The fastest over-the-counter options for stopping vomiting are antihistamine-based medications like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine), or a phosphorated carbohydrate solution sold as Emetrol. Which one works best depends on what’s causing the vomiting, whether you’re pregnant, and whether the person vomiting is a child. Below is a practical breakdown of what works, what’s safe for specific groups, and when vomiting signals something more serious.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Several drugstore options can help settle your stomach without a prescription. The most widely available are antihistamines that block signals in the part of your brain that triggers nausea. Dimenhydrinate (sold as Dramamine) and meclizine (sold as Bonine or Dramamine-N) are both FDA-approved for nausea and vomiting related to motion sickness and vertigo, and they’re commonly used for general stomach upset as well. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) also has mild anti-nausea effects. The main downside of all three is drowsiness, so avoid driving after taking them.
Another option is a phosphorated carbohydrate solution, sold under the brand name Emetrol. This is a flavored liquid containing sugars and phosphoric acid that works by calming stomach contractions. You take it undiluted by mouth, and you can repeat a dose every 15 minutes until the nausea passes. Don’t drink any other fluids for at least 15 minutes before or after each dose. The limit is five doses in one hour. If you’re still vomiting after five doses, it’s time to call your doctor.
For motion sickness specifically, a scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) is highly effective. It works by blocking a chemical messenger involved in the vomiting reflex. This one typically requires a prescription, though availability varies by location.
Ginger: The Best-Studied Natural Remedy
Ginger is the most evidence-backed natural option for nausea and vomiting. A systematic review of clinical trials found that taking 1 gram or less of ginger daily for more than four days reduced the odds of acute vomiting by 70% compared to placebo. The effective range in studies spans from about 250 milligrams to 1 gram per day, split across two to four doses.
You can get this from ginger capsules (sold at most pharmacies), ginger chews, or strong ginger tea made from fresh root. Ginger ale, despite its reputation, usually contains very little actual ginger and won’t deliver a meaningful dose. If you go the capsule route, look for products standardized to contain real ginger root or ginger extract, and aim for at least 250 milligrams per dose.
Acupressure at the Wrist
Pressing on a point called PC6 (Neiguan), located on the inner wrist about three finger-widths below the base of your palm, between the two tendons, can genuinely reduce vomiting. This isn’t just folk medicine. A Cochrane review of 45 trials involving over 5,000 people found that PC6 stimulation reduced vomiting by 40% compared to sham treatment. When combined with anti-nausea medication, it cut vomiting rates by an additional 44% compared to medication alone.
You can apply pressure with your thumb for two to three minutes at a time, or buy inexpensive wristbands (like Sea-Bands) that press on the spot continuously. Side effects are minimal, limited to occasional skin irritation from the bands.
What’s Safe During Pregnancy
Pregnancy narrows your options considerably. The first-line treatment recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is a combination of vitamin B6 and doxylamine (an antihistamine). Both are available over the counter. Vitamin B6 alone at 10 to 25 milligrams three times daily can help mild cases. Adding doxylamine (the active ingredient in Unisom SleepTabs, not the liquid gels) increases effectiveness for more persistent vomiting.
Taking a prenatal vitamin before and during pregnancy also reduces the risk of developing severe nausea in the first place. Lifestyle adjustments matter too: eating dry toast or crackers before getting out of bed, eating five or six small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones, and avoiding an empty stomach all help keep nausea from escalating.
Ondansetron (Zofran) is sometimes prescribed when other treatments fail, but its safety for the developing baby remains unclear. ACOG notes that studies are conflicting, and the drug also carries a risk of heart-rhythm problems in certain people.
What’s Safe for Children
Most over-the-counter anti-nausea medications are not well studied in young children. The medication with the strongest evidence for kids with vomiting from stomach bugs is ondansetron (Zofran), which requires a prescription. In clinical trials, it was the most effective option for reducing vomiting in children, with roughly 4.5 times the odds of stopping vomiting compared to placebo. It also reduces the likelihood of needing IV fluids or hospital admission.
There are safety considerations, though. Ondansetron is linked to a risk of abnormal heart rhythms in children, and it can increase diarrhea, which matters when a child is already losing fluids from a stomach illness. Dimenhydrinate suppositories have shown some benefit in studies as well. Metoclopramide is specifically recommended against for children due to side effects.
For kids, the priority during vomiting episodes is preventing dehydration. Small, frequent sips of an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte) are more important than stopping the vomiting itself.
Prescription Options
When over-the-counter remedies aren’t enough, doctors most commonly prescribe ondansetron. It works by blocking serotonin receptors in the gut and brain that trigger the vomiting reflex. It’s used for vomiting caused by chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and severe gastroenteritis. People with significant liver disease are typically given a lower dose. Other prescription anti-nausea medications exist for specific situations, like chemotherapy or post-surgical recovery, but ondansetron is the workhorse for most causes of persistent vomiting.
What to Eat After Vomiting Stops
Once vomiting subsides, how you reintroduce food matters. Start with clear fluids: small sips of water, broth, or weak tea. After keeping liquids down for a few hours, move to bland, soft foods. The old “BRAT diet” (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is a fine starting point, but current guidelines recommend a broader bland diet rather than restricting yourself to just those four foods.
Good choices include crackers, plain pasta, potatoes, cooked vegetables, lean poultry, eggs, soup, gelatin, and applesauce. Avoid anything spicy, fried, fatty, or high in fiber until your stomach has settled for at least 24 hours. Skip alcohol, coffee, and citrus juice. Eat small portions, chew slowly, and spread meals across the day rather than eating three full-sized ones. Drinking fluids slowly between meals instead of with them can also help keep nausea from returning.
Red Flags That Need Emergency Care
Most vomiting resolves on its own or with the remedies above, but certain patterns signal a medical emergency. Call 911 if vomiting comes with chest pain, confusion, blurred vision, or a high fever with a stiff neck. Get to an emergency room if your vomit contains blood, looks like coffee grounds, or is green. Fecal odor in vomit is also a red flag that suggests a bowel obstruction.
Watch for signs of dehydration: excessive thirst, dark urine, urinating very infrequently, dry mouth, and dizziness when standing up. These warrant urgent medical attention, especially in children and older adults, who dehydrate faster. Severe abdominal pain or cramping alongside vomiting also needs prompt evaluation, as it could indicate appendicitis, pancreatitis, or another condition that won’t respond to anti-nausea medication alone.