Which medication is used to manage symptoms in carcinoid syndrome?

• A. Prednisone
• B. Octreotide
• C. Ondansetron
• D. Metoclopramide

Answer: (B)

Carcinoid syndrome symptoms come from excess serotonin produced by a neuroendocrine tumor, so the treatment goal is to reduce that hormone release. Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analog, binds to receptors on the tumor and inhibits the secretion of serotonin and other vasoactive substances. This directly lowers flushing, diarrhea, and other symptoms, often providing rapid and sustained relief. The other drugs don’t address the underlying issue: prednisone isn’t used to control carcinoid-related symptoms, and while ondansetron and metoclopramide can help with nausea, they don’t suppress tumor serotonin release and therefore don’t treat the syndrome itself.