Question: What are the main symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Answer: The main symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome are sudden, repeated attacks—called episodes—of severe nausea and vomiting. You may vomit several times an hour. Episodes can last from a few hours to several days. Episodes may make you feel very tired and drowsy.

Each episode of cyclic vomiting syndrome tends to start at the same time of day, last the same length of time, and happen with the same symptoms and intensity as previous episodes. Episodes may begin at any time but often start during the early morning hours.
Question: What are some other symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Answer: Other symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome may include one or more of the following:

retching—trying to vomit but having nothing come out of your mouth, also called dry vomiting
pain in theabdomen
abnormal drowsiness
pale skin
headaches
lack of appetite
not wanting to talk
drooling or spitting
extreme thirst
sensitivity to light or sound
dizziness
diarrhea
fever
Question: What are the phases of cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Answer: Cyclic vomiting syndrome has four phases:

prodrome phase
vomiting phase
recovery phase
well phase
Question: How do the symptoms vary in the phases of cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Answer: The symptoms will vary as you go through the four phases of cyclic vomiting syndrome:

Prodrome phase.During the prodrome phase, you feel an episode coming on. Often marked by intense sweating and nausea—with or without pain in your abdomen—this phase can last from a few minutes to several hours. Your skin may look unusually pale.
Vomiting phase.The main symptoms of this phase are severe nausea, vomiting, and retching. At the peak of this phase, you may vomit several times an hour. You may bequiet and able to respond to people around youunable to move and unable to respond to people around youtwisting and moaning with intense pain in your abdomen
quiet and able to respond to people around you
unable to move and unable to respond to people around you
twisting and moaning with intense pain in your abdomen

Nausea and vomiting can last from a few hours to several days.

Recovery phase.Recovery begins when you stop vomiting and retching and you feel less nauseated. You may feel better gradually or quickly. The recovery phase ends when your nausea stops and your healthy skin color, appetite, and energy return.
Well phase.The well phase happens between episodes. You have no symptoms during this phase.
Question: When should I seek medical help?
Answer: You should seek medical help if

the medicines your doctor recommended or prescribedfor the prodrome phase don’t relieve your symptoms
your episode is severe and lasts more than several hours
you are not able to take in foods or liquids for several hours

You should seek medical help right away if you have any signs or symptoms of dehydration during the vomiting phase. These signs and symptoms may include

extreme thirst and dry mouth
urinating less than usual
dark-coloredurine
dry mouth
decreased skin turgor, meaning that when your skin is pinched and released, the skin does not flatten back to normal right away
sunken eyes or cheeks
light-headedness or fainting

If you are a parent or caregiver of an infant or child, you should seek medical care for them right away if they have any signs and symptoms of dehydration during the vomiting phase. These signs and symptoms may include

thirst
urinating less than usual, or no wet diapers for 3 hours or more
lack of energy
dry mouth
no tears when crying
decreased skin turgor
sunken eyes or cheeks
unusually cranky or drowsy behavior
Question: What causes cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Answer: Experts aren’t sure what causes cyclic vomiting syndrome. However, some experts believe the following conditions may play a role:

problems with nerve signals between the brain anddigestive tract
problems with the way the brain andendocrine systemreact tostress
mutations in certain genes that are associated with an increased chance of getting CVS
Question: What may trigger an episode of cyclic vomiting?
Answer: Triggers for an episode of cyclic vomiting may include:

emotional stress
anxietyorpanic attacks, especially in adults
infections, such as colds, flu, orchronicsinusitis
intense excitement before events such as birthdays, holidays, vacations, and school outings, especially in children
lack of sleep
physical exhaustion
allergies
temperature extremes of hot or cold
drinking alcohol
menstrual periods
motion sickness
periods without eating (fasting)

Eating certain foods, such as chocolate, cheese, and foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG) may play a role in triggering episodes.