Home Symptoms Nausea

Nausea — what to take?

Nausea is the sensation of impending vomiting. Causes: gastroenteritis, migraine, pregnancy, motion sickness, medications, reflux, anxiety, vestibular disorders.

Also known as: nausea feeling of vomiting feeling unwell
4 recommended OTC medicines
8,928 pharmacies available

In short: Nausea — the feeling that you are about to vomit — can stem from very different causes: motion sickness, inner-ear (vestibular) disorders, pregnancy, migraine, reflux or gastroenteritis, which is why the OTC options differ too: antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate or meclizine for motion sickness, or ginger and vitamin B6 for mild nausea, including in pregnancy. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the price of these over-the-counter products across the major pharmacies (Dr. Max, Tei, Catena, HelpNet), with prices updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace a medical consultation; see a doctor if the nausea comes together with chest pain.

Data verified on from public sources (OpenStreetMap, chain websites, ANM/MS) — updated daily.

OTC — no prescription

What can you take for nausea?

Informational only — HartaFarmacii is not an approved medical site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. Don't self-medicate. Emergencies: 112.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, see a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Nausea with chest pain
  • Nausea with severe headache, neck stiffness
  • Nausea with severe abdominal pain
  • Vomiting with blood or coffee-ground material
  • Severe dehydration

Common causes

Gastrointestinal (gastroenteritis, gastritis, ulcer), neurological (migraine, intracranial hypertension), vestibular (motion sickness, Ménière's), metabolic (uncontrolled diabetes), medications (opioids, chemotherapy agents, antibiotics), pregnancy.

OTC treatment

Dimenhydrinate (Travel Plus) — antihistamine, effective for motion sickness and vertigo. Take 30 minutes before travel. Causes drowsiness.

Meclozine (Emetostop) — similar to dimenhydrinate, longer duration.

Ginger 250-500 mg — effective for pregnancy nausea and motion sickness.

Vitamin B6 10-25 mg — indicated for pregnancy nausea.

Non-pharmacological measures

  • Small, frequent, light meals (salty crackers, toast).
  • Avoid strong odours, fatty foods, coffee.
  • Ventilate the room.
  • Stay upright after meals.
  • Water with lemon or ginger tea.
  • Acupressure of the P6 point (anti-nausea wristbands).

When it is an emergency

Nausea with chest pain, severe headache with neck stiffness, severe abdominal pain, confusion, marked dehydration — requires immediate medical evaluation.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes and does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a health professional.

Medicines compared

Medicines used for nausea

This list is for guidance only, generated automatically from the DCI/category match. It is not a medical recommendation — consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

This list is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Night-time, weekends, public holidays

24/7 pharmacies for nausea

Nausea doesn't keep office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 a.m. or at the weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter switched on and look for the nearest on-duty pharmacy. Large cities have dozens of pharmacies open around the clock — below you have direct access to the list for each city, with address, phone number and verified opening hours.

Call before you set off, especially at night — on-duty rotas change and stock of some prescription medicines can be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for nausea

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for nausea

Open the interactive map and allow location access — you will immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it is night or the weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-duty ones. For nausea many medicines are available over the counter, so you can go straight to the pharmacy without a prescription, but check availability on the price comparator first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active substance (for example paracetamol or ibuprofen), search for it in the comparator before you leave — you will see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it is in stock. If you have a repeat prescription, save your preferred pharmacy as a favourite in the app and turn on opening-hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially if treatment for nausea goes on for a while.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Vomiting

Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of gastric contents. The main risk is dehydration. In children and the elderly, it progresses more rapidly.

 Symptom

Migraine

A migraine is not an ordinary headache — it is a neurological disorder with recurrent attacks lasting 4-72h, throbbing pain, nausea, and photophobia. It affects about 15% of adults and is 3 times more common in women.

 Symptom

Headache

Headache (cephalalgia) is one of the most common symptoms — almost all adults experience it at least once a year. Most episodes resolve with rest and an OTC painkiller, but a few warning signs should send you to a doctor quickly.

 Symptom

Indigestion

Indigestion (dyspepsia) is discomfort in the upper abdomen — a feeling of fullness, bloating, nausea, burning, epigastric pain after meals.

 Condition

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

GERD = pathological regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus, with symptoms and/or complications. It affects 10-20% of the population. Untreated, it can lead to esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, cancer.

 Condition

Gastric and Duodenal Ulcer

Peptic ulcer = a lesion of the gastric or duodenal mucosa, extending deeper than the muscularis mucosae. Main causes: Helicobacter pylori (80% of duodenal ulcers, 60% of gastric ulcers) and NSAIDs.

Frequently asked questions

What else would you like to know?

What can I take for nausea during pregnancy?
Vitamin B6 10-25 mg three times a day, ginger, dry crackers in the morning. Avoid self-medication.
Motion sickness — what should I do?
Dimenhydrinate 30 minutes beforehand, sit in the front seats, look towards the horizon. Anti-nausea wristbands help.
Morning nausea — is it definitely pregnancy?
Classic in the first trimester, but it can also be from reflux, morning migraine, hypoglycaemia. A pregnancy test confirms it.
When should you worry about dehydration?
Adult — over 6-8h without oral tolerance + dry mouth, dark/scant urine. In a child: 4-6h.

See also

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