What Causes Nausea And Stomach Virus?

Posted on Wed, 9 Mar 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 9 Mar 2016 Answered on

Wed, 18 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am very nauseous. I believe I have a stomach virus. The only prescription that has worked with past viruses is Reglan. Zofran makes it worse.

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
please provide more details

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

please provide more details about your problem. In order to help you provide the useful details, I'll ask some questions but please add any information you consider relevant.
- when did the nausea start?
- do you have any other symptoms?
- fever?
- did you come into contact with a diseased person?
- do you take any drugs?
- do you have burning pain (including a history of burning pain)?
- pain on the abdomen?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (4 hours later)

Nausea started yesterday evening. My stomach does not hurt. No fever or other symptoms. No burning pain and I don't take drugs. As far as diseased people...the stomach virus is going around in our community terribly. It's lasting 5-7 days. I cannot wait that long as I am the sole provider for my family of 7 right now. My spouse just had heart surgery and I have 5 children. I don't have time to feel sick.

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
symptomatic treatment should suffice

Detailed Answer:
Since you don't have anything more than nausea, symptomatic treatment can be given. Reglan (metoclopramide) is a potent agent against nausea. The usual dosage is 10mg three times daily. You should take it at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking to avoid vomiting. Zogfran should not be used for this purpose. It's commonly given to patients receiving chemotherapy.

If it gets worse with vomiting and abdominal pain, then a visit to the ER won't be avoided.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar