Definition
Just like vomiting, nausea also reflects a very common (as unpleasant) symptom of numerous pathologies, or - more simply - it expresses a disgust towards food, odors or emotions carried to excess; we are talking about a condition of general malaise, arising at the gastric level, which can trigger retching and vomiting.
Causes
Given that nausea is a symptom (not disease) of very many pathological conditions, it is understandable that the underlying causes are many and varied: alcoholism, anxiety, appendicitis, bulimia, chemotherapy, depression, diabetes, drugs, gastroenteritis, pregnancy, HIV, flu, surgery, headache, intestinal obstruction, heavy and indigestible meal, birth control pill, tumors, dizziness, etc.
Symptoms
The main symptom that accompanies nausea is certainly the perception of general malaise, often associated with sialorrhea (salivary hypersecretion), retching and loss of appetite. As we have seen, in many cases nausea is the stage that anticipates vomiting.
- Frequent nausea and vomiting may indicate serious metabolic disorders such as celiac disease
Natural Care
Information on Nausea - Drugs for the Treatment of Nausea is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Nausea - Drugs for Nausea Treatment.
drugs
Since vomiting and nausea are closely related, it is clear that the two conditions are often analyzed together. Clearly, the severity of the nausea must be analyzed and treated according to the cause that generated it.
NAUSEA GRAVIDICA: drugs
Antinausea drugs should not be taken during pregnancy; rather, the woman can follow some simple rules to lighten the symptoms:
- Eat little but often, preferring healthy and dry foods
- Prefer whole wheat bread and biscuits for breakfast
- Do not fast too long: it is advisable to take more snacks during the day
- Avoid fried and heavy foods
- Drink ginger tea or herbal tea, a very useful natural remedy to combat nausea
- Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga and pilates
- Do not take too much liquid on an empty stomach
However, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are generally mild and most often disappear after the third month of gestation; if not, the woman - after consulting her doctor - can take some drugs, such as:
- Promethazine (eg: Promet NAR, Farganesse, Fenazil). Dosage: 12.5 mg of active to be taken orally / intramuscularly / intravenously every 4-6 hours, as needed
- Metoclopramide (eg Plasil): a drug belonging to the class of dopamine blockers. Parenterally, take 10 mg of drug, three times a day, preferably before meals. Also available in tablets and syrup. It can be used in pregnancy to reduce nausea and possibly vomiting, even if it is not the first choice drug for pregnant women.
- Proclorperazine (eg Stemetil): belongs to the class of phenothiazines (cholinergic antagonists). Even this active ingredient, like the previous one, is not particularly used to treat gravid nausea, although in some cases it can be administered. Generally, it is recommended to take 5-10 mg of drug (tablets), 3-4 times a day; alternatively, take 10-15 mg of active in the form of capsules every 12 hours. By rectal route, the drug is taken at a dose of 25 mg, twice a day; intramuscularly, 5-10 mg as needed. Finally, the drug is also available as a solution for injection into a vein: 2.5-10 mg per slow IV injection (no more than 5 mg per minute). Do not exceed 10 mg in a single dose. The drug is also indicated to quell vomiting after surgery.
Herbal medicine, phytotherapy and nausea in pregnancy
Nature also helps pregnant women overcome the symptoms of nausea and vomiting; some plants, in fact, are particularly effective for this purpose (consult your doctor):
chamomile ( Chamomilla recutita )
cloves ( Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb)
fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare )
lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis )
peppermint ( Mentha piperita )
ginger ( Zingiber officinal )
NAUSEA POST-SURGICAL INTERVENTION: drugs
Often we talk about post-operative nausea: even in this circumstance, the causes can be different: anesthetic used, type of operation, health status of the patient, age, sex, etc.
Generally, to counteract the nausea, some drugs are prescribed such as:
- Metoclopramide and Proclorperazine (previously analyzed)
- Ciclizine (eg. Marzine): the drug is an antihistamine indicated for the treatment of vomiting and nausea, especially in the case of surgery. It is recommended to take 50 mg of the drug, orally or intramuscularly, every 4-6 hours, depending on the needs and the severity of the condition. Do not exceed 200 mg per day.
- Dexamethasone (eg. Decadron, Soldesam): this drug belongs to the class of corticosteroids and is generally used to treat nausea and vomiting after operative interventions, or following a chemotherapy therapy. Indicatively, the dosage is 8-10 mg of active principle every 12 hours, for 2 days; the therapy should be continued for another 2 days at a dose of 4 mg every 12 hours. Consult your doctor: the dosage can be changed based on the severity of the condition.
In case of severe nausea and vomiting, it is also possible to take a couple of drugs with different therapeutic action.
IN GENERAL
Nausea and vomiting, conditions closely associated with one another, can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance: this complication is very dangerous, especially in children and the elderly. In this case, the patient is subjected to a rehydration therapy, which consists of the oral or intravenous administration of liquids enriched with glucose, potassium, sodium and rice starch.
For further information: see the article "drugs for the treatment of vomiting".
