DROPERIDOL (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Inapsine

In Canada?

• Inapsine

Category

• Anesthesia, adjunct
• antiemetic
• antipsychotic

Description

Droperidol (droe-PER-i-dole)is used to reduce the amount of nauseaand vomiting you may have after surgery or other procedures.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage form(s):

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Before Receiving This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must beweighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctorwill make. For droperidol, the following should be considered:

Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to droperidol, haloperidol, or similar medicines. Also tellyour health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances,such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy?Droperidol has been used in some pregnant patients.There was no increase in premature births or birth defects when droperidolwas used. Droperidol has been used in patients undergoing cesarean section.Newborn babies whose mothers received droperidol did not have an increasein breathing problems.

Breast-feeding?Droperidol passes into breast milk. Breast-feedingis not recommended while you are receiving droperidol.

Children?Droperidol has not been studied in children up to2 years of age. There is no specific information comparing the use of droperidolin children with use in other age groups. However, based on experience withsimilar drugs, children may be more likely than older patients to experienceside effects after receiving droperidol, such as muscle spasms in the tongue,face, neck, and back, and inability to move the eyes.

Older adults?Older patients may be more likely than younger adultpatients to experience dizziness and excessive sleepiness from droperidol.Older patients may also have problems with unusual heartbeats from droperidol

Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingdroperidol, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist knowif you are taking any of the following:

• Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax) or

• Diuretics (e.g., Hydrochlorothiazide, Lasix) or
• General anesthetics or
• Intravenous opiates (e.g., Demerol, Morphine)?Droperidol usedwith these medicines may cause serious heart problems

Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of droperidol. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Age over 65 or
• Alcoholism or
• Congestive heart failure or
• Enlargement of the heart or
• Hypokalemia (too little potassium in the blood) or
• Hypomagnesemia (too little magnesium in the blood) or
• Irregular heartbeat
• Slow heartbeat?Droperidol may increase the risk of irregularheartbeats

• Epilepsy?The risk of seizures may be increased

• Heart disease or
• Mental depression or
• Parkinsonism?Droperidol may worsen these conditions

• Hypovolemia?The risk of dizziness may be increased

• Liver disease?The risk of side effects may be increased

• Pheochromocytoma?High blood pressure and rapid heart rate mayoccur

Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing?The dose of droperidol will be different for different patients.Your health care professional will decide on the right amount for you, dependingon:

• Your age;
• Your general physical condition;
• The reason you are receiving droperidol; and
• Other medicines you are taking or will receive before or after droperidolis given.

Precautions After Receiving This Medicine

For patients going home within a few hours after surgery:

• Droperidol and other medicines that may be given during surgery maycause some people to feel drowsy, tired, or weak for up to a few days afterwards.Therefore, for at least 24 hours (or longer if necessary) after receivingthis medicine, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that couldbe dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.
• Unless otherwise directed by your medical doctor, do not drink alcoholicbeverages or take other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicinesthat slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness) for about24 hours after you have received this medicine. To do so may add to the effectsof droperidol. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicinefor hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleepingmedicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicinefor seizures; and muscle relaxants.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine maycause 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 as soon as possibleif any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Anxiety; high blood pressure; restlessness

Rare

Fainting; fever; fixed upward position of the eyeballs; irregularor slow heart rate; spasm of the muscles of the tongue,face, neck, and back; sudden death

Side effects are possible for one or two days after youreceive droperidol. During this period of time, check with your doctor ifyou notice any of the side effects listed above.

Symptoms of overdose

Dizziness; fixed upward position ofthe eyeballs; restlessness; slowed breathing; spasm of the muscles of the tongue,face, neck, and back

Other side effects may occur that usually donot need medical attention. However, check with your doctor if any of thefollowing side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common

Drowsiness; lightheadedness; rapid heart rate

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Additional Information

Once a medicine has been approvedfor marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also usefulfor other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in productlabeling, droperidol is used

• In certain patients with severe agitation and combativeness
• To produce sleepiness or drowsiness before surgery or certain procedures

For patients receiving this medicine for severe agitation and combativeness,the dose administered will depend on the degree of agitation and the sizeof the patient.