Which receptors are involved in nausea and vomiting and which anti-emetic drugs act on them?

Receptor
Location
Drugs
Dopamine
(D2)
  • Chemoreceptor trigger zone
  • Higher cortical centres
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Droperidol
  • Haloperidol
  • Metoclopramide
Serotonin
(5HT3 & 5HT4)
  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Chemoreceptor trigger zone
  • Higher cortical centres
  • Ondansetron
  • Granisetron
Histamine
(H1)
  • Vestibular apparatus
  • Vomiting centre
  • Cyclizine
  • Promethazine
Neurokinin-1
(NK1)
  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Nucleus tractus solitarus
  • Vestibular apparatus
  • Aprepitant
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Casopitant
Muscarinic Acetylcholine
(M3)
  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Vomiting centre
  • Scopolamine (Hyoscine)
Noradrenaline
(NA)
  • Gastrointestinal tract
-
Opioid receptors
  • Chemoreceptor trigger zones
-
Enkephalin
(ENK)
  • Higher cortical centres
-