How to Not Throw up when Drunk

Last Updated: November 15, 2022 References Approved

After a hectic night out, the alcohol you consumed may have left you feeling nauseated and on the verge of tossing your cookies. This could be caused by over drinking, dehydration, or it could be a signal from your body to pump your brakes on the party. Whenever you start feeling sick, you should take measures to keep your upset stomach from becoming an external issue.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Settling Your Stomach through Consumption

1
Drink water throughout your alcohol excursion. If you're prone to vomiting, you might want to alternate each alcoholic beverage with a glass of water during the night. In the event you get very drunk and perhaps a little nauseous, switch entirely to water. Drink water steadily, but never chug or drink water to excess, as this can upset your stomach.
- Inexperienced drinkers sometimes drink too much water out of fear of becoming dehydrated. Drink water throughout the night, but not to uncomfortable excess.
2
Eat something beforehand. Alcohol filters quickly into blood from the stomach.^{[1]
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Research source} If you don't have food in your stomach, the alcohol will absorb into your blood intoxicating you rapidly, which could leave your world spinning and your stomach heaving. A little food in your tummy can be the difference between a night on the town and vomit city.
- Food high in fat content, like most bar food, takes a considerable time to digest in your stomach, making it the perfect choice for the start of your night out.^{[2]
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  Research source}
- Healthy pre-drinking foods include: nuts, avocados, and seeds.^{[3]
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  Research source}
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3
Use over the counter medicine. It is important to use a remedy that agrees with your system, so if chalky antacids don't usually calm your upset stomach, popping one of these might not be the best solution. If you have a default over the counter medicine you use for upset stomachs or nausea, take it preemptively when you begin feeling queasy.^{[4]
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Research source}
4
Restore your potassium. One of the biggest causes of both hangover and drinking related nausea is dehydration.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Dehydration occurs when your body either doesn't have enough water in its system or else can't hold onto water because it doesn't have the right balance of electrolytes.^{[6]
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Research source} As an important electrolyte, you might help your body retain water by eating a food high in potassium, like a banana.
5
Drink electrolyte restoring drinks. But be careful when considering a sports drink, as most sports drinks have modified formulas loaded with sugar, which are more palatable to the general population. These sugary drinks, however, could lead to more dehydration.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
Go to source}
6
Consume ginger. Plenty of studies agree that ginger has powerful anti-nausea properties that you can enjoy when drinking ginger tea or ginger soda.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} You can add powdered ginger to food or drink, chew on a piece of raw ginger, or eat a ginger candy to enjoy ginger's stomach soothing influence.^{[9]
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Research source}
- To make a ginger drink to alleviate nausea, add 1 teaspoon of chopped or powdered ginger to 8 ounces of hot water. Let it steep, covered, for at least 10 minutes. Strain out the ginger (if needed) and sip.
7
Try fennel seeds. These have been found to aid digestion and lessen the effects of nausea. One tablespoon of crushed fennel seeds stepped in water for 10 minutes will create a sour stomach easing brew.
- Chewing a teaspoon of fennel seeds, while maybe not the most appealing option, might also save you from throwing up.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Preventing Vomiting with Pro-activity

1
Know your limit. This often is a matter of trial and error, however make sure you learn from the errors. Generally, your limit will be linked to your weight and gender. Women, being generally smaller, weighing less, and having a naturally higher fat content, have a natural handicap when drinking alcohol.^{[10]
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Research source} Generally, moderate (and likely nausea free) drinking entails:
- Men
  - 100 - 149 lbs: 1 - 2 drinks per hour
  - 150 - 200+ lbs: 2 - 3 drinks per hour
- Women
  - 90 - 100 lbs: 1 drink per hour
  - 101 - 180 lbs: 1 - 2 drinks per hour
  - 181 - 200+ lbs: 2 - 3 drinks per hour
2
Stop drinking when you've reached your limit. This is harder than it sounds, especially when friends are encouraging you to have another and your inhibitions are lowered by the alcohol you've already had.
- A good defense is to say, "If I have another I'll be sick." This is especially useful if you're talking to the person that lives wherever you're drinking.
3
Get some fresh air. Cooling yourself off is a big part of feeling better. Parties tend to get hot, and going outside will relieve you of this oppressive, potentially vomit-inducing atmosphere.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source} As an added bonus, if you do vomit it won't be while you're surrounded by people, and throwing up outside requires less involved clean up.
4
Listen to your body. If you get close to vomiting, if you heave or gag, the best policy to ensure you do not vomit is to call it quits drinking for the night. Especially after you vomit, even if you feel much better, drinking more could lead to more vomiting and potentially something more serious, like alcohol poisoning.
5
Apply accupressure to your wrist. Though not definitively proven to help with nausea, most doctors don't see any harm in using accupressure to receive relief. Find the Neiguan (P-6) pressure point on your inner arm. Position your hand so that your palm is facing upwards. Place your middle three fingers across the wrist starting where the wrist meets your hand. The outside of the finger closest your body should mark this pressure point P-6. Now you can use your thumb to press this point, moving in a circular motion for a short period of time.^{[12]
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- You might gain additional relief by repeating this process on your other wrist.
6
Avoid excess motion. It may offer you relief if you rest in a sitting or lying on your left side, in a propped up position.^{[13]
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Research source} Activity may worsen nausea and can even cause vomiting.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I vomit blood?

Community Answer

You should see your doctor.
Question

What if dizziness is caused by the body sensing poison in the body and signaling the inner ear?

Community Answer

Sit down. Breathe deeply. Try to focus on one specific location on the ground. Do not close your eyes, as this may increase nausea.
Question

Is it embarrassing to throw up in front of a lot of people at a party?

Community Answer

It depends on who is at the party and how you feel about it. Some people will find it embarrassing, others won't. If you're very drunk, you probably won't care.

Warnings

Always exercise proper caution while drinking, and never drink and drive.

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Vomiting is your body's defense mechanism from you consuming too much of a dangerous material. Listen to your body.

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