Kytril (granisetron)

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How does it work?

Kytril tablets and injection contain the active ingredient granisetron, which is a type of medicine called a 5HT3 antagonist. It is used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting that can be caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer, or by surgery.

Vomiting is controlled by an area of the brain called the vomiting centre. The vomiting centre is responsible for causing feelings of sickness (nausea) and for the vomiting reflex. It is activated when it receives nerve messages from another area of the brain called the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and when it receives nerve messages from the gut.

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery can cause a substance called serotonin (5HT) to be released in the gut. This 5HT acts on the 5HT3 receptors that are found in the gut and causes nerve messages to be sent to the vomiting centre.

5HT released by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery also activates the 5HT3 receptors that are found in the CTZ in the brain, causing further messages to be sent to the vomiting centre.

Granisetron works by blocking the 5HT3 receptors that are found in the brain and gut. This prevents the nausea messages being sent from these areas to the vomiting centre. Granisetron therefore prevents nausea, retching and vomiting that can otherwise occur following surgery or due to cancer treatments.

Granisetron can be given by mouth or by injection or drip (infusion) into a vein.

What is it used for?

- Preventing and treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer in adults and children.
- Preventing and treating nausea and vomiting following surgery in adults (Kytril injection only).

Use with caution in

- Blockage of the gut (intestinal obstruction).

Not to be used in

- Known hypersensitivity or allergy to any ingredient.
- Kytril tablets contain lactose and should not be taken by people with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been studied. It should not be used during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- It is not known if this medicine pases into breast milk. Women who need this medicine should not breastfeed during treatment. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Headache.
- Constipation.
- Skin rash.
- Alteration in results of liver function tests.
- Allergy to active ingredient (hypersensitivity).

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

This medicine is not known to interact with any other medicines.

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