R11.2 Nausea with vomiting, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code R11.2: Nausea with vomiting, unspecified

ICD-10-CM code R11.2 designates nausea with vomiting, unspecified. It is applied when a clinical record documents both symptoms without establishing a definitive underlying etiology. Nausea and vomiting manifest across diverse clinical settings, including post-operative periods and gastrointestinal motility disorders. This code serves as a symptom-level classification rather than a guarantee of payer coverage or a definitive diagnostic conclusion. 1 5

Plain-language overview

Nausea and vomiting can be difficult to experience and may stem from many different conditions, including gastrointestinal system dysfunction or the use of chemotherapeutic agents. Finding the specific cause with a provider helps determine appropriate treatments, which may include medicines or dietary changes. 1 3 4

What this code represents

The ICD-10-CM code R11.2 describes a patient experiencing both nausea and emesis when a clinician documents these symptoms without providing a specific underlying diagnosis. It indicates that the medical record contains symptom-level detail only and that additional diagnostic specificity was not established during the encounter. 5

Coding details

The ICD-10-CM classification distinguishes R11.2 from related symptom codes; R11.0 is used for nausea alone, and R11.10 is used for unspecified vomiting. If clinical evaluation yields a specific diagnosis, coders are instructed to code that specific diagnosis and use R11.2 only as a secondary symptom when relevant. 5 6

Documentation considerations

Coders are advised to document the reasons for using R11.2 as a primary diagnosis in the patient's medical record. Implementing a peer-review process for charts with R11.2 as a primary diagnosis is suggested to ensure the code is applied appropriately. 6

Coverage and utilization context

For inpatient admissions, procedures, or payer coverage criteria requiring a definitive diagnosis for authorization, R11.2 is not recommended when a more specific etiologic diagnosis can be established or reasonably inferred from testing. Assigning this code does not inherently guarantee payer coverage. 5

Clinical context

Nausea and vomiting occur in a variety of clinical settings, such as the post-operative period, and are often associated with chemotherapeutic agents or gastrointestinal motility disorders. In some patients, no apparent cause is found, and chronic episodes can be disabling and difficult to manage. 1

What the sources add

Clinical literature emphasizes that nausea and vomiting are frequent symptoms in patients with gastric motility disorders, whereas coding sources establish R11.2 as a symptom code for encounters lacking a documented definitive etiology. This comparison highlights the clinical complexity of the symptoms versus the administrative need for coding specificity. 1 2 5

Patient-facing sources advise practical management strategies like avoiding strong smells or sucking on hard candies, while coding guidelines focus on the operational necessity of identifying an underlying cause. These differing contexts illustrate the separation between patient symptom management and diagnostic coding requirements. 3 4 6

Sources

1. Nausea and Vomiting in 2021: A Comprehensive Update — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
2. European Guideline on Chronic Nausea and Vomiting—A UEG and ESNM Consensus for Clinical Management — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
3. When you have nausea and vomiting: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — medlineplus.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
4. Nausea | Vomiting | MedlinePlus — medlineplus.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
5. ICD-10 Code for Nausea with vomiting, unspecified | R11.2 - — combinehealth.ai; accessed 2026-07-25.
6. Nausea and Vomiting - ICD-10 Documentation Guidelines — s10.ai; accessed 2026-07-25.