Does Coke or soda help motion sickness?
Cola and soda: untested. Nobody has tested cola or any other soda for motion sickness. The idea has a pharmacy cousin, a sugar and phosphoric acid syrup sold for upset stomach, but that syrup's own label does not list motion sickness.
By Dizzout Editorial·Evidence last checked 4 October 2026·How we review
Verdict: Untested
Key facts
- The claim being tested: Flat cola is an old household standby for an upset stomach, and plenty of travelers reach for a Coke or another soda when the road gets twisty.
- No controlled trial of Cola and soda for motion sickness was found.
- On the remedies hub it sits under travelers' folklore.
- Something with better evidence for the same job: Looking at the horizon.
What it's claimed to do
Flat cola is an old household standby for an upset stomach, and plenty of travelers reach for a Coke or another soda when the road gets twisty. The thinking is that the sugar and the fizz settle the stomach.
- YesTested for motion sickness and it held up.
- ProbablyReal trial support, but modest or from a single study.
- MixedTrials disagree: some found an effect, better-designed ones did not.
- Untestedthis remedyNo one has tested this for motion sickness. It may still be sensible.
- NoTested for motion sickness and it did not beat a placebo.
Levels describe the state of the published research on motion sickness specifically, not on nausea in general, and not how well something worked for any individual. “Untested” means no trial has looked; it is not the same as a remedy having been tested and failed.
What the research actually says
We found no trial of cola, lemon-lime soda or any carbonated drink for motion sickness. The folk remedy does have a plausible origin. Emetrol, an over-the-counter syrup in the US, lists dextrose, fructose and a small amount of phosphoric acid as its active ingredients. Coca-Cola lists high fructose corn syrup and phosphoric acid on its US label. So flat cola and that syrup share sugar and phosphoric acid. But Emetrol's label gives its use as relief of upset stomach with nausea from overindulgence in food and drink. It does not claim motion sickness, which starts with conflicting signals about movement rather than with the stomach, and a can of soda is not a measured dose of anything. The fizz is the other half of the claim, and it may work against you: Cleveland Clinic lists carbonated drinks as a cause of swallowed air, which comes back up as burping. Cola also contains caffeine, which has its own verdict here. If a soda makes you feel better, the cold drink, some sugar after a missed meal, or plain habit may explain it. None of those has been tested for motion sickness either.
No studies to list. We could not find a controlled trial testing this for motion sickness. That is the finding, and we would rather show you an empty table than fill it with research about a different condition.
Safety & what to watch for
- Untested means untested. Do not rely on soda for a trip you are worried about.
- Regular cola is sweetened, and Coca-Cola states 34 mg of caffeine in a 12-ounce can. Both matter for children, for anyone with diabetes, and for anyone sensitive to caffeine.
- Carbonated drinks add swallowed air. If burping makes your nausea worse, choose a still drink or let the soda go flat.
- Emetrol and similar syrups are medicines with their own label warnings, including asking a doctor first if you have diabetes. Read the label or ask a pharmacist rather than using cola as a stand-in.
If you want to try it
- If you want a drink on a queasy trip, take small sips. A still drink avoids the extra swallowed air.
- Do not let a soda replace the measures with evidence: a forward view of the road or the horizon, and slow, controlled breathing.
- For a child, water is the simpler choice: no caffeine and no added sugar.
Something with better evidence: Does looking at the horizon help motion sickness. Verdict: yes, and it costs nothing to try.
Frequently asked questions
Does flat Coke help motion sickness?
Nobody has tested it. Flat cola shares sugar and phosphoric acid with Emetrol, an over-the-counter syrup for upset stomach, but Emetrol's label does not cover motion sickness either.
Does Sprite or ginger ale work better than Coke?
None of them has been tested for motion sickness. Our ginger ale verdict covers whether the ginger changes anything.
Do carbonated drinks make motion sickness worse?
No trial has tested that either. Carbonated drinks do add swallowed air, which Cleveland Clinic lists as a cause of burping, so a still drink is the gentler choice if your stomach is already unsettled.
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Sources
Your next question, probably
So what has the strongest evidence?
All of them ranked, from the ones that work to the ones that do not
If that is not your question:
When it isn't motion sickness. Severe or lasting dizziness, a spinning sensation at rest, hearing loss, ringing in one ear, double vision, a bad headache, chest pain, fainting, or vomiting you cannot stop are not motion sickness. Seek medical care rather than a travel remedy.
Dizzout is not a medical provider and nothing here is medical advice. These pages summarize published research so you can weigh it: they cannot account for your health, your medicines or your pregnancy. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement or medication, especially if you take other drugs, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are buying for a child. Evidence summaries reflect the published literature as of October 2026 and describe findings in groups of people, which cannot predict your individual response. Product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.