ANTI-EMETIC DRUGS
ANTI-EMETIC DRUGS
Introduction:
Physiology of vomiting (emesis):
Step 1:
- Due to vomiting center (VC) stimulation in lateral medullary reticular formation.
Step 2:
- Input received from GI mucosa, chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) & vestibular apparatus.
Step 3:
- GI mucosa irritation (by drugs/irritants) –> Releases serotonin –> Stimulating VC via 5HT3 receptors.
- CTZ – Rich in dopamine (D2), serotonin (5HT3) & neurokinin (NK1) receptor.
Step 4:
- Motion sickness – Due to stimulation of vestibular apparatus & cerebellum.
Step 5:
- Results in VC stimulation by activating M1 & H1 receptors.
- H1 receptor stimulation & histamine – Permissive role in all vomiting types.
I) Drugs for motion sickness:
- Hyoscin:
- For prophylaxis of motion sickness.
- As i.m. injection or transdermal patch (applied behind pinna).
- No role in treatment.
- Antihistaminics:
- Drugs: Promethazine, diphenhydramine, cinnarizine, cyclizine & meclizine.
- Used for prophylaxis.
- Cinnarizine:
- Antihistaminic with anticholinergic & antiserotonergic properties.
- For vertigo treatment.
II) Drugs for morning sickness:
- Combination of antihistaminic with Vit B:
- Doxylamine (antihistaminic) + pyridoxine (Vit B) in high dose.
- Safest anti-emetic drug in pregnancy
- D2 blockers:
- Effective.
- Not used due to teratogenic potential
III) Drugs for chemotherapy & radiation therapy-induced vomiting:
- 5 HT3 blockers:
- Drugs: Ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron & ramosetron.
- DOC for this condition.
- Palonosetron:
- Most potent 5 HT3 blocker.
- Has longest t1/2.
- Effective in delayed emesis.
- Dolasetron:
- Prolongs QT interval.
- Ondansetron:
- Shortest t1/2
- Increased efficacy in combination with antihistaminics, D2 blockers or dexamethasone.
- Effective in pregnancy hyperemesis & postoperative nausea.
- D2 blockers:
- Drugs: Metoclopramide & domperidone.
- NK1 receptor antagonists:
- Drugs: Aprepitant, Fosaprepitant & Netupitant.
- Aprepitant:
- Highly selective NK1receptor antagonist.
- Orally active.
- Enters brain.
- Metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes – Hence, inhibit drugs metabolized by this enzyme (warfarin).
- Fosaprepitant:
- Intravenous prodrug of aprepitant.
- Netupitant:
- Newer NK1 antagonist.
- Indicated for chemotherapy-induced vomiting (both acute & delayed)
- Used in combination with palonosetron.
V) Drugs for postoperative vomiting:
- 5 HT3 antagonists – Preferred over other drugs.
VI) Other drugs for vomiting:
- Steroids:
- Dexamethasone – In chemotherapy-induced vomiting.
- Benzodiazepines:
- Lorazepam & alprazolam – As anticipatory component of nausea & vomiting before surgery.
- Cannabinoid:
- Dronabinol
- MOA:
- Anti-emetic properties due to CB receptor stimulation.
- Also by appetite stimulation.
- Used for AIDS with anorexia.
- Adverse effects:
- Central sympathomimetic effects (tachycardia, palpitations)
- Paranoid reaction.
- Thinking abnormalities.
- Propofol:
- Anesthetic agent with anti-emetic property.
Exam Important
- GI mucosa irritation (by drugs/irritants) in turn releasing serotonin by stimulating VC via 5HT3 receptors.
- Motion sickness is caused due to stimulation of vestibular apparatus & cerebellum.
- H1 receptor stimulation & histamine plays a permissive role in all vomiting types.
- Stimulation of vestibular apparatus & cerebellum results in VC stimulation by activating M1 & H1 receptors.
- Hyoscin is used for prophylaxis of motion sickness.
- Hyoscin is used as i.m. injection or transdermal patch (applied behind pinna).
- Antihistaminics used for motion sickness prophylaxis are promethazine, diphenhydramine, cinnarizine, cyclizine & meclizine.
- Cinnarizine is an antihistaminic with anticholinergic & antiserotonergic properties useful for vertigo treatment.
- Combination of doxylamine (antihistaminic) + pyridoxine (Vit B) in high dose is the safest anti-emetic drug in pregnancy.
- Ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron & ramosetron are all 5 HT3 blockers which are DOC for chemotherapy & radiation therapy-induced vomiting.
- Most potent 5 HT3 blocker is Palonosetron, with longest t1/2, effective in delayed emesis.
- Dolasetron prolongs QT interval.
- Ondansetron has shortest t1/2 is effective in pregnancy hyperemesis & postoperative nausea, when used in combination with antihistaminics, D2 blockers or dexamethasone.
- Aprepitant, Fosaprepitant & Netupitant are all NK1 receptor antagonists.
- Aprepitant is a highly selective NK1receptor antagonist, used as antiemetic drug.
- Fosaprepitant is an intravenous prodrug of aprepitant.
- Netupitant is a newer NK1 antagonist indicated for chemotherapy-induced vomiting (both acute & delayed), in combination with palonosetron.
- Dexamethasone is used in chemotherapy-induced vomiting.
- Dronabinol is a Cannabinoid with anti-emetic properties due to CB receptor stimulation, used for AIDS with anorexia.
- Dronabinol can cause central sympathomimetic effects (tachycardia, palpitations) & paranoid reaction.
- Propofol, an anesthetic agent with anti-emetic property.
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