Nausea & Vomiting
Nausea and Vomiting Drugs.
The symptoms of nausea and vomiting which are usually caused by side effects of certain medications, as well as food allergies or a variety of viruses, are typically treated with several different classes of drugs. In addition, conditions which cause nausea, such as motion sickness are frequently treated with these medications as well. The following information will provide a brief overview of some of the specific drug categories used for indications of nausea and vomiting, as well as the possible side effects and drug interactions which can occur due to administration in human patients.
Drugs such as Reglan are listed as antiemetic drugs and they work by reducing the severity of nausea, thereby helping to eliminate vomiting. These medications function in the center of the brain which causes the urge to vomit. The side effects of antiemetics include drowsiness, disorientation, fatigue, headache and dry mouth. Drugs such as aspirin and over the counter cold remedies should not be taken in conjunction with these drugs as they can interfere with salicylate intake causing swelling of the face and limbs or other issues such as skin rash and abdominal pain.
Antihistamines such as benadryl are used to treat symptoms of nausea and vomiting that are caused by motion sickness. These drugs are generally used to relieve symptoms of food, plant, insect bite, and drugs allergies but have also been found quite effective in relieving nausea by working in the center of the brain which signals the onset of vomiting. These drugs can cause side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth, and are not recommended for use if driving or operating heavy machinery is required. There is a long list of drug interactions associated with the use of antihistamines, and typically those drugs include medications which are known to cause drowsiness, such as sedatives or certain pain killers. For a more detailed list of specific drugs which should be avoided with use of antihistamines, refer to the specific medication label.
Possible Disease Interactions Associated with Antihistamines.
In addition, certain conditions such as Asthma, Cardiovascular Disease and Liver/Renal Disease can be adversely affected or aggravated by the use of certain antihistamines and a physician should be consulted if any of these conditions are present, prior to taking any medication listed in this particular class of drugs, whether they are over the counter or in prescription strength.
Drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting are often administered in a variety of doses depending on weight and age of the patient, as well as the indications. In addition, these drugs can be administered by injection, suppository, or tablet and are typically fast acting agents, reducing symptoms within minutes. A more specific range of possible side effects as well as food and drug interactions associated with these categories of drugs are typically given in the medication literature that comes with the prescription. In over the counter forms of these drugs there is usually information posted on the label. Since there are a variety of drugs used within this category it is important to refer to each medication specifically, prior to use.