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Pharmacological agents affecting emesis. A review (Part II)
1School of Pharmacology, Victorian College of Pharmacy (Monash University), Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Drugs
|April 1, 1992
Summary
This review covers common causes of vomiting and effective antiemetic treatments. Antiemetics target receptors like dopamine D2, histamine H1, and serotonin 5-HT3 for conditions including migraine and motion sickness.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
Background:
- Emesis, or vomiting, has diverse etiologies beyond drug-induced causes.
- Understanding the pathophysiology of vomiting is crucial for effective pharmacological intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common causes of vomiting and their pharmacological treatments.
- To discuss the efficacy of various antiemetics for specific conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on emesis and antiemetic therapies.
- Analysis of receptor targets and their effectiveness in different vomiting scenarios.
Main Results:
- Migraine-associated vomiting can be treated with serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, and dopamine D2 receptor antagonists.
- Motion sickness is managed using muscarinic or histamine H1-receptor antagonists, with potential for combination therapy.
- Postoperative vomiting, particularly after opiate use, responds to blockade of dopamine D2, histamine H1, or muscarinic receptors.
- Radiation-induced vomiting shares similarities with cytotoxic therapy, suggesting efficacy of dopamine D2 and 5-HT3 receptor blockade.
Conclusions:
- Specific receptor antagonists are effective for various causes of vomiting, including migraine, motion sickness, and therapy-induced emesis.
- Combination antiemetic therapies may offer enhanced control for certain conditions like motion sickness.
- Further research into the obscure mechanisms of antiemetic use in morning sickness is warranted.