Medicines for nausea and vomiting | Medicines against vomiting

Medicines for nausea and vomiting

Vomiting is usually caused by nausea or it precedes it. If you fight the nausea, the vomiting usually stops as well. The drugs for vomiting are also effective against nausea and vice versa. You can read more information on this topic here: Medicines against nausea

Medication against vomiting during pregnancy and lactation

Nausea and vomiting affect over 80% of pregnant women. That is why drugs against vomiting are particularly in demand during pregnancy. However, this also represents an exceptional situation with regard to the use of medication.

Not every drug should be taken during pregnancy as it can damage the unborn child or the mother. However, there are some drugs for nausea and vomiting that may be used. These include the active substance meclizine.

Another active ingredient that is also used during pregnancy is dimenhydrinate (Vomex®). However, this may only be used in the first and second trimester, i.e. only in the first six months of pregnancy. In the last trimester of pregnancy dimenhyndrinate can increase the probability of premature birth and should therefore be avoided.

In the second trimester (4-6 months), the active ingredient metoclopramide (MCP) is particularly recommended. If nausea and vomiting do not improve despite therapy with meclizine, dimenhyndrinate or metoclopramide, the use of the active substances promethazine and ondansetron is conceivable. However, these active ingredients should only be used if there is no other therapeutic option.

In general, one should refrain from taking medication during pregnancy without first having clarified the safety of the active ingredient with a doctor. This also applies to non-prescription drugs. Otherwise there is a risk of harm to mother and child.

Drugs that can cause vomiting

Vomiting and nausea are often unpleasant side effects that can occur during therapy with certain active ingredients. One group of drugs that can trigger nausea and vomiting and which is known to many people is the group of chemotherapeutic drugs (cytostatics). These drugs are administered in cancer therapy as so-called chemotherapy.

However, there are many other drugs that can cause vomiting. During therapy with opioids (strong painkillers), nausea and vomiting occur particularly in the first few days. Among the best known drugs that can cause these side effects are beta blockers, Parkinson’s drugs such as L-dopa, digitalis glycosides (digoxin and digitoxin) or iron preparations. Some antibiotics such as tetracyclines can also cause vomiting.