Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderNatural RemediesTreatmentPreventing Nighttime Nausea
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Natural Remedies
Treatment
Preventing Nighttime Nausea
Nauseais not pleasant at any time of day, but nausea at night can be especially bothersome when you’re trying to sleep.
Nausea is a common symptom of a variety of conditions. If you are having unexplained nausea, it’s a good idea to see your healthcare provider to explore what may be causing it. The diagnosis will help guide treatment.
Read on to learn more about common reasons you might have nausea at night, and how to treat it.
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Symptoms of Nighttime Nausea
Symptoms of nausea can include:
What Causes Nighttime Nausea?
Nausea at night can occur for a variety of reasons. Knowing the underlying cause can help guide the treatment.
Pregnancy
Roughly 75% of people will experience nausea and vomiting while pregnant.It’s often referred to asmorning sickness, but nausea during pregnancy can occur at any time of the day. While the exact cause is unknown, hormonal changes such as rising levels ofhuman chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)—a pregnancy hormone—are likely a factor.
If your nausea is severe enough that you can’t keep food down, call your healthcare provider immediately. They can evaluate you forhyperemesis gravidarum, a form of severe nausea and vomiting that can cause imbalances in fluids and electrolytes.
8 Morning Sickness Remedies for All-Day Relief
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress.When you experience anxiety, your body releases hormones and other chemicals that can interfere with digestion and cause nausea.Chronic anxiety that has started to affect your quality of life is known as ananxiety disorder.
GERD
Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers, also called stomach ulcers, are sores on your stomach lining. They can form due to:
The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is a dull, burning pain in the stomach, especially when the stomach is empty, like at night.But you may also experience nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and bloating. These symptoms can come and go for days or even months.
Medication Side Effects
Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines can cause nausea, some of which are:
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis(delayed gastric emptying) is a condition in which the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine is slowed or stopped.Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, bloating, burping, heartburn, lack of appetite, and feeling full soon after eating or feeling full for a very long time.
If you have persistent nausea for no apparent reason and it’s not responding to any OTC treatments, call your healthcare provider.
You should also call your healthcare provider if you’ve thrown up three or more times in 24 hours, cannot keep fluids down, or have been vomiting for more than a day.
Natural Remedies for Nausea at Night
Some at-home remedies may help relieve or minimize your nausea. Ask your healthcare provider before using any of these.
Ginger Tea
Gingerhas been used for centuries as an herbal medicine, particularly for gastrointestinal (GI) issues.It has anti-vomiting properties, and it can also help improve digestion.Ginger comes in many forms, including supplements, candies, and tea.
Peppermint
The main ingredients inpeppermint, menthol and methyl salicylate, have calming effects on the GI tract.A product like peppermint tea or peppermint candies may help your nausea. If you have GERD, however, you should not use peppermint.
Bland Food
When you have an upset stomach, it’s often suggested that you eat a bland diet known asthe BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These foods give you nutrients without irritating your stomach.
Other bland foods can be added to the diet as well, like clear soup broth, plain potatoes, and saltine crackers. Fatty foods, sugars, and dairy should be avoided until you’re feeling better. Clear liquids or electrolyte beverages are also recommended, especially if you’ve been vomiting.
Rest
Nausea can be exhausting, so it’s important to get rest. If lying down makes your nausea worse, try resting with your head or upper body elevated.
How to Treat Nighttime Nausea
Once you know the underlying cause of your nighttime nausea, you can then treat it appropriately.
The first-line treatment for pregnancy-associated nausea is smaller meals with low-fat, bland foods.Avoiding heavy, greasy, or spicy foods at night can also help with nighttime nausea. Takingvitamin B6(under the direction of your healthcare provider) may help, as well as eating foods rich in vitamin B6, such as:
If your nausea persists, your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-nausea medication.
Anxiety disorders are typically treated with:
Lifestyle changes can help treat GERD, such as:
Medications may also be used, both OTC and prescription, including:
Sometimessurgeryis necessary if lifestyle changes and medications aren’t enough to treat symptoms. These procedures can include:
What to Eat for Better GERD Management
The treatment for peptic ulcers depends on the cause of the ulcers.
If NSAIDs are the cause, you will need to reduce your dosage or use another type of pain reliever. Your healthcare provider may also recommend a medication to help treat the ulcer, such as:
Foods and Drinks to Avoid With an Ulcer (and What to Have Instead)
Treatment for gastroparesis depends on the cause, your symptoms, and how you’ve responded to treatments in the past.Common treatments include changing your dietary habits, controlling glucose levels, medications, and tube feeding.
Medications for Nausea: OTC and Prescription Options
While you can’t necessarily prevent nausea, you can treat and manage it. If you are pregnant and have severe nausea, there are prescription medications that can help control it. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of these medications.
If you are throwing up, you may be prescribed anti-nausea medication known as antiemetics. These medications help prevent vomiting, but may not always prevent the accompanying nausea.
Summary
Nighttime nausea is a symptom of various conditions, including pregnancy, anxiety, side effects of medications, GERD, and gastroparesis. Home remedies like ginger tea, peppermint, and eating a bland diet may help you feel better. It’s best to talk with your healthcare provider to get help with persistent nausea. A provider can treat the underlying cause so you can get some relief.
17 SourcesVerywell 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.Stanford Health Care.Chronic nausea symptoms.Herrell, HE.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Am Fam Phys. 2014;89(12):965-970.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Anxiety & Depression Association of America.How to calm an anxious stomach: The brain-gut connection.Harvard Health Publishing.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).University of Michigan Health.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.Mount Sinai.Nausea and vomiting - adults.Lete I, Allue J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights.2016;11:11-17. doi: 10.4137/IMI.S36273Mount Sinai.Peppermint.Familydoctor.org.BRAT diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B6.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Treatment of Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gastroparesis.
17 Sources
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.Stanford Health Care.Chronic nausea symptoms.Herrell, HE.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Am Fam Phys. 2014;89(12):965-970.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Anxiety & Depression Association of America.How to calm an anxious stomach: The brain-gut connection.Harvard Health Publishing.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).University of Michigan Health.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.Mount Sinai.Nausea and vomiting - adults.Lete I, Allue J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights.2016;11:11-17. doi: 10.4137/IMI.S36273Mount Sinai.Peppermint.Familydoctor.org.BRAT diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B6.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Treatment of Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gastroparesis.
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.
Stanford Health Care.Chronic nausea symptoms.Herrell, HE.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Am Fam Phys. 2014;89(12):965-970.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Anxiety & Depression Association of America.How to calm an anxious stomach: The brain-gut connection.Harvard Health Publishing.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).University of Michigan Health.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.Mount Sinai.Nausea and vomiting - adults.Lete I, Allue J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights.2016;11:11-17. doi: 10.4137/IMI.S36273Mount Sinai.Peppermint.Familydoctor.org.BRAT diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B6.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Treatment of Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gastroparesis.
Stanford Health Care.Chronic nausea symptoms.
Herrell, HE.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Am Fam Phys. 2014;89(12):965-970.
American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.How to calm an anxious stomach: The brain-gut connection.
Harvard Health Publishing.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).
University of Michigan Health.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.
Mount Sinai.Nausea and vomiting - adults.
Lete I, Allue J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integr Med Insights.2016;11:11-17. doi: 10.4137/IMI.S36273
Mount Sinai.Peppermint.
Familydoctor.org.BRAT diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B6.
National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Treatment of Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gastroparesis.
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