retch

Retch is a verb meaning to attempt to vomit or to experience the sensation of nausea strong enough to provoke gagging. It can also be used as a noun to describe the act or episode of retching. In medical contexts, retching refers to the series of involuntary contractions of the stomach and related muscles that prepare the body for vomiting but do not result in the expulsion of stomach contents. It is commonly accompanied by nausea, saliva production, throat clearing, and a feeling of impending emesis; when vomiting does not occur, the episode is often called a dry retch or dry heaves.

Causes of retching include gastroenteritis, food poisoning, pregnancy, motion sickness, medications (such as opioids and certain antibiotics), anesthesia-related nausea, metabolic disturbances, and psychological stress. Retching can occur with or without an underlying disease and can be a benign, transient symptom or a sign of more serious conditions such as intestinal obstruction or poisoning, especially if prolonged, severe, or associated with abdominal pain, dehydration, or fainting.

Diagnosis and management focus on symptom relief and addressing the underlying cause. Anti-emetic medications may reduce retching; maintaining hydration, avoiding triggers, and loosening restrictive clothing can help. In persistent cases or after anesthesia, clinicians monitor for complications and may adjust treatment or use prophylactic antiemetic strategies.

Retch is distinct from vomiting, in which stomach contents are expelled through the mouth; the two can occur in sequence during a single episode.