5-HT3 RA

Medical abbreviation · Drug Class

5-HT3 RA
Stands for5-HT3 receptor antagonist
CategoriesMedical

5-HT3 RA stands for 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, a drug class abbreviation.

Antiemetics, including ondansetron, granisetron and palonosetron, that block serotonin type 3 receptors in the gut and brainstem. They prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, surgery and radiation and are widely used in emergency care.

Example: Pre-chemo: 5-HT3 RA palonosetron 0.25 mg IV plus dexamethasone.

Usage notes

Ondansetron (Zofran), approved in 1991, transformed chemotherapy tolerance. The class can prolong the QT interval; in 2012 the FDA removed the single 32 mg IV ondansetron dose for this reason. Constipation and headache are common. Palonosetron's long half-life helps against delayed nausea.

More drug class abbreviations

  • 3GC – Third-generation cephalosporin
  • 5-ARI – 5-alpha reductase inhibitor
  • AAD – Antiarrhythmic drug
  • ACEI – Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
  • AChEI – Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
  • ACT – Artemisinin-based combination therapy
  • ADC – Antibody-drug conjugate
  • AED – Antiepileptic drug
  • AG – Aminoglycoside
  • AGI – Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor
  • AI – Aromatase inhibitor
  • ARB – Angiotensin II receptor blocker

See all 113 drug class abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.