Pharmacology of Nausea and Vomiting Flashcards
Vomiting/nausea may be caused by?
Anxiety
Motion sickness
Pregnancy
Side effects of drugs
What is nausea?
Unpleasant urge to vomit
What is vomiting and it’s medical name?
Emesis
Forceful expulsion of stomach contents
Defence mechanism triggered by emetic centre in brain stem
Retching?
Repetitive reverse peristalsis
What is regurgutation?
Effortless movement of food contents
Stomach acid coming back into the mouth
Pathway of vomiting?
Systemic toxins in gut lumen
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Enterochromaffin cells in mucosa release mediators like 5HT
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Depolarisation of sensory afferent terminals in mucosa (5HT3 receptors)
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AP discharge in vagal afferents to brainstem
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Coordination of vomiting by vomiting centre
What is the vomiting centre?
Group of interconnected neurones within medulla
What are the events of vomiting?
- Sphincters are relaxed
- Retrograde contractions from ileum to stomach take place
- Preceeded by salivation, sweating, elevated HR and aspiration
Where is the CTZ and what is it?
Chemoreceptor trigger zone
located next to vomiting centre (medulla) - opposite side of brain barrier from VC
What is the chemoreceptor trigger zone triggered by?
Cancer chemotherapy opiods+ chemo & radiotherapy gastroenteritis
What acts on the CTZ?
DA antagonists
5HT3 antagonist
What is the VC?
Vomiting centre
What is the VN?
Vestibular nuclei
What does VN do?
Acts on VC in motion sickness
What drugs act on the VN?
H1 antagonist
Anti-muscarinic drugs