Nausea

Nausea is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It may precede vomiting, but a person can have nausea without vomiting. When prolonged, it is a debilitating symptom.

Nausea is a relatively common symptom experienced by patients with ME/CFS. It can range from mild to severe and can be relapsing or constant.

Prevalence

Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 60-90% for nausea (as well as a wider prevalence of 50-90% for IBS symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, gas, and abdominal pain).

Symptom recognition

Although nausea is not listed as a symptom necessary for diagnosis in any of the current case definitions, it is frequently listed as a secondary symptom in information for patients and physicians.

Possible causes

Possible causes of nausea in ME/CFS patients include orthostatic intolerance, gut inflammation, and slower gastric motility.

Severe nausea may be caused by the digestive motility disorder, gastroparesis, that can be a co-morbid condition with ME/CFS.

Gastroparesis is a neuromuscular abnormality that causes delayed gastric emptying which, in turn, causes a premature full feeling while eating, bloating, nausea, acid reflux, regurgitation, belching, and occasional vomiting.

Nausea may be caused by a comorbidity such as celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (gluten intolerance).

Potential treatments

• Acidophilus
• Activated charcoal
• Acupressure
• Antacids
• Antiemetics
• Meclizine (Antivert) (antihistamine)
• Azithromycin (antibiotic)
• Betaine HCl
• Diets
• Dramamine
• Erythromycin (antibiotic)
• Ginger
• Gluten-free diet
• Meal replacements (e.g. Complan shakes)
• Metoclopramide
• Mirtazapine (atypical antidepressant)
• Zofran

Learn more

• 2016, Nausea and sickness in ME/CFS – two non-drug options that are worth considering
• Understanding Gastroparesis

See also

• Gastroparesis