What should I do if I vomited just after taking a dose of medication?

Doctor's Answer

I can't give you a definite answer as it depends on a few factors! Whether you repeat a dose, wait for your next scheduled dose, or get reassessed by your doctor will vary for each person's situation.

Type of medication

For medications that might be more pertinent for the full dose to be absorbed, you might need to take a repeat dose. For other less essential medications, it may be safer to wait for the next dose. Remember that taking an extra dose of certain drugs can be dangerous!

Time frame

It is also important to consider the time between taking your medication and vomiting. Absorption of each medication vary. Most medications usually start being absorbed within 15 min but it might take a few hours to be fully absorbed.

Cause of your vomiting

If you are vomiting uncontrollably due to an illness and are unable to keep any food or medicine down, you need to visit your doctor for reassessment. You may require an alternative route of medication (eg intramuscular or intravenous) or hospital admission if the vomiting is severe. If you are vomiting as a side effect of the medicine, then you might consider changing to a different medication or taking a pill to prevent vomiting for future doses.

If you have concerns, please visit your doctor for further advice!

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