Pharmacology: nausea & vomiting

Question 1

what are the main neurotransmitter systems involved in nausea/vomiting

Answer 1

5-HT, dopamine and ACh

Question 2

what different types of anti-emetic drug are there (5)

Answer 2

anti-histamines
antimuscarinics
5-HT3 receptor antagonists
dopamine receptor antagonists
neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists

Question 3

give an example of an antihistamine

Answer 3

promethazine

Question 4

describe the action of antihistamines

Answer 4

act as antagonist for H1 receptor in brain

Question 5

give an example an antimuscarinic

Answer 5

scopolamine(hyoscine)

Question 6

describe the action of antimuscarinics

Answer 6

antagonists at muscarinic ACh M1 receptors in brain

Question 7

give an example of a 5-HT receptor antagonist

Answer 7

ondansetron

Question 8

give an example of a dopamine receptor antagonist

Answer 8

chlorpromazine or droperidol

Question 9

describe the action of dopamine receptor antagonists

Answer 9

antagonists on D2 receptors in chemoreceptor trigger zone in medulla, and D2 receptors in GI tract

Question 10

give an example of a neurokinin-1(NK-1) receptor antagonist

Answer 10

fosaprepitant

Question 11

what types of anti-emetic drugs would be used for motion sickness

Answer 11

antihistamines and antimuscarinics