Nausea At Night: Causes, Treatment, Prevention - Healthline

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Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Erica Hersh on January 9, 2020

Causes
When to get care
Treatment
Home remedies
Bottom line

Nausea and vomiting at night are often related to digestive concerns, like acid reflux or ulcers. But they can also have some unexpected causes, like anxiety.

Nausea can happen at any time of the day. But some conditions may be more likely to make you feel nauseous at night.

Sometimes you can be nauseous without an underlying cause, but it’s most often a symptom of another condition.

Read on to learn more about what can cause nighttime nausea, when to see a doctor, the treatment options, and how to help ease your nausea at home.

Possible causes of nighttime nausea

The possible causes of nausea at night include the conditions outlined below.

Anxiety

Anxiety includes feelings of nervousness and worry. It’s common to have these feelings from time to time. Almost everyone experiences anxiety at some time or another.

If, however, you have these feelings often, or if your anxiety seems out of proportion to your current situation, you may have a condition called generalized anxiety disorder.

Whether you have everyday worries or an anxiety disorder, anxiety can get worse at night. This may be because you have fewer distractions at night, compared to the daytime when you’re occupied with work, school, or family matters.

When your mind isn’t focused on something else, you may be more likely to dwell on your worries or problems.

All types of anxiety can cause gastrointestinal issues, including nausea. Since anxiety may be worse at night, you may be more likely to have nausea at night, too.

Other symptoms of anxiety include:

restlessness
trouble concentrating
increased heart rate
panic attacks
sweating
trouble falling asleep
trouble thinking about anything except what’s causing your anxiety

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acid flows back up through your esophagus. It’s also called acid reflux.

It occurs when the band of muscle between your esophagus and stomach doesn’t properly close or tighten. This allows the digestive juices in your stomach to move up into your esophagus.

The most common symptom of GERD or acid reflux is heartburn — an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest. You might also notice a bitter taste at the back of your mouth. Nausea may accompany these symptoms, too.

Other symptoms of GERD include:

trouble swallowing
feeling like something is stuck in your throat
dry cough
pain in your chest or upper abdomen
vomiting
asthma

Eating late at night can increase symptoms of GERD, including nausea. This is because lying down, especially after eating a big meal, makes it easier for acid to flow up into your esophagus.

Medication side effects

Nausea is a common side effect of medications, especially:

antibiotics
aspirin
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
some types of blood pressure medication

If you take your medication at night, you might notice more nausea at night.

Other symptoms or side effects depend on the medication.

Peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers are sores on the lining of your stomach or small intestine. The bacteria H. pylori can cause it.

The most common symptom is pain between your ribs and belly button. Other symptoms include:

nausea
burping
feeling full after eating a small amount of food
vomiting
black or bloody stool
unexplained weight loss

These symptoms often get worse after meals and at night.

Pregnancy

Nausea is a very common pregnancy symptom. While nausea during pregnancy is often called morning sickness, it can happen at any time of the day.

An increase in hormones causes nausea during pregnancy. It usually begins around week 6 and ends around week 12 of pregnancy. It’s not dangerous to you or baby, unless you can’t keep food down.

Gastroparesis

Another possible cause of nausea at night is gastroparesis. This is a disease in which the stomach can’t normally empty itself of food.

It’s most common in people with diabetes. Other causes include:

infections
surgery
scleroderma
narcotics
some antidepressants

Gastroparesis can also occur from an injury to the vagus nerve, which helps your stomach muscles contract to move food.

Symptoms may be worse at night, as the food you eat during the day builds up in your stomach.

Symptoms of gastroparesis include:

nausea
heartburn
vomiting
feeling full after eating a small amount of food
bloating
weight loss

Cyclic vomiting

Although less common, cyclic vomiting syndrome is another possible cause of nausea at night that can affect both adults and children. It’s a rare disorder that causes recurrent episodes of severe nausea and vomiting.

These episodes can last for a few hours or a few days. Most people have episodes about the same length each time. In between the vomiting and nausea you feel healthy.

Besides nausea and vomiting, symptoms may include:

pale skin
lethargy
dizziness
headaches
abdominal pain
dry heaving

Exhaustion and anxiety are both triggers for cyclic vomiting syndrome, and both are more common at night. This can make cyclic vomiting syndrome more likely to start at night.

When should you see a doctor?

In many cases, nausea is temporary and will go away on its own. But it can also be a sign of a more serious problem. See your doctor if:

your nausea lasts longer than a week
you consistently feel nauseous after eating
your nausea leads to severe headaches with vomiting
you have unexplained weight loss
nausea and vomiting keep coming back over the course of at least 1 month
you can’t keep food down, especially if you’re pregnant
you’re experiencing:
- confusion
- blurred vision
- severe abdominal pain

What type of treatment can you expect?

Treatment for nausea at night will depend on the underlying cause.

Anxiety

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT.

This type of therapy helps you identify negative or destructive thought patterns. Once you notice these patterns, you can start learning how to reframe your thoughts in a more positive way.

Other possible treatment options for anxiety include:

anti-anxiety medication
lifestyle changes, such as exercise and reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption

GERD

The most common treatment options for GERD include:

antacids
medications called H2 blockers, which reduce acid production (available over the counter or by prescription)
medications called proton pump inhibitors, which are stronger acid reducers (available OTC and by prescription)
surgery, if medications don’t help
lifestyle changes, such as avoiding spicy food, not eating at night, eating smaller meals, and limiting alcohol and caffeine

Medication side effects

If a prescription medication is causing your nausea, talk to your doctor about switching medications or taking them at a different time of day to alleviate nausea and other side effects. You may also need to take your medication with food or water.

It’s important that you don’t stop taking your medication on your own. Always talk to your doctor about the best way to change your medication or the way you take it.

If an OTC medication is making you nauseous, try taking a different kind, like ibuprofen instead of naproxen.

Peptic ulcers

The most common treatment options for peptic ulcers include:

antibiotics to get rid of H. pylori bacteria
antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acid
medications to protect your stomach’s lining
lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and avoiding foods that make your symptoms worse

Gastroparesis

Treatment for gastroparesis typically includes:

medications that help your stomach muscles move normally
surgery
lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals and eating food that’s easy to digest

Cyclic vomiting syndrome

Treatment for cyclic vomiting syndrome may include:

anticonvulsants
anti-nausea medication
anti-migraine treatment
treatment for dehydration; if it’s severe, you may need to be treated in the hospital with IV fluids
avoiding triggers

Home remedies

There are steps you can take to help reduce the severity of your nausea at home. If your nausea persists for longer than a week, or if it gets worse, it’s important that you see your doctor.

The following self-care measures may help your nausea:

Prop your head up so you’re not lying flat in bed. If it’s comfortable for you, try to sleep with your head about 12 inches above your feet. This can help keep acid or food from moving up into your esophagus.
Drink a small amount of a slightly sweet liquid, like fruit juice, but avoid citrus. Drink slowly. Increase the amount as you start to feel better.
Drink ginger or peppermint tea.
Suck on a peppermint.
Eat a small amount of light, bland food, like plain crackers or bread.
Avoid physical activity until you feel better, but try to avoid lying down.

The bottom line

Nausea at night is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. Some of the most common causes include acid reflux, anxiety, medication side effects, peptic ulcers, or pregnancy.

Nausea at night is usually treatable, either with self-care remedies or by a doctor.

If your nausea is severe or long lasting, or if you have bad headaches or unexplained weight loss together with nighttime nausea, see your doctor. They can diagnose the cause of your nausea and work with you to find the right type of treatment.

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.

Boles RG. (2017). Cyclic vomiting syndrome. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/cyclic-vomiting-syndrome/
Ease nausea with natural remedies. (2016). https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/family-resources-library/ease-nausea-with-natural-remedies
Gastroparesis. (2018). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15522-gastroparesis
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Anxiety disorders. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Nausea and vomiting: When to see a doctor. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nausea/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050736
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
Nausea & vomiting. (2019).https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting
Stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers). (n.d.). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stomach-and-duodenal-ulcers-peptic-ulcers
Yu Ang T, et al. (2016). Drugs induced nausea and vomiting: An overview.http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jpbs/papers/Vol11-issue3/Version-2/B1103020509.pdf

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Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Erica Hersh on January 9, 2020

Nausea At Night: Causes, Treatment, Prevention - Healthline

Possible causes of nighttime nausea

Anxiety

GERD

Medication side effects

Peptic ulcers

Pregnancy

Gastroparesis

Cyclic vomiting

When should you see a doctor?

What type of treatment can you expect?

Anxiety

GERD

Medication side effects

Peptic ulcers

Gastroparesis

Cyclic vomiting syndrome

Home remedies

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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