ANTIEMETIC

DRUGS
ANTIEMETIC DRUGS are types of chemicals that help
ease symptoms of nausea or vomiting. It may also be used
to treat nausea and vomiting caused by other medications,
frequent motion sickness, infections, or stomach flu. These
drugs help to block specific neurotransmitters in the body.
These neurotransmitters trigger impulses such as nausea
and vomiting, so blocking the impulses will help shut
them down.
 TYPES OF ANTIEMETIC DRUGS

There are many different causes of nausea,

and certain classes of antiemetic drugs are
designed to treat each cause.
 1. Antiemetic drugs for motion
sickness
Some antihistamine medications may help prevent nausea and
vomiting caused by motion sickness. A few of these medications
are available as over-the-counter drugs.

These medications desensitize the inner ear to the motion of the

head. The inner ear plays a significant role in a person's balance,
which can be affected by sitting in a moving car or being on a
boat.
Antiemetics for motion sickness include:

• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Gravol)

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• meclizine (Bonine)
• promethazine (Phenergan)
 2. Antiemetic drugs for surgery
People who require anesthesia to undergo
surgery frequently complain of nausea and
vomiting following the surgery. A few
different types of drugs can help with this,
such as serotonin receptor blockers, dopamine
receptor blockers, and some corticosteroids.
Antiemetic drugs doctors may prescribe after surgery include:

• dexamethasone (Decadron)
• droperidol (Inapsine)
• granisetron
• metoclopramide (Reglan)
• ondansetron (Zofran)
 3. Antiemetic drugs for cancer
patients and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatment will often cause nausea and vomiting.
Doctors may prescribe different antiemetic drugs both before and
after chemotherapy treatment to help prevent symptoms and allow
the person to experience a higher quality of life.

Different types of drugs may help with this, including

serotonin and dopamine receptor blockers,
NK1 receptor blockers, and corticosteroids.
Some antiemetic drugs for chemotherapy include:

• aprepitant (Emend)
• dexamethasone (DexPak)
• dolasetron (Anzemet)
• granisetron (Kytril)
• ondansetron (Zofran)
• palonosetron (Aloxi)
• prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• rolapitant (Varubi)
Cannabinoids from medical marijuana or
prescription drugs such as dronabinol (Marinol)
also show promise in reducing symptoms of
nausea and vomiting in people who respond
negatively to other drugs. These drugs still have a
risk of side effects, however.
 4. Antiemetics for stomach flu
Some cases of gastroenteritis, known commonly as the
stomach flu, may require antiemetics to relieve symptoms.

While vomiting can help get rid of stomach irritants,

excessive vomiting can damage the digestive tract. Nausea
may also prevent a person with the stomach flu from
eating, even though their body needs nutrients.

Over-the-counter medications such as sodium

citrate/dextrose/fructose (Nauzene), phosphoric acid
(Emitrol), or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can
help soothe an upset stomach as the body fights off the
infection.
 5. Antiemetics during pregnancy
Pregnant women with morning sickness may use
antiemetic drugs to reduce their symptoms. They are
usually only prescribed in severe situations, such as if a
woman has hyperemesis gravidarum or where nausea and
vomiting interfere with everyday life.

A few different medications may work as antiemetics

during pregnancy. Doctors will want to discuss any
possible side effects of each drug on the mother and baby.
Some antiemetics for morning sickness include:

• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• promethazine (Pentazine)
• vitamin B-6
Doctors may also prescribe metoclopramide
(Reglan) for women who do not respond well to
other treatments.
 SIDE EFFECTS
Common side effects of each drug type
include:

ANTIHISTAMINES: sleepiness, dry

mouth, and dry nasal passages
BISMUTH-SUBSALICYLATE: dark, blackish
stools and changes in tongue color

CANNABINOIDS: altered state

of perception and dizziness

CORTICOSTEROIDS: additional
symptoms of indigestion,
increased appetite or thirst, and acne
DOPAMINE RECEPTOR BLOCKERS:
fatigue, constipation, ringing in the
ears, dry mouth, restlessness, and muscle spasms.

NK1 RECEPTOR BLOCKERS: dry mouth, reduced

urine volume, and heartburn

SEROTONIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS: fatigue, dry

mouth, and constipation
 COMPLICATIONS
While antiemetic drugs can help people to live without the bothersome
symptoms of nausea and vomiting, some complications can occur.

Symptoms that should be addressed by a doctor include:

• muscle weakness, spasms, or convulsions
• changes in heartbeat, such as palpitations or rapid heartbeat
• hearing loss
• worsening of nausea or vomiting, even while taking medications
• slurred speech
• psychological problems, such as hallucinations or confusion
• drowsiness that interferes with daily life
Other medications have side effects similar to those
caused by antiemetics. Taking more than one of these
drugs at the same time may make the side effects worse.

Medications with similar side effects include:

• medicines for arthritis
• medicines for diabetes
• blood thinners
• medicines for gout
• cold medicine
• aspirin
 Natural antiemetics
GINGER ROOT is the best known natural antiemetic
that is used to combat symptoms such as nausea and
upset stomach. Ginger root is now available in
candies, drinks, and teas.
The essential oils from some herbs may also help with
nausea and vomiting. PEPPERMINT, SPEARMINT,
LEMON, and GINGER ESSENTIAL OIL may help
with symptoms in many people and can be used by
adding them to a diffuser or wafting a bottle under the
nose.
Thank You 