The Vomiting Centre and the Chemoreceptor Trigger Zone (CTZ)

CTZ role in nausea and vomiting

1 · Introduction Vomiting (emesis) is an evolutionarily conserved defence reflex that forcefully expels gastric—and at times intestinal—contents through the mouth. Although the motor act seems singular, it is orchestrated by a distributed brain-stem network that integrates sensory danger signals from the gut, the bloodstream, the vestibular system and higher cortical areas. Two functional loci dominate … Read more

Pharmacology of Antiemetic Drugs

antiemetic drugs to relieve nausea and vomiting

Introduction Nausea and vomiting are defensive reflexes that protect the body from ingested toxins and noxious substances, but they can also emerge from various benign or pathological stimuli. From motion sickness and morning sickness to chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting, these symptoms can significantly impact quality of life. Consequently, the search for effective antiemetic drugs has long been a priority in pharmacology and clinical … Read more

Pharmacology of antiemetic drugs

Pharmacology of Antiemetic Drugs

Introduction Nausea and vomiting are protective reflexes designed to prevent the ingestion or continued digestion of harmful toxins. However, when severe, they can significantly deteriorate patient comfort, compromise treatment adherence, and lead to complications such as electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and undernutrition. Antiemetic drugs play a critical role across various clinical contexts—perioperative care, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, infectious gastroenteritis, … Read more