Question:

Drug of choice for chemotherapy-induced vomiting is?

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Block the 5-HT3 receptor that chemo-released serotonin activates.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Granisetron
  • Prazosin
  • Clonidine
  • Dimenhydrinate
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy release serotonin from gut enterochromaffin cells, which stimulates 5-HT3 receptors and triggers vomiting.
Step 2: Granisetron is a selective serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, so it directly blocks this emetic pathway and is used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Step 3: It works mainly by reducing vagus nerve activity, since the vagus activates the vomiting centre in the medulla oblongata.
Step 4: Prazosin (alpha blocker), clonidine (alpha-2 agonist) and dimenhydrinate (an antihistamine for motion sickness) are not first-line for chemotherapy-induced vomiting, so the answer is granisetron.
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