Droperidol

Droperidol is a medicine that helps you relax, calms you down, and prevents nausea.

Droperidol is used to lessen nausea and vomiting that can happen after surgery or other medical procedures.

Droperidol may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Tell your caregivers right away if you have sudden dizziness along with fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, or trouble breathing.

You should not be treated with droperidol if you are allergic to it, or if you have a personal or family history of long QT syndrome.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• congestive heart failure;
• very slow heartbeats;
• high blood pressure;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
• liver or kidney disease;
• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland); or
• alcoholism.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers right away if you have:

• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
• slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop);
• confusion, hallucinations;
• bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing);
• twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck; or
• severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects include:

• fast heart rate;
• drowsiness, dizziness; or
• feeling restless, anxious, or uneasy.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before you receive droperidol, your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

Droperidol is injected into a muscle, under the skin, or into a vein. You will receive this injection in a medical setting prior to and/or during your surgery or medical procedure.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, kidney function, and other vital signs will be watched closely.

Since droperidol is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule.

In a medical setting, an overdose would be treated quickly.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any limits on food, drinks, or activities.

Droperidol can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.

Using other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect for a short time after you have received droperidol. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• a diuretic or "water pill";
• heart rhythm medication;
• opioid pain medication;
• a laxative;
• a sedative like Valium--diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and others; or
• an MAO inhibitor--isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect droperidol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.