Ondansetron: a new entity in emesis control.

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting are serious problems for patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Dopamine receptor and cholinergic receptor antagonism have been the target mechanism for agents used to combat drug-induced nausea and vomiting; more recently, blockade of serotonin receptors has been used for this indication. Current therapies are limited by extrapyramidal adverse effects, as well as drowsiness, sedation, respiratory depression, and cardiac effects. Ondansetron is an investigational serotonin antagonist that has documented effectiveness for cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis. Ondansetron appears to be well tolerated, with the possible exception of headaches and transient increases in liver enzymes. No extrapyramidal toxicities have been reported with this agent. While ondansetron looks promising, further studies are needed to fully define its role as an antiemetic.

• Authors: T Graves
• Journal: DICP : the annals of pharmacotherapy (DICP) Vol. 24 Issue 11 Suppl Pg. S51-4 (Nov 1990) ISSN: 1042-9611 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2148659 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Imidazoles
• Ondansetron

Topics

• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Imidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Nausea (chemically induced, complications, drug therapy)
• Ondansetron
• Vomiting (chemically induced, complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)