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Updated March 29,2020

Queasy. Green around the gills. Nauseated.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there’s a very good chance you know nausea. For that matter, anyone with autoimmune arthritis or other types of chronic illness probably knows it, too. Between the effects of the condition itself and the medication to treat it, most of us spend part of our time battling various levels of queasiness. Which means we have tricks to cope with it! I asked the community to share their tips for dealing with nausea and boy, did they have a bunch. Thanks so much to everyone who shared their advice!

A quick disclaimer:  Neither I, nor the people who share their experience in this post, are physicians. You should always discuss symptoms with your medical team to get their advice.

And now to the tips on dealing with nausea!

Ginger. No list of anti-nausea remedies is complete without ginger. Ginger is, if you will, the rock star of nausea remedies. One study found that people experiencing nausea as a side effect from chemotherapy could reduce nausea by 40 percent by taking ginger supplements. Ginger was also a recurring theme in the answers I got from the community: crystallized ginger, ginger candies, ginger essential oil (a few drops in a glass of water), flat ginger ale, ginger beer, and so much more.

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Soda. Flat ginger ale is a well-known remedy for an upset stomach. But, it’s not the only form of soda that people use. Coke was also mentioned by several people, both flat and not. Sometimes burping helps and carbonated beverages are an excellent performance enhancing substance.

Anti-Nausea Medication. Medication doesn’t have to be your last resort with nausea. I was introduced to Zofran (ondansetron) in the hospital several years ago and it is da bomb for nausea, plus it doesn’t make you drowsy! Available both as a tablet and in instant format. Tip: stock up on prune juice, as it can make you extremely constipated. Gravol, available over-the-counter, is also effective, but does have the drowsy side effect.

Carbs. Crackers have been my friend for decades, as has toast. Any form of carbs, really. I think this especially helps if your nausea is related to increased acid production in your stomach. My theory is that the carbs absorb the acid better than anything else, thereby reducing the nausea. I could be wrong, but it’s a good theory.

Sour. Several people mentioned citrus, most in combination with other things, such as lemon ginger tea, seltzer water with a slice of lemon, but Karen also mentioned eating an orange. Specifically not the juice, but eating the fruit itself. Personally, I have found is that sucking on a slice of lemon can do wonders to control nausea.

Marijuana. In my own experience, marijuana can be an excellent anti-nausea tool and this is supported by science. It can be especially useful for nausea that doesn’t respond to anti-nausea medication. One study indicated that CBD may also work, which is interesting. CBD oil may be an option for you, but if you’re in the US there are some potential issues related to legality and composition.

Meditation and breathing. Both breathing exercises and meditation are about slowing down and focusing intently on just one thing. This can be really helpful in dealing with anxiety or panic attacks, but several people recommended them also for nausea. There are a number of different types of meditation and breathing exercises, including the Navy Seal box breathing. Try a few to see what works for you.

Mint. Along with ginger, this is another of the mainstays of nausea remedies and one of my favourites, because I also love the taste. It apparently has something to do with the menthol in mint — it relaxes the tight stomach muscles accompanying nausea, which reduces the queasiness.

Icecream. Some people need to stay away from dairy products if they’re nauseated. Others don’t. I could imagine that if your nausea is due to a medication-induced increase in stomach acid, dairy might balance that out.

Distraction. Both pain and nausea have a way of completely taking over. Distracting yourself can help by shifting your focus. Disappearing into an activity that helps you lose track of time — playing a videogame, photography, reading, painting, and so on — or directing your thoughts elsewhere can take your mind off the signals your body is sending you.

Change medication. The purpose of taking medication for your RA or other types of chronic illness is to treat your condition so your life improves. In certain circumstances — the medication is kicking butt or you have trouble finding something else that works — it could be reasonable to accept certain manageable side effects. But if those side effects, such as nausea, are decreasing your quality of life, it might be time to take a look at your options. In the case of methotrexate, a simple switch from tablets to subcutaneous injections is often enough to circumvent the nausea.

How do you manage nausea?

Check my sources:

Parker, Linda A, Erin M Rock, and Cheryl L Limebeer. “Regulation of Nausea and Vomiting by Cannabinoids.” British Journal of Pharmacology 163, no. 7 (2011): 1411–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01176.x.

Simone, Meaghan Elizabeth. “SiOWfa16: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy.” SiOWfa16 Science in Our World Certainty and Controversy, October 20, 2016. https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa16/2016/10/20/how-does-mint-help-nausea/.

White (585) 273-1119 leslie_white@urmc.rochester.edu, Leslie. “Ginger Quells Cancer Patients’ Nausea From Chemotherapy.” URMC Newsroom. URMC Newsroom, July 28, 2020. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/ginger-quells-cancer-patients-nausea-from-chemotherapy.