How is gastroparesis treated?
You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of gastroparesis. Here are some things to try:
- Change your eating habits:
- It's best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals. You may want to replace some solid meals with liquids (such as soup).
- After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down.
- Eat meals that are low in fiber and fat.
- Relax before you start eating, and then eat slowly.
- If you have diabetes:
- Carry a quick-sugar food that is absorbed in your mouth instead of your stomach (such as glucose tabs, gels, or hard candy) in case you need to treat low blood sugar.
- Controlling your blood sugar levels may reduce your symptoms. Food can take longer to digest, which can make it harder to know when insulin will work after eating. This can lead to high and low blood sugars.
If you need help making changes to your diet, ask your doctor or a dietitian for help.
There are also medicines that can help with gastroparesis, including:
- Medicine to help with nausea and vomiting (antiemetics).
- Medicine to help the stomach empty more quickly (motility agents), such as metoclopramide (for example, Reglan) or erythromycin.
Changes to diet and medicines help most people who have gastroparesis. If that doesn't work, your doctor may have to try something else. At first, you may need to try a different medicine or take more than one medicine. Surgery to place a feeding tube in the small intestine may be needed for severe gastroparesis.