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Published on: 4/7/2025

What Are the Symptoms and Treatments for Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome?

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a condition that gives you bursts of vomiting, stomach pain, and nausea that come and go. Treatments include giving your body fluids, using medicines to calm the nausea, and sometimes using drugs to help prevent future episodes.

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Explanation

With cyclic vomiting syndrome, you experience episodes that start suddenly with lots of vomiting, stomach pain, and feeling very sick. These episodes can last for hours or even days, and there are breaks when you feel almost normal. Along with vomiting, some people may feel very tired, have a headache, or be sensitive to light. During an episode, doctors work to make you feel better by giving you fluids so you do not get dehydrated. They also use medicines that help stop nausea and control pain. Sometimes, if the vomiting keeps coming back, doctors may prescribe preventive medicines like those used for migraines or even anti-seizure drugs. It is also important to look for things that set off the episodes, such as stress or certain foods, or even certain substances that can induce this, such as cannabis, and try to avoid them. With the right plan from a doctor, many people find that their episodes become less frequent and not as severe over time.

(References)

  • Bhandari S, Jha P, Thakur A, Kar A, Gerdes H, Venkatesan T. Cyclic vomiting syndrome: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Clin Auton Res. 2018 Apr;28(2):203-209. doi: 10.1007/s10286-018-0506-2. Epub 2018 Feb 13. PMID: 29442203.

  • Davis A, Bryant JH. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. 2023 Jun 20. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 29763194.

  • Frazier R, Li BUK, Venkatesan T. Diagnosis and Management of Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Critical Review. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023 Jul 1;118(7):1157-1167. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002216. Epub 2023 Feb 15. PMID: 36791365.

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