ANTIEMETICS: A REVIEW

The act of emesis is controlled by the vomiting centre in the medulla, which integrates afferent input from the vestibular system, the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), the cortex and the gut. Nausea and vomiting induced by several cancer chemotherapy agents is often the most distressing side effect of treatment. The mechanism of action of antiemetic is related to blockage of various type of receptor located in various region of various organ of the body parts. Various drugs are classified under antiemetic like Ondansetron, Granisetron & Metochlopramide etc. A critical review of the studies of aprepitant (a new NK1 receptor antagonist) and of palonosetron (a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with a longer half-life) presented in this article. Aprepitant combined with dexamethasone and a 5-HT3 antagonist significantly increase the control of acute emesis with respect to dexamethasone. Palonosetron showed superior or similar efficacy to Ondansetron and dolasetron in patients submitted to moderately emetogenic chemotherapy Certain side effects arise due to excessive use of antiemetic like twitching, flushing of skin, headaches, tiredness, indigestion etc.