Medicines That Can Cause Nausea and Vomiting

Overview

Many nonprescription and prescription medicines can cause nausea or vomiting. A few examples are:

  • Antibiotics.
  • Antidepressants.
  • Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve).
  • Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).
  • Opioid pain medicines.
  • Vitamins and mineral supplements, such as iron.

If you think that your nausea or vomiting may be caused by a medicine:

  • Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine to find out whether you should stop taking it or take a different one. An appointment may not be necessary.
  • If you are taking a nonprescription medicine, stop taking it. Call your doctor if you feel you need to continue taking the medicine.

Credits

Current as of: September 25, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.