Nausea and vomiting after a crash can have very different causes
An emergency doctor and a pharmacist on sorting out what's behind it
Feeling sick to your stomach after a collision can follow a head injury or an injury to the abdomen. It can also come from medicine, anesthesia or another illness. The cause matters because each one calls for a different response. An emergency doctor checks for danger signs first. A pharmacist looks at whether your medicine schedule could be adding to the problem. Don’t write off vomiting as a routine side effect until doctors have looked at serious causes. [1, 2, 3]
When vomiting is a warning sign
After a head injury, vomiting again and again is an emergency warning sign. It is even more worrying with a headache that’s getting worse, confusion, weakness or trouble waking up. Get urgent care for new vomiting along with belly pain that is severe or getting worse. The same goes for a swollen or rigid belly or blood in the vomit. Call emergency services if the person is faint or confused or can’t travel safely. [1, 2]
Build a clear timeline for your doctor
Write down when the nausea started and how often you vomited. Note whether you can keep fluids down and what other symptoms appeared. Record when you took pain medicine and any recent procedure or anesthesia. Tell your doctor if the vomit has blood in it or looks like coffee grounds. Mention any changes in urination, bowel movements or dizziness. These facts help more than guessing at one cause. [2, 3]
Opioid pain medicines can cause nausea. If your symptoms began after a dose, talk with the prescriber or a pharmacist. Ask whether the medicine, its timing, food or another treatment should change. Don’t skip a prescribed medicine that protects you from another condition without checking first. Before you add a nonprescription nausea remedy, check whether it could interact with your other medicines. [3]
Head off the next problem
Is the vomiting mild, and has your team ruled out an urgent cause? Then ask how to manage fluids and food while it settles. Repeated vomiting can make it hard to take the medicines you need or to stay hydrated. Tell your team if you can’t keep down fluids or medicine you must take. Ask when to come back if the plan isn’t working. [2, 3]
- Does my head or belly need another exam?
- Could a medicine be adding to this, and what is safe to change?
- How long can I wait if I can’t keep fluids down?
Decide between urgent care and a call
Sources and further reading
- 1MedlinePlus head injury warning signs
- 2MedlinePlus abdominal pain and vomiting
- 3MedlinePlus opioid effects
The information here is general and reflects emergency medicine and pharmacy. Repeated vomiting after a head injury needs an urgent medical exam. So do severe new belly symptoms.
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