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Starting a new weight loss medication can sometimes come with side effects, one of the most common being nausea. Understanding why this occurs and learning effective management strategies can help to create a more comfortable experience.
Nausea often occurs because these medications impact gastric emptying. Essentially, they slow down the process of food leaving your stomach, which means food stays in your stomach longer and can lead to feelings of nausea.
Fortunately, there are several interventions that can help reduce and manage nausea effectively:
Adopt a balanced eating schedule: Eating three small meals a day, supplemented with one to two snacks, can help regulate your digestion and minimise nausea. An empty stomach can exacerbate feelings of nausea, so maintaining regular meals can help to make you feel better throughout the day.
Opt for gentle foods: Choose bland, cold foods that are gentle on the stomach. Examples include bananas, custards, jelly, tinned fruit, crackers, and toast. Not only are these foods easier on the stomach, cold foods have less odour which means they are less likely to trigger nausea.
Explore natural remedies: Incorporate ginger-containing foods and drinks or sip on peppermint tea. Both ginger and peppermint are known for their soothing properties and can help alleviate nausea symptoms.
Stay hydrated: Sip on cold, clear fluids frequently throughout the day to stay hydrated. Aim for at least 2 litres of fluids daily, this also helps to minimise the risk of headaches and constipation.
While these interventions can often manage nausea, it's important to recognise when further assistance may be needed.
If your nausea persists despite trying these methods or if it becomes severe enough to impact your daily activities, don't hesitate to reach out to our medical support team of nurses and pharmacists here.