Chronic Nausea

Common causes include medicines (many can cause nausea, including some antibiotics, pain medicines and diabetes medicines), acid reflux, gastritis or ulcers, delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis, where the stomach empties too slowly), gallbladder disease, pregnancy, kidney or liver problems, high calcium, thyroid disease, migraine, inner-ear problems, and anxiety or depression. Cannabis use can cause a pattern of repeated vomiting (cannabinoid hyperemesis). When no cause is found, functional nausea and vomiting is diagnosed.

Nausea is one of the most common symptoms people bring to doctors. Long-lasting nausea is less common but can affect daily life, work and eating significantly.

If you have ongoing nausea or vomiting, fasting during Ramadan may not be safe because of the risk of dehydration. Speak with your doctor before the month begins; illness is a recognised reason for not fasting.

Your doctor will review your medicines and supplements, ask whether pregnancy is possible, and examine you. Blood tests can check for infection, anaemia, kidney, liver, thyroid, calcium and blood sugar problems. An upper endoscopy looks at the gullet, stomach and first part of the intestine for ulcers, inflammation or other disease. Imaging or a gastric emptying test (a scan or breath test that measures how fast food leaves the stomach) may be done. If everything is normal, functional nausea is likely. Your doctor chooses the tests that fit you.

Simple measures can help while the cause is being found. If you cannot keep fluids down, seek medical care rather than waiting.

• Keep a diary of nausea, meals, medicines and triggers

• Sip fluids regularly through the day, in small amounts

• Get fresh air, rest and avoid strong smells and warm, stuffy rooms

• Rinse your mouth and keep up oral hygiene if you vomit

• Do not stop prescribed medicines on your own; ask your doctor if one may be causing nausea

Eating little and often is usually better tolerated than large meals.

• Eat small, frequent, light meals and snacks

• Dry, plain and cold foods are often easier than hot, greasy or strongly flavoured ones

• Ginger, in food or tea, helps some people

• Avoid lying flat straight after meals; avoid alcohol and tobacco

• If eating is very limited for long, ask for a dietitian review to prevent weight loss and deficiencies

The right medicine depends on the cause, so do not self-treat for long. Your doctor decides what is safe, including during pregnancy and in children.

• Anti-sickness medicines (anti-emetics) are chosen by the cause and your other conditions

• Acid-reducing medicines help if reflux or ulcers are the cause

• Medicines that help the stomach empty may be used in gastroparesis

• Low-dose nerve-modulating medicines are sometimes used for functional nausea

• Some anti-sickness medicines have important side effects or interactions; take them only as prescribed

Procedures are mainly used to find or treat a cause.

• Upper endoscopy to look for ulcers, inflammation, narrowing or other disease

• Gastric emptying study if slow stomach emptying is suspected

• Treating an underlying cause, such as gallstone or kidney problems, may involve other procedures

• Psychological therapy and relaxation approaches can help functional nausea

The outlook depends on the cause. Many causes, such as medicines, reflux or ulcers, can be treated successfully. Functional nausea may last a long time, but symptoms usually can be controlled with the right combination of treatments.

• Could one of my medicines be causing the nausea?

• Which tests do I need to look for the cause?

• Which anti-sickness medicine is safest for me?

• Could this be functional nausea, and what are the treatments?

• When should I seek urgent help?

This guide comes from the Saudi Gastroenterology Association (SGA) patient library, prepared by the Approved for publication by SGA; individual clinician review is ongoing. Last reviewed: 2026-04-24. It is for education and does not replace your doctor's advice.