What medications can be taken for an upset stomach?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a healthy 45-year-old, non-smoking female. My current medications include Wellbutrin (150 mg), Dexilant (60 mg), Bisoprolol (5 mg) for PVCs, and Marvelon. We have had a stomach virus throughout our family, and I have had it for seven days (my husband had it for about five days and our son for about six days). I took a COVID test, and it was negative. I have not had vomiting, but I did have diarrhea on day five. I mostly have a lot of nausea. I have not been able to eat much this whole week. I thought I was beginning to feel better yesterday, but today was much worse again. My stomach was sore most of the day, and I felt achy. Tonight the sore stomach and nausea have been terrible. I took two tablets of Pepto-Bismol almost an hour ago, and I think it helped the soreness in my stomach but not nausea. I have tablet Zofran 4 mg. Here are my questions:

1) Can I take Zofran with Pepto-Bismol? If so, do I need to wait a certain amount of time between them, like an hour?

2) If I take the Zofran, can I continue to take the Pepto-Bismol?

3) Can I take Tylenol or Ibuprofen with the Pepto-Bismol and Zofran for the aches?

4) I have been told different things about Zofran. I have 4mg, so I usually take one tablet every four or eight hours, depending on how I feel. However, I was told I could take two tablets at once (8 mg) every eight hours. Is that true?

5) I know Zofran should relieve nausea, but does it ever cause nausea?

6) Is it normal for a stomach virus to last a week or longer? It feels like it does not want to get better

Thank you very much. I would appreciate a response as soon as possible.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You can take tablet Zofran (Ondansetron) and tablet Pepto-Bismol together. No need to keep a gap between these two. You can continue taking tablet Pepto-Bismol. You can take a painkiller for aches. But not together, after one hour. Start with tablet Zofran 4 mg. Suppose it controls your nausea, then there is no need for a higher dose. However, if you still feel nauseous after 4 mg, you can try 8 mg. Tablet Zofran will not cause nausea. Stomach virus does not normally last for a week or longer. Usually, it starts improving in three to five days.

What about your other family members? Do they still have symptoms? Have you consumed any outside, unhealthy food in the last week? Please reply to me with answers to the above-asked questions so that I can guide you better.

I wish you good health. Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

First, take the tablet Zofran 4 mg. Then, wait for four to six hours. If the symptoms do not improve, you can take tablet Zofran 8 mg. I do not think it is a bacterial infection because you do not have a fever.

Are your bowel movements normal? Do you have diarrhea and constipation? Do you pass more flatus? Do you take more curd, yogurt, and buttermilk?