Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of many different medicines. The types of medicines that most commonly result in nausea or vomiting are listed here. Even if your medication is not listed here as a common cause of nausea, one of the first steps in your evaluation should be a discussion with your doctor or pharmacist about your own recent change in medication.

Please do not discontinue a medication without consulting your physician.

Medications that commonly result in nausea:

• chemotherapy drugs

• pain medicines (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and others) or narcotics (morphine, codeine and others)

• gout treatments

• medications for heart disease

• medications for high blood pressure

• diuretics ("water pills")

• diabetes medications

• oral contraceptives (birth control pills)

• antibiotics

• antidepressants

• psychiatric medicines (when started or stopped)

• anti-acid medicines

• asthma medicine (especially theophylline)

• medicines to treat Parkinson's disease

• medicines to treat memory problems or dementia

• nicotine replacement

• seizure medicines

• vitamins in high doses

• prednisone (especially when it is discontinued)

• medicines used before and during x-ray studies (contrast dye, Mucomist).