Dolasetron for Chemotherapy Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are some of the most common and debilitating
side effects of chemotherapy. Some types of chemotherapy are more likely to cause nausea and vomiting than others. Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy are likely due to many causes.
The main symptoms of nausea are feeling sick to your stomach and feeling like you might vomit, while vomiting is actually "throwing up." In general,
dolasetron is better at preventing vomiting than preventing nausea. It is much easier to prevent nausea and vomiting than to treat it once it starts. Dolasetron is licensed to prevent nausea and vomiting, but it is not a treatment for vomiting or nausea.
How Does Dolasetron Work?
Nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting are complex processes involving many chemicals in the body and several parts of the body, including the brain and the small intestine. It is likely that dolasetron works in the small intestine, but it may also work in the brain.
Dolasetron works by blocking serotonin, a chemical produced by the body that is associated with nausea and vomiting. Serotonin has many effects in the body and has several receptors where it can bind. Dolasetron blocks serotonin at a specific type of receptor (the 5-HT3 receptor), which is important for nausea and vomiting. It has no effects on other types of serotonin receptors in the body.
Dolasetron Use in Children
Dolasetron is approved for use in children. Dolasetron tablets can be used in children who are old enough to swallow tablets. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using dolasetron in children.
Off-Label Dolasetron Uses
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend dolasetron for something other than the prevention of nausea and vomiting due to surgery or chemotherapy. At this time, using dolasetron to prevent nausea and vomiting due to other causes is considered to be an
off-label use of the drug.
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