Nausea Medicines: Generic Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Prescription Options for Nausea Relief

It’s common to experience nausea and vomiting (N/V) every once in a while. Nausea is the feeling that you’re about to throw up. Vomiting is actually throwing up. 

N/V are ways for your body to protect itself. For example, you might experience N/V if your body detects something harmful — such as food poisoning. Certain medications, such as chemotherapy, can also make you throw up. But they can also happen for other reasons, such as motion sickness, pregnancy, or migraines.

Many medications are available to prevent and treat N/V. Some nausea medicines (antiemetics) are over-the-counter (OTC), while others require a prescription. Plus, some are only available as brand-name products, while others are available as generics. 

Here, we’ll look at some of the most commonly used antinausea medications that are available as lower-cost generics.

Over-the-counter nausea medicines

OTC nausea medicines are commonly used for situations such as food poisoning or motion sickness. But they may be used for other types of nausea, too.

Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) 

Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) has many uses, including treating nausea and traveler’s diarrhea. Traveler’s diarrhea tends to happen in places with unclean water or unsafe handling of food. Traveler’s diarrhea may also cause nausea.

In general, bismuth subsalicylate works in three possible ways:

• Reducing inflammation (swelling) in your intestines

• Lowering the amount of fluids and salts that go into your gut

• Killing germs (such as E. coli bacteria) that are responsible for your symptoms

Bismuth subsalicylate is available in several dosage forms, including liquid, regular tablets, and chewable tablets. It comes in both brand-name and lower-cost generic versions. 

Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)

Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is an antihistamine used to prevent and relieve motion sickness symptoms, such as nausea. Your healthcare team may also recommend it if you’re experiencing pregnancy-related nausea.

Motion sickness happens when your brain is overstimulated from mismatched movement signals. Antihistamines, such as dimenhydrinate, work by calming these signals down. Because of how it works, dimenhydrinate can make you feel drowsy.

Dimenhydrinate is available as regular and chewable tablets. For motion sickness, it works best when you take it 30 to 60 minutes before the triggering activity.

Meclizine (Bonine)

Meclizine (Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy) is another antihistamine similar to dimenhydrinate It’s also used to prevent and relieve motion sickness symptoms.

Meclizine is available as a capsule, regular tablet, and chewable tablet. It works best when you take it 1 hour before the event that causes motion sickness. Meclizine can also cause drowsiness after you take it.

Phosphorated carbohydrate solution (Emetrol)

Emetrol (phosphorated carbohydrate solution) is a non-drowsy OTC antinausea medicine. It works by relaxing the stomach muscles, reducing contractions that can cause vomiting. Emetrol can be helpful if your nausea is caused by an upset stomach.

Emetrol is a liquid taken every 15 minutes, or until you’re feeling better. But you shouldn’t exceed five doses in an hour. Avoid drinking other fluids right before or after taking Emetrol. It may not work as well if you do.

Emetrol contains fructose (a type of sugar), so it may not be right for everyone. This may include people with diabetes and inherited conditions that prevent them from breaking down fructose. Talk to your pharmacist or prescriber first to ensure Emetrol is safe for you to take.

Sodium citrate dihydrate (Nauzene)

Similar to Emetrol, Nauzene (sodium citrate dihydrate) can help with nausea caused by an upset stomach. However, it comes in a chewable tablet instead of a liquid. Nauzene works by neutralizing acid and calming stomach muscles.

Nauzene can also be taken every 15 minutes, but you shouldn’t take more than 24 tablets in 24 hours. The chewable tablets contain sugar and salt. Check with your pharmacist or prescriber before taking Nauzene, especially if you have diabetes or follow a salt-restricted diet. Avoid Nauzene if you have an inherited condition that prevents you from breaking down fructose or phenylalanine.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

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• Meds that cause vomiting: Learn which medications can make you throw up and what you can do about it.

Generic prescription-only nausea medications

OTC nausea medicines can be used for many types of nausea, including traveler’s diarrhea or motion sickness. But if you need a stronger or different option for relief, prescription-only nausea medicines may be necessary.

Many of these medications also come in oral forms, like the OTC options above. But some prescription options may also come in other dosage forms, such as suppositories or injections. 

Many common anti-nausea prescriptions are also available as generics. So, this might help you save more money. Let’s dive into a few common prescription medications that are available as generic products. 

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop)

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is a medicated patch used for motion sickness. It works by blocking acetylcholine — a naturally occurring chemical in your brain — from adding to nausea symptoms. 

Like motion sickness pills, scopolamine works best when applied before an event that causes motion sickness. It should be applied behind your ear about 4 hours in advance. You can wear each patch for up to 3 days. 

The FDA also approved scopolamine to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This is when you experience N/V after a surgical procedure. To prevent PONV, put on the scopolamine patch the night before your procedure. You’ll only need to wear it until 24 hours after the procedure.

Ondansetron (Zofran)

Ondansetron (Zofran) is an oral prescription medication that helps prevent and treat nausea by blocking certain serotonin receptors (chemical binding sites) in your central nervous system. Blocking these receptors prevents serotonin (a naturally occurring chemical in your brain) from attaching to them and causing N/V symptoms.

Ondansetron comes as a regular and orally disintegrating tablet. Both forms are approved to  prevent:

• PONV

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)

• Radiation-related nausea and vomiting

In general, ondansetron should be taken before your procedure to prevent PONV. You can also prevent N/V with this medication by taking it before your chemotherapy or radiation appointment on the day of the treatment. Ondansetron may also be given as an infusion in a medical setting.

Ondansetron is also sometimes used off-label to treat other types of nausea, including  pregnancy-related nausea and gastroenteritis with N/V symptoms

Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

Prochlorperazine (Compazine) is technically an antipsychotic medication. But it’s also approved to manage severe N/V symptoms. Prochlorperazine is also sometimes used off-label for migraine-related nausea.

Prochlorperazine manages N/V symptoms by blocking certain dopamine receptors in your brain. It prevents dopamine (another naturally occurring chemical) from overstimulating a certain part of your brain, leading to less severe nausea symptoms.

To manage N/V symptoms, prochlorperazine is usually given as an oral tablet every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Prochlorperazine is also available as a suppository and injection.

Since prochlorperazine blocks dopamine, it has a risk of causing a potentially irreversible movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. The risk of tardive dyskinesia goes up with higher doses and longer periods of use.

Promethazine (Promethegan) 

Promethazine (Promethegan) has many uses, including preventing and treating motion sickness and PONV. It may also be prescribed for pregnancy-related nausea, migraine-related nausea, and gastroenteritis with N/V symptoms. 

Promethazine is thought to work very similarly to prochlorperazine. Like prochlorperazine, it’s available as a tablet and suppository. But it’s also available as an oral liquid and an injection. For N/V symptoms, it is usually prescribed every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

Metoclopramide (Reglan)

Metoclopramide (Reglan) is FDA approved for a couple of different uses, including  gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastroparesis symptoms in people with diabetes. But it may also be prescribed for migraine-related nausea and morning sickness. It works similarly to prochlorperazine and promethazine.

Metoclopramide is available in several dosage forms, including a regular tablet, dissolvable tablet, and liquid. To prevent or relieve nausea, metoclopramide is given as often as every 4 hours as needed.

Compared to other generic prescription-only nausea medicines, metoclopramide also has some disadvantages. Similar to prochlorperazine, metoclopramide is linked to tardive dyskinesia. While this risk is low, it’s more likely to happen with higher doses and longer periods of use.

How to save on nausea medications

There are many ways to save on nausea medications. GoodRx can help you navigate your options, which may include GoodRx discounts and patient assistance programs. You can find nausea medication prices as low as $4 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Ross Phan, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, BCPS

Ross Phan is a board-certified clinical pharmacist. She has roughly two decades of healthcare experience — with most of her experience being pharmacy related.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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