Selective antagonists to the Type 3 serotonin receptor (5HT
3) in combination with corticosteroids are now considered the standard of care for the prevention of emesis from moderately
to highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Here we address issues of optimal dose, schedule and route of administration of four currently
available selectable 5HT
3 antagonists. This paper utilizes an evidence based medicine approach to the literature regarding this class of drugs, emphasizing
the results large, randomized, controlled trials to make formal recommendations concerning optimal use of this important new
class of anti-emetic agents. We conclude that for each drug there is a plateau in therapeutic efficacy at a definable dose
level above which further dose escalation does not improve outcome. Furthermore, a single dose is as effective as multiple
doses or continuous infusion, and finally, emerging data demonstrate that the oral route is equally efficacious as the intravenous
route of administration, even with highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
Key words Chemotherapy induced emesis - Serotonin receptors - Ondansetron - Granisetron - Dolesetron - Tropisetron