How to Treat a Sore Throat After Throwing Up

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In addition to being uncomfortable and upsetting, throwing up can cause you to get a sore throat that lingers afterward; however, you do not have to just deal with the discomfort of this type of sore throat. There are a variety of remedies that can be used to treat it quickly and effectively. These include simple solutions, over-the-counter medications, and natural remedies.

Sore Throat Remedies

Drink water to soothe and rinse your mouth and throat. Then, gargle salt water to ease irritation, or suck on ice chips to cool inflammation. Or, drink a warm, mild beverage, like herbal tea with honey, and eat creamy, smooth foods.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Easing Discomfort with Simple Solutions

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  1. Drinking a bit of water after you throw up can ease the discomfort of a sore throat and help you avoid dehydration. The water also helps to get rid of excess stomach acid that can coat your throat when you throw up.
    • If you still have an upset stomach , drink water slowly—don’t chug or take too many sips at once. In some cases, filling the stomach with too much water or drinking too quickly can cause you to vomit again.
    • To start, drink a small sip or two every 15 minutes to soothe your throat pain and gently rehydrate. You can also suck on ice chips if you’d like. [1]
    • Clear liquids to drink after throwing up include water, Pedialyte, apple juice diluted with some water, or flat ginger ale. [2]
  2. If plain water doesn't ease your sore throat , try a warm beverage, such as herbal tea. [3] The warmth of a beverage like tea can really ease the pain of a sore throat when sipped slowly. Make sure you ask your doctor before choosing an herbal tea, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have diabetes, or heart disease. [4]
    • Ginger tea may help ease any lingering nausea and soothe your sore throat, but should not be given to children younger than two. [5] You may also want to try peppermint tea, which can soothe and numb your sore throat. Do not drink peppermint tea if you have GERD, and don’t give it to young children.
    • Make sure that the beverage is not too hot. A beverage that is too hot when consumed can make sore throat pain worse, not better. [6]
    • Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Andrea Rudominer recommends putting honey in your warm tea to help ease your sore throat. [7] Do not give honey to children under 12 months old, however, as this puts them at risk for infant botulism. [8]
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  3. Warm salt water can ease a sore throat that was caused by throwing up. The salt water helps reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces irritation. [9]
    • To make a salt water gargle , mix 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water. [10]
    • Be sure not to swallow the salt water mixture. This can upset your stomach further. Simply gargle it then spit it out.
  4. If you have a sore throat from throwing up but you are hungry, stick to smooth foods that aren’t too spicy. These types of foods will be easy on your irritated throat while also helping to fill your empty stomach. [11]
    • Small amounts of foods such as Jello, popsicles, bananas, mashed potatoes, or applesauce are all good choices. [12]
    • Be careful when eating after having thrown up, especially if you are still nauseous, as eating too much food too fast could cause you to vomit more.
    • You may be tempted to eat something cool and smooth like yogurt or ice cream, but you should avoid dairy products at first, as they can be a bit hard to digest. [13]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Over-the-Counter Medications

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  1. Sore throat sprays contain a local anesthetic that will minimize the pain of a sore throat temporarily. Follow the directions on the packaging to know how many sprays you can apply and how often you should apply them. [14]
    • These sprays are available at most pharmacies and over-the-counter medication sections in big box and grocery stores.
  2. Like sore throat sprays, lozenges made to ease sore throats contain a local anesthetic that minimizes pain and irritation. These lozenges come in a variety of flavors and are available at most pharmacies and general stores. [15]
    • Like other over-the-counter medications, you need to follow the directions for how often you can use the product.
    • A local anesthetic does not eliminate the pain permanently. It will only temporarily relieve it.
  3. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help to eliminate a variety of types of pain, including pain caused by vomiting . [16] However, you need to make sure that the nausea and vomiting episode is over before taking a pain reliever, as this could upset your stomach and cause further discomfort. [17]
    • Some pain relievers you can use for sore throat pain include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Natural Remedies

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  1. Though many herbal remedies are safe for most people, do not assume that because something is natural it automatically means it is safe. Herbs can interact with other medications, and some herbs can worsen other medical conditions or may not be safe for certain populations, such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Always err on the side of caution and ask your doctor before trying a natural remedy. [18]
  2. Licorice root can be simmered in water to create a gargle that may ease your sore throat. In some research, licorice root has been shown to ease the discomfort of a sore throat post anesthesia, so it may work to ease a sore throat that was caused by throwing up as well. [19]
    • There are some medications that interact with licorice root, so check with your doctor if you are on medication for high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, or heart disease.
  3. Marshmallow root tea has no relation to the fluffy white treat. Instead, it is a plant that has traditionally been used for its medicinal properties, and some believe it has the ability to soothe a sore throat. [20]
    • Marshmallow root tea is usually available at natural food stores and online.
    • Marshmallow root is also thought to be able to ease an upset stomach, so it may help with the cause of your vomiting, as well as the sore throat after vomiting.
    • Marshmallow root is generally considered safe, but it may interact with other medicines or supplements. [21]
  4. Slippery elm coats the throat with a gel-like substance that can ease discomfort and irritation. [22] It usually comes as a powder or in lozenge form. If you get the powdered form you will want to mix it with hot water and drink it.
    • Slippery elm is considered safe for most people, but it may interact with other medicines, and you should not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. [23]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Seeking Medical Attention

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  1. While your vomiting and nausea may pass quickly, there are some situations in which you should contact your doctor. Even a mild case of the flu may become serious if the sick person becomes dehydrated. Call your doctor if you or your child experience the following: [24] [25]
    • You are unable to keep down any food or liquid
    • You have vomited more than three times in one day
    • You received a head injury before the vomiting began
    • You have not urinated in six to eight hours
    • You have a fever of 101°F (38.33°C) or higher [26]
    • For a child under six: vomiting lasts more than a few hours, they have diarrhea, signs of dehydration, a fever, or they haven't urinated for four to six hours
    • For a child over six: vomiting lasts longer than 24 hours, diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts longer than 24 hours, there are any signs of dehydration, fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C), or they haven't urinated for six hours [27]
  2. In some cases you or your child will need immediate medical attention. Call 911 or your emergency services right away if you or your child experience the following: [28]
    • Blood in the vomit (appears bright red or looks like coffee grounds)
    • Severe headache or stiff neck
    • Lethargy, confusion, or decreased alertness
    • Severe abdominal pain
    • Rapid breathing or pulse [29]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's an easy, quick way to fix a sore throat?
    Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
    Board Certified Integrative Medicine Doctor
    Dr. Andrea Rudominer is a board certified Pediatrician and board certified Integrative Medicine Doctor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Rudominer has over 15 years of medical care experience and specializes in preventive health care, obesity, adolescent care, ADHD, and culturally competent care. Dr. Rudominer received her MD from the University of California, Davis, and completed a residency at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. Dr. Rudominer also has an MPH in Maternal Child Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Member of the American Board of Pediatrics, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Member and Delegate of the California Medical Association, and a Member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.
    Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
    Board Certified Integrative Medicine Doctor
    Expert Answer
    You could take a hot shower and just let the steam buildup and soothe your throat, or drink some tea with honey in it. You could also gargle a little salt water to ease your symptoms right away.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vomiting-101-why-you-throw-up-and-the-best-way-to-recover
      2. ↑ https://health.cornell.edu/sites/health/files/pdf-library/Vomiting.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/sore-throat
      4. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/herbal-tea
      5. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/ginger-uses-and-risks#1
      6. ↑ https://stanfordhealthcare.org/content/dam/SHC/programs-services/cancer-nutrition/docs/nausea-vomiting-during-cancer-treatment-nutrition-facts.pdf
      7. ↑ Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH. Board Certified Pediatrician & Board Certified Integrative Medicine Doctor. Expert Interview. 13 April 2020.
      8. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/honey-botulism.html
      9. ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/hot-sauce-and-other-home-remedies-for-a-sore-throat
      1. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/manage/ptc-20202009
      2. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=56&contentid=2939
      3. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000122.htm
      4. ↑ https://uhs.umich.edu/diarrheavomiting
      5. ↑ https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=4fb880db-2185-41ef-a5f9-8983a28d2c5b
      6. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sore-throat-sheet.html
      7. ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/sore-throat
      8. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361006/
      9. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/herbal-medicine
      10. ↑ http://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2009&issue=07000&article=00013&type=Fulltext
      11. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/marshmallow
      12. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/marshmallow
      13. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/978.html
      14. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/978.html
      15. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000122.htm
      16. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting#2
      17. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vomiting-101-why-you-throw-up-and-the-best-way-to-recover
      18. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/vomit.htm
      19. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting#2
      20. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=56&contentid=2939

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To treat a sore throat after throwing up, drink plenty of water, which will help soothe your throat and replenish the fluids you lost from vomiting. If your throat is still sore, make yourself a warm herbal tea with honey and sip it slowly. You can also gargle with salt water to reduce the swelling and irritation in your throat. For the rest of the day, eat smooth foods, like banana, Jello, and applesauce to avoid scratching your throat. If your throat still hurts, suck on lozenges, which contain a local anesthetic and help soothe your discomfort. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including when to take your child to the doctor after vomiting, read on!

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        Oct 27, 2017

        "Two quick sprays from a sore throat spay really helped me with the discomfort of a sore throat. Thanks! My stomach ..." more
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