Antiemetics (Part 1) Complete Comprehensive Overview | Dr. Shikha Parmar

Antiemetics (Part 1) Complete Comprehensive Overview by Dr. Shikha Parmar


An antiemetic is a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea. Antiemetics are typically used to treat motion sickness and the side effects of opioid analgesics, general anaesthetics, and chemotherapy directed against cancer. They may be used for severe cases of gastroenteritis, especially if the patient is dehydrated. Some Antiemetics previously thought to cause birth defects, appear safe for use by pregnant women in the treatment of morning sickness.

There are multiple pathways and causes of nausea and vomiting. Specific areas in the brain include the area postrema in the floor of the fourth ventricle, the nucleus tractus solitaries in the medulla, and various motor nuclei that make up a central pattern generator. A complex interaction of vagal afferents and efferent to the cortex, hypothalamus, and limbic regions also play a role in how the brain perceives nausea.
Anti-emetics can broadly fit into the following classes based on the mechanism of action:
1. Serotonin-receptor antagonists
2. Glucocorticoids
3. Anticholinergics
4. Neurokinin-receptor antagonists (substance-P)
5. Dopamine receptor antagonists
6. Cannabinoids
7. Antihistamines
8. Other


Description Source: Wikipedia