GI Cocktails: What Should You Know?

Written by Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN
Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on August 05, 2025
7 min read

A gastrointestinal (GI) cocktail is a mixture of medications used to treat indigestion (dyspepsia), as well as symptoms of gastrointestinal problems such as chest and belly pain. Though they still might be used occasionally, their popularity has dropped over the years.‌ 

A GI cocktail is a mixture of liquid medications that you might have gotten in an emergency department (ED) to help treat dyspepsia symptoms. They were also used to rule out other causes for symptoms.

GI cocktails don’t have a specific set of ingredients since they can be made using different medications. However, they generally contain the following ingredients:

  • Viscous (liquid) lidocaine
  • A liquid antacid
  • A liquid anticholinergic

The viscous lidocaine works as an anesthetic (pain reliever) to help with the pain, while the antacid neutralizes stomach acid to ease indigestion and heartburn. Anticholinergic drugs stop certain signals from the brain that control how much saliva you make, how you digest food, and even how often you pee. So an anticholinergic may be added to a GI cocktail to treat vomiting, nausea, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions.

In the past, GI cocktails may have contained a medication called Donnatal, which contains belladonna and phenobarbital, says Chisom Onyilofor, PharmD, clinical pharmacy manager at MedStar Health in Maryland. There were many concerns about how toxic the drug was, so doctors stopped using it in GI cocktails.

GI cocktails were often prescribed in the ED if you had symptoms of indigestion, such as chest and belly pain. It was also used to treat peptic or stomach ulcers.

Aside from chest pain or heartburn, symptoms of indigestion include:

  • Feeling stuffed after meals
  • Feeling full before you usually do while eating a meal
  • Discomfort or a burning feeling in your chest

Indigestion isn’t a disease, but it may be a sign of something else that’s going on in your gut, called underlying gastrointestinal or GI issues.

Indigestion may be a sign of:

 Indigestion may also be caused by:

  • Diet — if you eat too fast or too much, eat too much spicy food, or drink too much caffeine or alcohol
  • Certain types of medicine
  • Smoking
  • Constant stress

Although GI cocktails were once widely used to treat indigestion, their use isn’t recommended as often these days. 

“Studies don’t really recommend using GI cocktails anymore,” says Onyilofor. “Now we see our providers order more specific medications, depending on what the patient’s symptoms are.”

There was never any clear, up-to-date evidence suggesting they are particularly effective.‌ Some studies found that GI cocktails were only as effective as plain antacids.‌

A 2019 study looked at three variations of GI cocktails typically given for indigestion: 

  • An antacid
  • An antacid/lidocaine 2% solution
  • An antacid/lidocaine 2% viscous gel

Each participant rated their discomfort before and after taking their medications. The researchers found that there wasn’t a big difference among the three groups after they took the medications.

It’s also hard to determine how effective GI cocktails are since any relief you might feel after taking a GI cocktail can be due to other drugs you might be taking at the same time.‌

That said, some doctors still prescribe GI cocktails. “You might see it here and there, maybe just provider preference, or after a certain type of procedure a provider might order it,” Onyilofor says.

All medications can cause side effects, and since there are two or three ingredients in a GI cocktail, you could have some side effects from any of them, especially the anticholinergics.‌

Side effects of antacids

You may have some side effects from the antacids in GI cocktails, including:

There are also some medications that you shouldn’t take at the same time as some antacids because the antacids interfere with how the medications are absorbed. Be sure to let the staff in the ED know what medications you take if they give you a GI cocktail.

Side effects of viscous lidocaine

Viscous lidocaine in GI cocktails can cause side effects such as:

  • Allergic reactions such as hives, itching, or skin rashes. You may also get swelling of the lips, tongue, and face.
  • Headache
  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • Shortness of breath, trouble breathing
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Bluishness of the lips or skin
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness, feeling faint
  • Chest pain

Side effects of anticholinergics

Anticholinergics can have a significant effect on some groups of people, especially those who are older, Onyilofor says. “It causes them to have urinary incontinence, and with glaucoma — an anticholinergic can worsen that condition as well.”

Some other side effects include:

  • Urinary retention, being unable to urinate
  • Dry mouth, eyes, and/or skin
  • Blurred vision
  • Dilated (widened) pupils
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased body temperature
  • Confusion
  • Slow food digestion
  • Vomiting
  • Weak muscles

When should you see a doctor?

If you are having repeat episodes of indigestion, you should speak to your doctor so you can find out what’s causing it. If you go to an ED because of the symptoms, make sure to tell the staff about your current health and medical history, including any medications and supplements you’re currently taking. That way, they know what to avoid or what to adjust if they do choose to prepare a GI cocktail for you.

“GI cocktails provide symptomatic relief,” Onyilofor explains. “It’s not curative. If you’re having to take it frequently or for a few days, there may be something else going on that you want to make sure is addressed.”

People who are allergic or who are sensitive to the GI cocktail ingredients shouldn’t take them. As well, people with certain conditions shouldn’t take one as well.

Antacids

You should avoid GI cocktails if you:

  • Are taking certain medications that interact with the antacid
  • Have or had kidney disease
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Viscous lidocaine

Avoid viscous lidocaine or speak with your doctor to see if it's right for you, especially if you:

  • Take medications to manage an irregular heartbeat
  • Have severe heart, kidney, or liver disease
  • Have epilepsy
  • Have porphyria, a rare disorder that affects the skin and nervous system
  • Are in severe shock
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Anticholinergics

There are many groups of people who should be careful about using anticholinergics or not use them at all. These include those who:

GI cocktails used to be prescribed in the emergency room setting to help people experiencing indigestion or to see if the chest pain and discomfort were caused by the stomach or something more serious, such as the heart. But research has shown that GI cocktails are not any better than taking just one medication alone for specific symptoms, such as an antacid for heartburn. If you do take a GI cocktail, make sure that your doctor is aware of the other medications that you take and your medical history.

Can a doctor prescribe a GI cocktail?

Yes, a doctor can prescribe a GI cocktail, but they’re not used very often anymore.

How long does a GI cocktail last?

If a GI cocktail works, how long it lasts varies. The antacid might work for up to three hours, but it could be as short as 30-60 minutes. Lidocaine viscous could last as long as three hours. As for the anticholinergic, it depends on what medication was used for that part of the recipe.

Can you make a GI cocktail at home?

No, you can’t make a GI cocktail at home. You can get an antacid over the counter, but the lidocaine and anticholinergic medications are prescription only.

Can you get a GI cocktail over the counter?

You can get an antacid over the counter, but not a full GI cocktail.

Does a GI cocktail make you sleep?

Generally, a GI cocktail won’t make you sleepy, but the anticholinergic drug may affect someone who is older or has dementia.