Nausea & vomiting treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, you can. In most cases, a doctor from Maple will be able to provide a nausea and vomiting diagnosis by observing your condition. They’ll also want to discuss any other connected symptoms or signs of nausea and vomiting that you’re currently experiencing.

The nausea and vomiting can be caused by a wide range of conditions. These symptoms range from mild and expected, to severe and requiring medical attention. Because of this, the doctor may suggest additional testing be done to check for the underlying condition, before providing a nausea and vomiting diagnosis.

If you have severe, persistent signs of nausea and vomiting, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Nausea and vomiting are actually symptoms of other conditions, rather than diseases themselves. Vomiting is often the result of having nausea, particularly if the nausea is persistent or severe.

Nausea can be described as pain in the stomach, in varying degrees of severity, ranging from uneasiness to sharp cramping pains.

Vomiting is the voluntary or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the esophagus and mouth. This is often referred to as “throwing up”.

In most cases, nausea and vomiting are signs or symptoms of other underlying conditions. Because of this, nausea and vomiting can be considered symptoms themselves.

However, there are additional symptoms that often appear alongside nausea and vomiting, including:

• Dry mouth
• Decreased urination
• Fainting
• Rapid pulse
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Excessive sweating
• Vertigo
• Lightheadedness
• Fatigue

The most common causes of nausea and vomiting differ depending on the age of the person affected.
Children most frequently experience signs of nausea and vomiting due to causes such as:

• Allergies (particularly milk in children)
• Food poisoning
• Motion sickness
• Overeating/feeding
• Coughing
• Illness (particularly those causing high fever)
• Viral infection
• Blocked intestines or constipation

Common nausea and vomiting symptoms for adolescents and adults include:

• Seasickness
• Influenza
• Gastroenteritis
• A reaction to certain unpleasant smells
• Intense pain
• Medication-induced vomiting
• Early-stage pregnancy
• Dizziness
• Anything triggering your gag reflex
• Alcohol use
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Fever
• Emotional distress

In most cases, the doctor can offer a diagnosis for what’s causing your nausea and vomiting by evaluating your condition and discussing your symptoms.

However, because nausea and vomiting are often caused by underlying conditions, the doctor may suggest additional testing to narrow down their diagnosis.

In some cases, they may refer you to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation of your nausea and vomiting symptoms.

Because nausea and vomiting are usually caused by other conditions, the most effective long-term nausea and vomiting treatments involve treating those underlying conditions and preventing complications from prolonged vomiting.

The types of nausea and vomiting treatments your doctor recommends will depend on the diagnosed underlying cause. In some cases, that could involve prescriptions for nausea and vomiting or medications to treat the causal condition.

Most nausea and vomiting will pass on its own. However, if your nausea and vomiting symptoms become severe or persistent, you should talk to a doctor.

They will be able to suggest any additional testing that may be necessary to provide you with a clear diagnosis for your nausea and vomiting.

You may require prescription nausea and vomiting medications in order to treat your underlying condition. The doctor will also be able to refer you to a gastroenterologist, if they believe you require further evaluation.

With Maple, you can start talking to a doctor about your nausea and vomiting symptoms in a matter of minutes. We’re a healthcare app for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

You simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll immediately connect you to a doctor via live chat or video. You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Our doctors can assess symptoms, and provide treatment, including prescriptions as necessary.