Most upset stomachs resolve on their own within a few hours, but the right remedy can speed things along considerably. What you should take depends on your specific symptoms: nausea, heartburn, gas, bloating, or diarrhea each respond to different treatments. Here’s what actually works and when to use it.
For Heartburn and Acid-Related Pain
If your stomach upset feels like burning in your upper abdomen or chest, the problem is usually excess acid. You have two main options, and they work on different timelines.
Antacids like calcium carbonate (Tums) work within minutes by directly neutralizing stomach acid. They’re your best bet for fast relief, but the effect is short-lived. If your discomfort keeps coming back over several hours, an acid reducer like famotidine (Pepcid AC) is a better choice. It takes about an hour to kick in, but the relief lasts four to ten hours. You can also combine the two: take an antacid for immediate relief while the acid reducer builds up.
For Nausea
Bismuth subsalicylate, sold as Pepto-Bismol, is the go-to for nausea tied to a sour or unsettled stomach. It also helps with cramping and loose stools, making it a solid all-around choice when you’re not sure exactly what’s going on in there. One important safety note: children under 12 should not take it, because it contains a compound related to aspirin that carries a risk of a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome, particularly in kids recovering from a fever or viral illness.
Ginger is a well-studied natural alternative for nausea. It appears to work both in the gut and in the brain’s nausea-signaling pathways. Most clinical research has used 250 mg to 1 g of powdered ginger root in capsule form, taken one to four times daily. For pregnancy-related nausea specifically, 250 mg four times a day is the most commonly studied dose. Ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger ale with real ginger can also help, though the dose is less precise.
For Gas and Bloating
Simethicone (sold as Gas-X or Mylicon) is the standard remedy for trapped gas. It’s not absorbed into your body at all. Instead, it works purely as a physical defoaming agent: it lowers the surface tension of gas bubbles in your stomach and intestines, causing small bubbles to merge into larger ones that are easier to pass. It’s safe, fast-acting, and has essentially no side effects.
Peppermint oil is another option worth trying. It relaxes the smooth muscle in your digestive tract by reducing calcium flow into muscle cells, which eases spasms and cramping. Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules work best because they dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach, reducing the chance of heartburn. If your upset stomach comes with a crampy, tight feeling, peppermint is particularly effective.
For Diarrhea
Two common remedies work through completely different mechanisms. Loperamide (Imodium) slows the movement of your intestines, giving your body more time to absorb water from stool. It’s effective when you need to stop frequent, watery bowel movements quickly. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) takes a different approach: it reacts with stomach acid to improve stool consistency, reduce how often you go, and ease abdominal cramping. If your diarrhea comes with nausea and general stomach discomfort, bismuth subsalicylate covers more bases. If loose stools are the main problem, loperamide is more targeted.
A specific probiotic yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii has good evidence behind it for acute diarrhea. The typical adult dose is 500 mg once daily for prevention or twice daily for active symptoms, with treatment lasting one to four weeks. It’s especially useful for diarrhea triggered by antibiotics.
What to Eat (and What to Skip)
You may have heard of the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It was a standard recommendation for decades, but medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC no longer endorse it. Randomized trials have shown that returning to a normal, balanced diet as soon as you can tolerate food actually leads to shorter illness, lower stool output, and better nutritional recovery compared to restricting yourself to bland foods. Sticking to only BRAT foods can even impair recovery by depriving your body of the protein, fat, and micronutrients it needs to heal.
That said, common sense still applies. Eat what feels tolerable. Small, frequent meals are easier on a sensitive stomach than large ones. Avoid greasy, spicy, or very sugary foods until you feel better. Stay hydrated, particularly if you’ve had diarrhea or vomiting, as fluid and electrolyte loss is the most immediate risk from stomach illness.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most stomach upset passes within 24 to 48 hours. But certain symptoms suggest something more serious is happening. Seek medical care if you notice blood in your vomit or stool, severe or worsening abdominal pain (especially if your abdomen feels rigid or tender to touch), a high fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F) or above, signs of dehydration like dizziness, dark urine, or fainting, or if vomiting is so persistent you can’t keep fluids down. Stomach pain that came on after abdominal trauma or recent surgery also warrants prompt evaluation. In adults over 50, new or unusual abdominal pain deserves a lower threshold for getting checked out, as some serious conditions present with vague symptoms in older adults.