10 Health Conditions That Can Cause Nausea

Nausea is that uncomfortable, queasy feeling that you need to vomit — whether or not you actually do. While many people associate nausea with motion sickness or food poisoning, it can be caused by a large number of things, including some that may surprise you. 

Nausea can stem from stress, hormones, migraines, medications, and even heartburn. In this guide, we’ll go over the common causes of nausea and their treatment options. The goal is to help you identify what’s causing your nausea, so you can get the right treatment quickly.

Common Causes of Nausea

1. Anxiety and Stress

Chronic anxiety and stress can lead to physical symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Even the stress from holiday travel can wreck your gut. This happens because the brain and the digestive system are closely connected. When you’re feeling stressed, the brain responds by slowing down digestion, creating GI symptoms like nausea.

Other signs of anxiety typically include:

• Excessive worrying or fears about losing control or how others perceive you
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
• Increased heart rate or palpitations
• Difficulty sleeping or fatigue
• Trembling or restlessness

Treatment Options

Managing anxiety-related nausea often involves treating the underlying mental health condition. This may include:

• Stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises
• Prescription antidepressants or beta-blockers (for symptoms such as increased heart rate)
• Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

2. Hormonal Changes, Including Perimenopause

Hormonal changes, such as those brought on by your period or perimenopause, can also affect your digestive system and cause nausea. Nausea is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and usually occurs in the days leading up to your period.

Nausea during perimenopause often accompanies migraine, a type of severe headache that can become more common during the menopausal transition. Perimenopause symptoms usually begin in your 40s and symptoms may include:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Sleep problems
• Mood swings
• Weight gain
• Headaches
• Brain fog
• Vaginal dryness
• Reduced sex drive

Treatment Options

For PMS-related nausea, you can usually soothe your discomfort at home by:

• Trying herbal remedies, like ginger chews or peppermint tea
• Using a heating pad
• Exercising when you can
• Taking over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen with food 
• Eating smaller meals more frequently (vs. larger meals more spread apart)
• Sipping water throughout the day

For perimenopause-related nausea, your healthcare provider may prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to rebalance your hormone levels and relieve your symptoms. You may also find relief through over-the-counter menopause supplements, though you should always consult a healthcare provider first.

3. Pregnancy

Nausea is a very common symptom of pregnancy, affecting about three in four women. Also known as “morning sickness” — even though it can happen at any time of day — pregnancy-related nausea is also due to big hormonal changes. Morning sickness mostly occurs during the first trimester, although it can last into the second trimester as well. Other early signs of pregnancy include:

• Missed periods
• Swollen or tender breasts
• Unusual fatigue 

Pregnancy can also cause hyperemesis gravidarum, which is characterized by constant and severe vomiting and nausea. Other symptoms include:

• Severe fatigue
• Dizziness
• Dehydration

Treatment Options

Treating pregnancy nausea usually begins with lifestyle changes such as:

• Eating small, frequent meals
• Sipping clear liquids like water, ginger ale, or broth
• Avoiding foods or smells that trigger your nausea
• Eating bland foods like crackers, toast, or bananas

If your nausea persists after these changes, your OBGYN may recommend over-the-counter vitamin B6, either on its own or with doxylamine (Unisom SleepTabs), or ginger supplements. For more serious nausea, your provider may also prescribe doxylamine-pyridoxine (Diclegis) or an antihistamine like meclizine, or an antiemetic (anti-nausea) medication like metoclopramide. Those experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum may also receive intravenous fluids to help with dehydration.

It’s important to consult your OBGYN before starting any medication or supplement during pregnancy, even if it is non-prescription, to ensure it is safe for you and your growing baby.

4. Migraines

A migraine is a neurological condition that causes moderate to severe throbbing headaches. Beyond the head pain, migraine attacks also often include nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. These symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Migraines are often brought on by specific triggers, which may include: 

• Stress
• Hormonal changes, such as menstruation, perimenopause, and pregnancy
• Sleep issues
• Hunger
• Changes in weather or heat
• Strong odors
• Pain
• Alcohol 

Treatment Options

Treating the migraine itself is usually the most effective way to eliminate the associated nausea. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, may provide relief for mild attacks. For chronic or severe migraines, a healthcare provider may prescribe triptans or antiemetics like metoclopramide to manage both the pain and the nausea.

To prevent migraines in the future, it can be helpful to keep a migraine diary to help you recognize your migraine triggers so you can avoid them.  

5. Vertigo and Inner Ear Problems

Your inner ear contains the vestibular system, which helps your body maintain its balance. When this system experiences an issue, it can cause vertigo, which is a dizzy sensation that the room is spinning, often accompanied by nausea. 

Inner ear issues can stem from an underlying condition such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or vestibular neuritis. Or, they can happen when there’s a disconnect between what your brain sees vs. the movement it feels, as is the case with motion sickness. 

Treatment Options

Staying still and avoiding sudden movements can help reduce dizziness and related nausea. If you have specific motion sickness-related nausea triggers, such as reading in a moving vehicle, avoid those triggers.

Healthcare providers may treat vertigo-induced nausea with OTC antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or meclizine. To prevent motion sickness during travel, they may prescribe scopolamine patches (Transderm Scop).

6. GERD and Acid Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus relaxes or becomes weak. This allows stomach acid and food to flow backward and up into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, a sour taste in the mouth, and nausea. 

GERD symptoms often worsen at night or if you lie down after a meal. Acid reflux can also occur due to other common causes of nausea on this list, such as stress or pregnancy.

Treatment Options

Managing GERD typically involves lifestyle changes, such as avoiding spicy foods, eating smaller meals, and not lying down after you eat. Over-the-counter antacids may provide quick relief for mild heartburn. For long-term management of GERD, however, you may need other OTC or prescription treatment.

• OTC options include acid reducers like famotidine and cimetidine, as well as OTC proton pump inhibitors. 
• Prescription options for GERD include proton pump inhibitors like esomeprazole or lansoprazole.

7. Diabetic Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach muscles move too slowly, preventing the stomach from emptying properly. People with diabetes are more likely to develop gastroparesis and it can affect your blood sugar control. When food sits in the stomach for too long, it can cause nausea, as well as other symptoms of gastroparesis like:

• Vomiting 
• Stomach pain
• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Feeling full after a small meal

Treatment Options

Treatment for gastroparesis often involves a mix of lifestyle changes and medication. Lifestyle changes may include:

• Eating smaller meals 
• Eating low-fat, low-fiber foods
• Avoiding carbonated beverages, alcohol, and tobacco

For people with diabetic gastroparesis, it’s important to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medications like metoclopramide, which is the only drug FDA-approved for gastroparesis. It’s taken 30 minutes before you eat and at bedtime. Other medications may be prescribed as-needed to manage nausea, such as:

• Prochlorperazine
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Ondansetron (Zofran)

8. Gallbladder Problems

The gallbladder is a small organ that stores and releases bile to help your body digest fats. Gallbladder disease is a catchall term for infections, gallstones, or inflammation that affect the gallbladder. In addition to nausea, gallbladder problems may cause symptoms like:

• Sharp stomach pain that may particularly affect the upper right abdomen, and that may or may not radiate to the back
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

These symptoms typically worsen after eating greasy or high-fat foods.

Treatment Options

Pain relievers, antibiotics, antiemetics, and following a low-fat diet may help manage symptoms. However, if gallstones cause sudden or severe symptoms, a healthcare provider will typically recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder completely.

9. Kidney Infection (Usually From a UTI)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) typically starts in the bladder. Left untreated, bacteria can travel up the urinary tract and infect the kidneys. A kidney infection is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention and causes intense nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms of a kidney infection include:

• Fever
• Pain in the lower back or side
• Increased urination
• Burning sensation or pain during urination
• Urinary urgency (sudden need to pee)

Treatment Options

A kidney infection requires prompt medical attention. A healthcare provider will typically prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the bacterial infection, along with pain relievers to alleviate your other symptoms. These antibiotics may include:

• Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim)
• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Cephalexin

10. Stomach Virus or Foodborne Illness

Let’s round out our list with the most common cause of acute nausea: gastrointestinal infections. These infections inflame the stomach lining, leading to nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes fever.

Foodborne illnesses occur when you consume food or drinks contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli or viruses, such as norovirus or rotavirus. Stomach viruses can also spread through close contact and cause similar symptoms. 

Treatment Options

Nausea from a stomach virus or food poisoning is usually temporary and resolves on its own within a few days. The primary treatment is to rest and avoid dehydration. Keep sipping clear liquids, water, or electrolyte drinks, but avoid gulping, which can worsen nausea. Once your stomach settles, you may gradually reintroduce bland foods like toast and crackers.

Another Culprit: Medication Side Effects

Nausea is a common side effect of many prescription and over-the-counter medications. Medications that frequently cause nausea as a side effect may include:

• Antibiotics
• Pain medications, including ibuprofen and opioids
• GLP-1s, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound
• Diabetes medications like metformin
• Chemotherapy treatment

This is not a complete list of medications that may cause nausea. If you’re taking medication and you think it may be contributing to your nausea, talk to your healthcare provider. They may adjust your dosage, recommend taking the medication with food, or switch you to a different treatment altogether. 

Do not stop a medication without speaking to a healthcare provider first.

Get Nausea Relief Delivered Fast

If you have a chronic condition that causes nausea, you shouldn’t have to wait for a doctor’s appointment to get your refill. Online prescription delivery services like TelyRx allow you to skip the waiting room and request medication online. 

There are many misconceptions about the safety of online pharmacies out there. Here’s what to look for to ensure the one you use is legitimate and can be trusted:

• It’s fully verified and LegitScript certified.
• It partners with licensed U.S. pharmacies and wholesalers.
• It has clear, transparent pricing.
• It sells FDA-approved medications.

TelyRx is a digital pharmacy platform that meets all of these safety standards, as well as additional quality standards we maintain to protect patient privacy and safety. You can explore FDA-approved nausea treatments on TelyRx.

Your Next Steps

Nausea is an uncomfortable symptom that can stem from a wide variety of underlying issues, from anxiety and hormonal shifts to gallbladder or kidney problems. While acute nausea usually passes quickly, constant or recurring nausea may signal a condition that requires medical support.

You do not have to endure chronic nausea. Tracking your symptoms and identifying potential triggers can help you and your healthcare provider find the root cause. Whether you need an antiemetic, a migraine treatment, or an acid reducer, targeted medications may help you regain your comfort and your quality of life.

Research & Resources

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