Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIBS and NauseaCausesManagement and TreatmentRelated ConditionsSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
IBS and Nausea
Causes
Management and Treatment
Related Conditions
Seeking Medical Care
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. The cause of IBS isn’t well understood, and it’s often correlated with stress or oversensitive nerves in the GI tract. Some people with IBS will also experience nausea, but it is less common than other symptoms.
This article explains IBS-driven nausea, its causes, and how to manage it.
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Does IBS Cause Nausea?
Some people with IBS may experience delayed gastric emptying, otherwise known asgastroparesis, which occurs when the food in your stomach enters your small intestine slower than normal, or it stops entering the small intestine altogether.
Gastroparesis can often occur alongside IBS and is known to cause nausea.
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What Causes Nausea in IBS?
IBS may not directly cause nausea. However, comorbid (coexisting) conditions that often go hand-in-hand with having IBS may cause nausea.
For example, many people with IBS also experience indigestion or have another condition known asgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nausea is a common symptom in bothindigestionand GERD, and thus, people with IBS experiencing this symptom may have another disorder that contributes to their discomfort.
Other conditions that cause nausea in people with IBS are:
Certain medications taken for IBS or other disorders may also drive IBS-related nausea. One such medication is lubiprostone (Amitiza), which is used for treating constipation and disorders that cause constipation.
Oversensitive nerves, otherwise known asvisceral hypersensitivity, is a commonly related condition to IBS that can cause symptoms like nausea. It develops when a person’s pain threshold in their internal organs is lower than that of people in the general population.
Another possible cause is compromised gut motility, which occurs when food movement through the GI tract is negatively affected. This, along with the previously mentioned conditions and causes, can all lead to IBS-driven nausea.
Assessing Nausea in IBSWhen experiencing IBS-related nausea, it’s essential to take note of any other symptoms that may or may not be related to your stomach. If a comorbid disorder is present, it will likely present with more than just nausea.
Assessing Nausea in IBS
When experiencing IBS-related nausea, it’s essential to take note of any other symptoms that may or may not be related to your stomach. If a comorbid disorder is present, it will likely present with more than just nausea.
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Managing and Treating Nausea in IBS
Since there is no cure for IBS, managing and treating IBS-related nausea requires various approaches, depending on the person and any overlapping conditions they may have.
Common treatments for IBSinclude:
Some therapies that can help to reduce nausea are:
Antinausea medications, such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol) or prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Managing stressis another technique that can help to curb feelings of nausea in people with IBS. Some stress techniques include:
Treating Coexisting Conditions to Relieve NauseaIn many cases, other disorders, such as GERD or anxiety, may cause the nausea in IBS. Addressing these disorders with proper management and treatment techniques can help to relieve the symptom.
Treating Coexisting Conditions to Relieve Nausea
In many cases, other disorders, such as GERD or anxiety, may cause the nausea in IBS. Addressing these disorders with proper management and treatment techniques can help to relieve the symptom.
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Other disorders that may also develop or overlap with IBS include:
Other disorders that may or may not be related to IBS can also cause nausea that feels similar. Some possible conditions include:
Some medications also can cause nausea. They include:
How Many People With IBS Have Another Disorder?According to research, roughly 50% of people diagnosed with IBS have also been diagnosed with one or more overlapping conditions.
How Many People With IBS Have Another Disorder?
According to research, roughly 50% of people diagnosed with IBS have also been diagnosed with one or more overlapping conditions.
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When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Oftentimes, people with IBS can treat nausea at home, but if it persists or worsens, see a healthcare provider. Since nausea can lead to vomiting and can co-occur with the common IBS symptom of diarrhea, leaving it alone could potentially lead to dehydration, which could become severe.
To ensure a proper diagnosis, discuss all your symptoms with a medical provider, even if they don’t seem to relate to IBS. In addition, inform the provider of your health history and of all the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take.
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Summary
Nausea doesn’t affect everyone with IBS, but it is common in as many as 40% of those with the condition. The nausea people experience with IBS is typically related to other disorders that coexist with IBS, making it challenging to pinpoint an exact cause.
There sometimes is trial-and-error in treating nausea with IBS. What works for one person may not work for another, and treatment requires an individualized approach.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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