Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Anti Nausea Drug

Question:
The OTC anti-nausea drug the pharmacist recommended was labeled phosphated carbohydrate and contained nothing more than fructose and phosphoric acid. Is phosphoric acid really that good an anti- nausea drug? Is this the basis of the widely held belief that Coke is good for an upset stomach?

Answer:
The concentrated carbohydrate solution is said to have a local demulcent effect on the stomach, though quite honestly, your guess is as good as mine. If I remember, you're not supposed to drink a lot of water immediately after taking this, lest you dilute it. There isn't all that much phosphate in a preparation like Emetrol; I'm more inclined to think that it contains phosphate because the ur-preparation, Coke syrup, does too. I remember bottles of Coke syrup for sale at drugstores when I was a kid for this same purpose. I tend to believe there is more to it than just the concentrated sugar solution. Besides the phosphoric acid, there is carbonation, caffeine, and Coke's proprietary flavorings. My own experience is that it is more acidic than most sodas, which aids in removing the foul metallic mouth flavors common with stomach distress. The sugar and caffeine provide a stimulant effect, which can be beneficial to someone incapacitated with nausea, and the carbonation/syrup combination works to settle the upset stomach. At least for me, it works as well as, if not better, than OTC remedies. Certainly it is not nearly as effective as Zofran, but it certainly costs a lot less. We use both Zofran and Coca-Cola to good effect in dealing with my daughters chemo-induced nausea.