ways to alleviate this symptom and treat acid reflux.
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.
100% online care
Treatment plans in 15 minutes or less for 40+ conditions.
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 alleviate 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)
prokinetics that help strengthen the esophageal sphincter such as cisapride (Propulsid) and metoclopramide (Reglan)
If you need help covering the cost of medications, Optum Perks’ free Discount Card could help you get up to 80% off prescription medication. See how much you can save on your medication here.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
But remember, if your nausea stems from 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 10–20 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, there are natural remedies as well as lifestyle strategies that 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
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, ranging from medications to natural remedies like ginger and lemon to lifestyle strategies like eating smaller meals and trying alternative treatments like acupuncture.
Talk with a healthcare professional if the nausea caused by acid reflux isn’t subsiding with medication, natural remedies, and lifestyle strategies. They’ll be able to help determine whether the nausea is actually caused by acid reflux and figure out the best treatment for your unique needs.
