Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause nausea and vomiting. You have an increased chance of having nausea or vomiting if you have just started a new medicine or increased the dose of a medicine. Nausea and vomiting also may mean that a poisonous (toxic) level of the medicine is present, even if you have not increased your dose or how frequently you are taking it.

Medicines that commonly cause nausea or vomiting include:

• Antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, cefuroxime (Ceftin), erythromycin, sulfa drugs, and metronidazole (Flagyl).
• Anticonvulsant medicine, such as phenytoin (Dilantin).
• Antidepressant medicines, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), lithium, and sertraline (Zoloft).
• Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
• Asthma medicines, such as theophylline.
• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives).
• Chemotherapy medicines, such as cisplatin or cyclophosphamide.
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone.
• Heart medicines, such as verapamil (Calan or Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem), digoxin, quinidine, and Inderal.
• Narcotics, such as morphine, codeine, or meperidine (Demerol).
• Medicines that contain iron.
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection.
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).
• Radiation therapy.
• 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.