Dry Heaving: Treatment, Causes, And More - Healthline

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What Causes Dry Heaving and How Is It Treated?

Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.D. — Written by Kristeen Cherney — Updated on March 21, 2023

Causes
In pregnancy
Home remedies
See a doctor
Prevention
Outlook

For most people, dry heaving only lasts for a short time. You can treat it with home remedies or other lifestyle changes. Ongoing dry heaving may signal an underlying health issue that requires medical attention.

Overview

Dry heaving, sometimes called retching, refers to vomit-like feelings without any substance. Dry heaving happens when you attempt to vomit. Your airway closes off while your diaphragm contracts. Sometimes nausea accompanies dry heaving. Dry heaving may lead to vomiting, but it doesn’t always.

Dry heaving is usually temporary and treatable if you find the cause. With lifestyle modifications, home remedies, and medications, you can help keep dry heaving at bay.

Causes of dry heaving

A combination of diaphragm contractions and a closed-off airway occurs during dry heaves. It creates vomiting-like sensations. Unlike during real vomiting, however, nothing comes up.

Certain conditions, behaviors, and other factors can lead to dry heaving.

Exercise

Exercising at too high of an intensity can cause your diaphragm to contract. In turn, that can lead to dry heaving. Exercising on a full stomach can also cause dry heaving.

Avoid eating a large meal right before exercising. You should also slowly build your tolerance to activity instead of starting at a high intensity. Doing so can reduce your risk of exercise-induced dry heaves. If you start to dry heave or feel nauseous, take a break and slowly sip small amounts of water.

Consuming excess alcohol

Binge drinking or drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to dry heaving or vomiting. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Eating while you drink may also help avoid dry heaving. If you start to dry heave, stop consuming alcohol. Try slowly sipping water and nibbling on easy-to-digest foods, such as saltine crackers.

Learn more: How long does alcohol stay in your body? »

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes symptoms of heartburn, also known as acid reflux. It can cause the regurgitation of partially digested foods and lead to discomfort while swallowing or breathing, among other symptoms. This condition may also cause dry heaving in some people.

Your doctor may prescribe medication to help manage symptoms of GERD. You can also try lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals or avoiding spicy or greasy foods.

Medication

Some medications for anxiety and depression may cause nausea and vomiting. If your doctor suspects that your current medication is causing you to dry heave, they may recommend switching to a different type or brand to offer relief. Do not change your medication without your doctor’s approval.

Other conditions

Other conditions that may lead to dry heaving are:

infection
anxiety
pancreatitis
severe liver or kidney problems

Treating these conditions should help reduce dry heaving. If you have one of these conditions and dry heaving, talk to your doctor. It’s important to let your doctor know about all of your symptoms, even if they don’t seem related.

Dry heaving and pregnancy

Dry heaving is also common during early pregnancy, where many women experience morning sickness. You might experience dry heaving combined with nausea. Despite the name, morning sickness can happen at any time of day. Morning sickness and its related symptoms tend to ease up during the second trimester.

Learn more: 17 Signs that you may be pregnant »

Treatment focuses on ensuring you and your baby get enough nutrients through food. Treating dry heaving and nausea can also increase your quality of life. Some measures used to treat dry heaving in pregnancy include taking:

ginger
vitamin B6
mint
lemon oil
chamomile
anti-nausea medications

You can also try acupuncture or acustimulation, which is mild electrical stimulation on acupuncture points.

Shop for anti-nausea medication

However, research shows that the effectiveness of treatment can vary. One study reviewed 41 different clinical trials involving 5,449 pregnant women. This data included many treatment options. The review found that the effectiveness of multiple treatments for nausea in pregnancy was inconsistent. While side effects weren’t noted, it’s still important to reach out to your doctor before taking any new medication or supplement, natural or not. Your doctor can help determine if it’s a good option for you.

Home remedies

Home remedies are often the first line of treatment. You may consider the following tips.

Don’t lie down on a full stomach, which can make it easier for stomach acids to flow back up through the esophagus.
Rest if you feel nauseous while exercising.
Eat saltines, rice, toast, or other foods that are easy to digest if you feel nauseous.
Have a banana in the morning. It’s also a good preworkout snack.
Eat chicken soup or other broth-based foods.
Avoid eating large meals. Eat small amounts every 2 to 3 hours instead.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Avoid items such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, or fatty or spicy foods. These foods may cause acid reflux.
If vomiting occurs, stay hydrated. You can wait to eat until the nausea passes, however.

When to see a doctor

If your dry heaving doesn’t improve after trying home remedies, it’s time to see a doctor. They can help determine the cause.

They may also prescribe antinausea medications. Some of these drugs are available over-the-counter (OTC). These drugs are called antiemetics and work by blocking certain substances in the body that play a role in nausea. Taking them may stop dry heaving, too. Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is a motion sickness medication that may alleviate nausea that leads to dry heaving.

Always talk to your doctor before taking any OTC medication for dry heaving. Side effects of these drugs are minor, including dry mouth and constipation. However, the medication may worsen other conditions that you have, such as glaucoma and high blood pressure. These drugs also shouldn’t be taken by children younger than 12 years.

When to seek immediate medical attention

You should also see your doctor right away if you have:

severe chest pain
sharp abdominal pains
dizziness or weakness
an increased heart rate
little to no urination
blood in your urine
bloody vomit or stools
breathing difficulties
severe muscle pain or weakness

These symptoms could indicate a more serious condition.

Prevention

You may find that certain simple lifestyle changes can help prevent dry heaving. Try these tips:

Eat smaller meals throughout the day, especially if you’re pregnant.
Avoid working out on a full stomach.
Drink more water.
Reduce or eliminate your alcohol consumption.
Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.
Get adequate sleep.
Manage your stress.

Outlook

For most people, dry heaving is an acute condition, meaning it lasts for a short time and then goes away. It can be treated with home remedies or minor treatments. It’s important to see your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve. Ongoing dry heaving can indicate an underlying medical problem.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Antiemeticmedicines: OTC relief for nausea and vomiting. (2013).https://familydoctor.org/antiemetic-medicines-otc-relief-for-nausea-and-vomiting/
Interventionsfor nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. (2015). DOI:http://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007575.pub4
Nausea andvomiting. (2013).https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/nausea-and-vomiting

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Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.D. — Written by Kristeen Cherney — Updated on March 21, 2023

Dry Heaving: Treatment, Causes, And More - Healthline

Overview

Causes of dry heaving

Exercise

Consuming excess alcohol

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Medication

Other conditions

Dry heaving and pregnancy

Home remedies

When to see a doctor

When to seek immediate medical attention

Prevention

Outlook

How we reviewed this article:

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