Stomach flu symptoms are a common and frustrating ailment for many people. It can be hard to know how to treat stomach flu symptoms or what type of treatment is best, especially if you haven’t had it before.
Some people think that stomach flu is just an excuse to drink more beer than usual and others have the opposite idea that they should avoid alcohol altogether. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, there are options out there including home remedies, over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications.
If none of them work, you may need to visit your doctor to determine which option will work best for you. While you’re waiting for them to see you, here are some tips on how to treat stomach flu symptoms at home.
Home Remedies
One of the best ways to treat stomach flu symptoms is with natural remedies. Some of the most popular ones include ginger root tea as well as honey and lemon water. Ginger has been used for centuries to help with nausea and indigestion. Honey and lemon water works because it contains vitamin C and citric acid, both of which help to soothe your digestive tract. Both of those ingredients also reduce inflammation in your stomach. You can make either one by mixing equal parts honey and lemon juice then adding a pinch of ground ginger to taste. Try this combination and see if it helps alleviate your symptoms.
Another way to use ginger is to boil it up into a tea. To do this, grate the fresh ginger root and add it to a pot along with two cups of hot water. Let the mixture simmer until it reduces down to half its original volume. Remove the ginger from the heat and let it cool. Drink the tea throughout the day when you feel nauseous or sick.
You can also try adding cayenne pepper to your diet. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a compound that provides relief to sore throats and coughs, among other things. Capsaicin also acts as a pain reliever for stomach aches and intestinal problems. You can take capsules or eat some raw cayenne peppers to help relieve your symptoms.
A third natural remedy involves eating foods rich in probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help improve digestion and aid in the absorption of nutrients. Foods high in probiotics include yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, and kelp. These foods all contain lactobacillus, a strain of bacteria that helps increase the amount of good bacteria in your body while decreasing the amount of bad bacteria. For a quick and easy snack, you can mix together some plain yogurt, kefir, or kelp flakes and eat it like trail mix. You can find recipes online that use these three ingredients to create delicious treats.
Over-The-Counter Medications
There are several types of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs available to you. One of the best treatments for stomach flu symptoms is Alka Seltzer, but it’s not always available where you live. There are other OTC drugs that you can buy though. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- PeptoBismol
Pepto Bismol tablets are another great option to cure your stomach flu symptoms. They come in four different strengths and you can easily take 1/4 tablet every hour as needed until the symptoms go away. The only problem with buying Pepto Bismol is that you have to take them with food or they won’t be effective. You can also ask your pharmacist to recommend something else to take instead or you can take them after meals since they also work better when taken with food.
- Tums
If you’ve tried all of the above options and nothing seems to help, then it might be time to talk to your doctor about getting medication. This includes prescriptions for antibiotics if they’re available where you live. Antibiotics kill off harmful bacteria that cause gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea. Some antibiotics may also help prevent future infection.
Prescription Medications
There are several types of prescription medications that your doctor can prescribe you. All of them are designed to fight against different kinds of infections. Below are some of the more common ones:
- Loperamide
Loperamide is a drug that is often used for treating traveler’s diarrhea. It comes as an oral liquid and can be taken by mouth. Doctors sometimes give loperamide to patients who don’t respond to other anti-diarrheal medications.
- Zantac
Zantac is a popular proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It belongs to a group of drugs called H2 antagonists. PPIs block certain enzymes that are responsible for making stomach acid. As a result, this prevents acid reflux disease, gastritis, and ulcers. It can even help with heartburn caused by GERD.
- Risperdal
Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug that is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. In short, it causes people to become less excited and agitated. It also helps calm people when they’re having psychotic episodes. Because of this calming effect, it can be used to treat anxiety and agitation associated with panic attacks.
- Celexa
Celexa is an antidepressant that is often prescribed for depression in children. It was first approved by the FDA in 1998 and is one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the United States. Like Prozac, Celexa works by increasing levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood. However, unlike Prozac, Celexa doesn’t affect serotonin levels in the brain the same way that Prozac does.
All of these above points are very useful if you ever had an issue of stomach bug or any other kind of issue related to your stomach. Following all these above points constantly will cure your stomach issues but you have to take them for a particular period of time. If you stop this process in between then you will not be able to cure your problem.
