Applies to droperidol: injection solution.
Warning
Injection route (Solution)
Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes, some fatal, have been reported in patients receiving droperidol at doses at or below recommended doses. All patients should undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration of droperidol to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec for males or 450 msec for females) is present. Do not administer droperidol if there is a prolonged QT interval. Droperidol is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected QT prolongation, including patients with congenital long QT syndrome. Administer droperidol with extreme caution to patients who may be at risk for development of prolonged QT syndrome, are over 65 years old, abuse alcohol, or when used concomitantly with benzodiazepines, volatile anesthetics, and IV opiates. ECG monitoring should be performed prior to treatment and continued for 2 to 3 hours after completing treatment to monitor for arrhythmias.
Serious side effects of Droperidol
Along with its needed effects, droperidol may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking droperidol:
More common
- Blurred vision
- confusion
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- sweating
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
- Chills
- cough
- difficulty with breathing
- difficulty with swallowing
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- noisy breathing
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- skin rash, hives, or itching
- tightness in the chest
Incidence not known
- Chest pain or discomfort
- fainting
- fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
- irregular or slow heart rate
- low blood pressure or pulse
- severe confusion or loss of consciousness
Other side effects of Droperidol
Some side effects of droperidol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Anxiety
- drowsiness
- restlessness
- trouble sitting still
Incidence not known
- Difficulty with speaking
- drooling
- loss of balance control
- muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
- seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
- shuffling walk
- stiffness of the limbs
- twisting movements of the body
- uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to droperidol: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution.
Cardiovascular
Frequency not reported: Hypotension, irregular cardiac rhythm, mild or moderate tachycardia, QT prolongation, serious arrhythmias (e.g., torsades de pointes), ventricular tachycardia, cardiac arrest, death (some of these side effects occurred in patients with no known risk factors, and some were associated with droperidol doses at or below recommended doses)[Ref]
Nervous system
Unexplained fever, alteration of consciousness, extrapyramidal dysfunction, autonomic instability and elevated creatine kinase are all symptoms associated with neuroleptic agents. If these symptoms develop in patients receiving droperidol therapy, immediate discontinuation of the drug is warranted.
Extrapyramidal symptoms such as acute dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia, and oculogyric crisis have been reported in patients receiving droperidol in doses as low as 0.65 mg. In addition, cases of akathisia have been reported in patients during epidural anesthesia.[Ref]
Frequency not reported: Dysphoria, drowsiness, restlessness, hyperactivity, anxiety, hallucinations, dizziness, extrapyramidal symptoms, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, confusion, nervousness, paresthesia, somnolence, tremor, akathisia, oculogyric crisis, unexplained fever, alteration of consciousness, autonomic instability[Ref]
Respiratory
Frequency not reported: pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchospasm, laryngospasm (reported as rare)[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis (uncommon)[Ref]
Local
Frequency not reported : Injection site pain[Ref]
Other
Frequency not reported: Chills and/or shivering, tongue-swelling, sweating[Ref]
