How to Prevent Vomiting While Drinking

Drink water while consuming alcohol. If you feel the urge to vomit, it is a good idea to drink water in between alcoholic drinks. If you are very drunk and feeling nauseous, switch to drinking only water. Sip it slowly, and avoid gulping down large amounts at once, as it can upset your stomach.

• Inexperienced drinkers often drink too much water out of fear of dehydration. You should drink water steadily throughout the evening, but not in excessive amounts that make you feel uncomfortable.

Eat something before going out. Alcohol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach. If you drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol will enter the bloodstream faster, making you feel dizzy and uncomfortable. It's best to eat before drinking to ensure a smoother experience.

• High-fat foods, such as fast food, take longer to digest, making them an ideal choice to prepare for a fun night out.
• Healthy foods to consume before drinking include: nuts, avocado, and seeds.

Take over-the-counter medication. It’s important to use medications that are suitable for your body. If antacids don't soothe your stomach, you should stop using them. If you have medications available to ease your stomach or reduce nausea, it’s best to take them before discomfort sets in.

Increase potassium intake. One major cause of dizziness and nausea is dehydration. This happens when the body doesn’t get enough water or cannot retain water due to an electrolyte imbalance. Potassium is a key electrolyte, so you can help your body retain water by eating potassium-rich foods like bananas.

Drink electrolyte-replenishing water. However, be cautious when using sports drinks, as many of these beverages contain sugar to make them more flavorful. Unfortunately, sugary drinks can lead to further dehydration.

Eat ginger. Numerous studies suggest that ginger is effective in reducing nausea when consumed as ginger tea or ginger soda. You can sprinkle powdered ginger on food or drinks, chew fresh ginger, or eat ginger candy to soothe your stomach.

Using fennel seeds. Fennel seeds can aid digestion and help alleviate nausea. To use them, mix one tablespoon of crushed fennel seeds in water and let it sit for 10 minutes, then drink the mixture to soothe your stomach.

• Chewing a small spoonful of fennel seeds can also help prevent vomiting, although this method may not be easy to perform.

Understand your limits. To know your limits, you need to experiment repeatedly and learn from those trials. Generally, limits are determined by body weight and gender. Women, with their smaller body sizes, lighter weight, and higher natural fat content, tend to be more sensitive to alcohol. To avoid nausea, you should follow the suggested dosage based on gender and body weight:

• Men
  • 45-67 kg: 1-2 drinks/hour
  • 68-90+ kg: 2-3 drinks/hour
• Women
  • 40-45 kg: 1 drink/hour
  • 46-81 kg: 1-2 drinks/hour
  • 82-90+ kg: 2-3 drinks/hour

Stop drinking when you reach your limit. This can be difficult, especially when friends encourage you to keep drinking and you have trouble controlling yourself under the influence. You can say, "If I drink more, I’ll throw up." This line is particularly effective when speaking to a host at a party.

Take a breath of fresh air. Cooling down can provide comfort. Party environments are often hot and stuffy, so stepping outside for some fresh air helps avoid the suffocating atmosphere that can cause nausea. Plus, it keeps you from vomiting in front of others, and cleaning up outside isn’t as time-consuming.

Listen to your body. If you're about to throw up or feeling nauseous, the best thing to do is to stop drinking completely. Especially after vomiting, even if you feel better, continuing to drink will likely make you vomit again and could lead to even more serious issues, such as alcohol poisoning.

Try acupressure on your wrist. While not scientifically proven to relieve nausea, most doctors don't consider it dangerous. Locate the Nei Guan (P-6) point on your inner wrist. With your palm facing up, place three fingers across your wrist where it meets the hand. The part of your finger closest to your body will mark the P-6 point. Now, use your thumb to press and gently rotate in a circular motion for a short period of time. You can increase the effect by pressing on the other wrist as well.

Avoid overexertion. You may feel more comfortable sitting or lying on your left side in a straight position. Physical activity can worsen nausea and may even cause vomiting.