Does granisetron eliminate the gag reflex? A crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Pharmacology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Gagging is a common challenge in dental procedures.
• Severe gagging can compromise treatment.
• No standardized protocol exists to manage gagging effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of granisetron in attenuating gagging.
• To evaluate the effect of granisetron on gagging severity in healthy volunteers.

Main Methods:

• A crossover, double-blind study involving 25 healthy volunteers.
• Intravenous administration of granisetron and placebo in separate sessions.
• Measurement of gagging levels, blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation before and after administration.

Main Results:

• Both placebo and granisetron significantly increased the depth of swab insertion.
• Increased effectiveness of granisetron correlated with decreased body weight.
• No significant difference in gagging reduction was definitively established for granisetron over placebo.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests granisetron may have a role in managing gagging, but its true efficacy requires further investigation.
• Higher dosages of granisetron might yield better results in gagging patients.
• The current protocol's effectiveness in patients with gagging issues remains undetermined.