droperidol at a glance
Medicine class
Butyrophenone dopamine antagonist with anti-sickness and sedative effects
Usual role
Prevention or treatment of nausea and vomiting after surgery
Administration
Intravenous injection given by a healthcare professional
Important safety issue
Can prolong the QT interval and cause serious abnormal heart rhythms in susceptible people
What is droperidol used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Preventing and treating postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults.
Second-line prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting in children aged 2 years and over and adolescents.
Preventing nausea and vomiting caused by morphine derivatives used in postoperative patient-controlled analgesia in adults.
How does droperidol work?
Droperidol blocks dopamine D2 receptors involved in triggering vomiting. Dopamine blockade also explains effects such as sedation, restlessness, muscle spasms and interference with Parkinson’s medicines.
droperidol preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 2.5 mg/mL
How to take droperidol
A healthcare professional administers droperidol into a vein, usually in a surgical or recovery setting. Food does not affect it. Avoid alcohol and do not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours afterwards because alertness may remain impaired.
Tell staff about heart-rhythm problems, fainting, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and all medicines you use.
The solution should be clear, colourless and free from visible particles.
Each ampoule is for single use; unused solution is discarded.
droperidol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Drowsiness or sedation
- Low blood pressure, which may cause light-headedness
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial swelling or breathing difficulty
- QT prolongation or abnormal heart rhythm, sometimes causing palpitations, fainting or collapse
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, with fever, marked muscle stiffness and altered consciousness
- Severe involuntary movements, muscle spasms or upward deviation of the eyes
- Convulsions or severe breathing problems
droperidol in pregnancy
Pregnancy information is limited. The product information advises avoiding droperidol as a precaution where possible. If considered necessary, particularly late in pregnancy, the prescriber should balance benefits and risks; the newborn may require observation for neurological effects.
droperidol while breastfeeding
Butyrophenone medicines can pass into breast milk. Seek specialist or prescriber advice because repeated exposure during breastfeeding may be a concern.
droperidol interactions
Important interactions include medicines that increase cardiac, sedative, movement-related or blood-pressure effects.
QT-prolonging medicines
Medicines such as amiodarone, sotalol, erythromycin, clarithromycin, haloperidol, domperidone and methadone can further increase the risk of torsades de pointes; specified combinations are contraindicated.
Metoclopramide and other neuroleptics
Combining dopamine-blocking medicines increases the likelihood of restlessness, muscle spasms and other extrapyramidal effects and should be avoided.
Opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and alcohol
Sedation and central nervous system or respiratory depression may increase.
Common questions about droperidol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is droperidol used for after surgery?
It prevents or treats nausea and vomiting after an operation and may prevent sickness associated with morphine-based patient-controlled analgesia.
How is droperidol given?
A healthcare professional administers it by intravenous injection, usually during surgery or recovery.
Can children receive droperidol?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.