Have you ever popped a pill for a headache and ended up losing your lunch? Nausea is a common side effect of many medications, from antibiotics to chemotherapy drugs. But why exactly does medicine wreak such havoc on our stomachs? Let's break it down.
Anatomy of the nauseous
Before we dive into the specifics of medication-induced nausea, let's take a closer look at what happens to our bodies when we feel sick.
The brain-gut connection
Contrary to what you might think, vomiting actually originates in the brain rather than the stomach. When something triggers our "nausea center" in the brain (such as an unpleasant smell or taste), it sends signals down to our digestive system telling it to eject its contents - thus inducing that not-so-lovely sensation of retching.
What causes vomiting?
Nausea can be triggered by all sorts of stimuli, ranging from motion sickness ('hello seasickness') and migraines, to seeing someone else throw up . In addition to this broad range external factors; various things inside us can cause waves wanted loss. Think starting new medications like chemo drugs (yikes) or opioids too quickly raising dopamine levels causing headaches.
Medications that often cause nausea
Not all medications are created equal when it comes to nasty side effects- here are some categories more likely than others would make want you grabbing onto something stable/ reaching for bucket:
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Painkillers (Opioids)
- Antibiotics
- Blood pressure lowering agents
- Hormonal treatments (birth control etc.)
Don't panic if a drug treatment where humans have reacted differently over age groups has worked out fine so far but suddenly induces nausea one day later off course after possibly overdosing I mean some painkillers just work well don't they?
How medications cause nausea
Okay so now that you know which drugs might induce some stomach unease, let's dig into why. Essentially, medication-induced nausea boils down to one of two factors - impeding the digestive process (such as constipation leading to bloating), and overstimulating the "nausea center" in your brain.
Slowing down digestion
Some medications simply slow the passage of food through your gut- leading to uncomfortable conditions like constipation also ultimately reducing how often get rid excess material via vomiting. Ever seen a movie with nauseous characters drinking coke syrup or water overdose?? Well it does work...some times
Constipation is the enemy here; damming up waste causes fermentation resulting in gas production thereby making things worse than originally envisaged (Worse - this may lead having take more medication for relief ie get caught out! pun obviously intended)
Messing with brain chemicals
Other drugs mess with our brain chemistry which seems confusing at first but makes sense since everything from appetite to mood regulate/controlled by neurotransmitters aka chemical signals floating around gray matter.
Certain meds affect levels of 'serotonin' or dopamine 'hello psychopharmacology my old friend,'. When we have too much serotonin hanging out our sympathetic nervous system thinks something's wrong--hence retching ensues. As for dopamine, when levels rise too quickly headaches arise; queue prompt acid reflux!
Can you prevent medication-induced nausea?
Say no more fam...
- Talk to your doctor about alternative treatments: There are likely multiple options available for whatever malady you're facing.
- Eat before taking meds: This reduces likelihood experienced by body fighting empty fits
- Drink plenty of fluids -- especially if feeling groggy after any recent situations where medicine was taken 4 . Try ginger supplements or teas – these have been used traditionally help settle unsettled stomachs
- Avoid sights or smells that trigger queasiness – simple right?
Conclusion
So there you have it - while medication-induced nausea may be an unpleasant side effect of some treatments, understanding what causes it can go a long way in helping prevent the undesired draining/vomiting. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you're experiencing severe symptoms and trying any offhand remedies however interesting they may seem (sorry 'Feed bucket under head bed' idea) as those only cause more trouble anyway. Stay safe, stay healthy...and keep chugging that ginger tea!