The effects of serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonists on gastric tachyarrhythmia and the symptoms of motion sickness.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the serotonin (5-HT3) receptor-antagonist antiemetics ondansetron and granisetron on the development of gastric tachyarrhythmia, nausea, and other symptoms of motion sickness.


METHODS
In a double-blind, counterbalanced, repeated measures design, 12 motion sickness susceptible college students participated in 3 sessions with an intersession interval of 1 wk. Participants received either 8 mg of ondansetron, 2 mg of granisetron, or placebo 1 h before exposure to a rotating optokinetic drum. Electrogastrograms (EGGs) were recorded during a 6-min baseline period and a subsequent 16-min drum rotation period. Subjective symptoms of motion sickness (SSMS) were obtained every 3 min during drum rotation.


RESULTS
During drum rotation, gastric tachyarrhythmia increased significantly more during the placebo condition than during either of the serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist conditions. However, maximum SSMS scores were not different among conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonists inhibited the development of tachyarrhythmia, but did not prevent the development of nausea and other symptoms of motion sickness. The antiemetics ondansetron and granisetron may act as gastric anti-dysrhythmics, but their ability to arrest the development of gastric tachyarrhythmia was not sufficient for the prevention of nausea.
Levine
M E
ME
Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA. mel157@psu.edu
Chillas
J C
JC
Stern
R M
RM
Knox
G W
GW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D017829:Granisetron / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017120:Nystagmus, Optokinetic; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012399:Rotation; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000932:Antiemetics; D017829:Granisetron; D017294:Ondansetron; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists