In the body
Nausea and vomiting
When to get care, what's known, and what usually helps on nausea days.
Nausea is the most common side effect of these medicines. First, when to get care; then what's known and what usually helps.
When to get care
Now
If you have strong belly pain that won't go away, sometimes reaching your back, with or without vomiting, get emergency care now.
The labels say to stop the medicine and call your doctor. Heavy drinking is one of the most common causes of pancreatitis: if the pain came after drinking, don't wait it out.
Now
If you vomit blood or something that looks like coffee grounds, or your vomit is green, call emergency services now.
The same for confusion, strong shortness of breath, or sudden, intense belly pain.
Now
If you have pain in your upper belly with fever, or your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow, get emergency care now.
Pale, clay-colored stools can come with it. These can be gallbladder signs.
Now
If your belly is swollen and hard, with strong cramps and vomiting, and you can't poop or pass gas, get emergency care now.
The labels list reports of blocked bowel with these medicines.
Now
If you faint, feel confused or are barely peeing, call emergency services now.
Losing a lot of fluid can harm the kidneys. Training, sport in the sun, heat, sauna and hangovers all add to the loss.
Today
If vomiting or diarrhea won't let you keep fluids down, get care today, from your doctor or an urgent care service.
The same if vomiting lasts over 2 days, diarrhea over 7, there's blood in your stool, or dark, scant pee and dizziness when standing don't improve with oral rehydration salts.
Today
If you took an extra dose by mistake, or more than your prescription, get care today, from your doctor or an urgent care service.
It can bring strong nausea, vomiting and low blood sugar. Measuring mistakes are more likely with products you have to mix or draw up yourself.
What's known
In the large trials, nausea affected between a quarter and almost half of people on these medicines, against about 1 in 10 to 1 in 6 on placebo. Vomiting was less common.
It's most frequent in the first weeks and after each dose increase, and it tends to ease over time. In semaglutide trials, a bout of nausea lasted a median of 8 days and vomiting 2, and almost all stomach and gut effects were mild or moderate.
Some studies found that men report nausea less often than women, but the evidence is limited and comes mostly from people with diabetes. What counts is your own pattern, and your check-in shows it.
Nausea doesn't mean the medicine is working better.
What usually helps
- Smaller meals, more often
- Eating slowly and stopping at the first sign of fullness
- Going easy on greasy, fried or very large mealsThat includes a heavy barbecue plate.
- Fluids in small sips through the dayGinger or peppermint tea may help.
- Keeping alcohol to a minimum, since it can make nausea worse
To take to your appointment
- My nausea got stronger after I started or after a dose increase. What can we do?
- My nausea hasn't eased after several weeks. Is that expected for me?
- In my case, when should nausea or vomiting make me seek care?
Free, no account and nothing to install.