There are many different reasons why you may experience nausea. Sometimes it is due to an underlying medical condition. Other times, nausea may occur as a result of motion sickness or eating too much.

In many of these cases, taking anti-nausea medication can help relieve your symptoms quickly. But which medicine you should take depends on what's causing your nausea.

The most common causes of nausea include:

If you know you're going to be nauseous in advance, you can prevent it by taking medication beforehand. So, for example, if you know you're prone to get nausea on airplanes, you should take medication approximately half an hour before your flight takes off.

Here are the most common types of anti-nausea medicine for motion sickness:

Motion sickness medications work best when taken before the activity that may cause motion sickness, Devine says, so it won't help as much to take it after you feel nauseous.

Nausea caused by acid reflux is best resolved by treating the acid reflux itself, Devine says. The two major classes of medication to treat acid reflux are:

These are prescription medications, but some of them are available over-the-counter at lower strength doses. You should contact your doctor if you experience symptoms of acid reflux, like heartburn and nausea, that persist for seven days even with over-the-counter treatment.

Nausea during pregnancy typically subsides in the second trimester, though there are some people who experience it for longer, or who may have an extreme version, known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) is a common over-the-counter anti-nausea medication deemed safe during pregnancy, Devine says. However, the kind of anti-nausea medication or treatment best suited for a pregnant person depends on the severity of their nausea and other individual factors.

Some anti-nausea medications may impact fetal development, so if you think you may need anti-nausea medication, it's important to discuss options with your obstetrician first.

If you experience severe, recurrent episodes of nausea without a clear underlying cause your doctor may prescribe medications that act on histamine, dopamine, or serotonin receptors in the brain.

These prescription medications can help treat acute episodes of nausea or prevent future episodes. Examples include:

Common side effects of anti-nausea medication include:

Most medications to treat nausea are safe, Devine says, but there are cases where anti-nausea medication may not be a good idea. Some common anti-nausea medications, like those acting on dopamine and serotonin receptors, can affect electrical rhythms of the heart.

These medications are typically not recommended for people with a history of heart conditions or those on other medications with potential side effects of heart rhythm abnormalities.

Talk with your doctor about the best anti-nausea medication for your symptoms. Together, you can develop a treatment plan to prevent and treat your nausea.

"No one should have to suffer with frequent nausea and vomiting," Devine says. "In the overwhelming majority of cases, nausea can be well managed with a combination of lifestyle, dietary, and medication therapies."

For more information, learn about the best home remedies for nausea.

Originally posted here:

The best types of medicine for nausea and which is right for you - Insider - INSIDER