Droperidol injection

What is this medicine?

DROPERIDOL (droe PER i dole) is used to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with surgery or other procedures.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for injection into a muscle or for slow injection into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. While this medicine may be prescribed for children as young as 2 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• fainting spells or dizziness

• fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

• hallucinations

• movement difficulties

• muscle spasms or stiffness

• restlessness or agitation, nervousness

• rolling or rotating movement of the eyes

• slow or difficult breathing

• sweating

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• chills

• facial flushing

• involuntary muscle movements

• trembling

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• abarelix

• alfuzosin

• amoxapine

• apomorphine

• arsenic trioxide

• certain antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pentamidine, sparfloxacin, telithromycin, troleandomycin

• certain medicines for cancer like daunorubicin, doxorubicin

• certain medicines for fungal infections like fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole

• certain medicines for irregular heart beat like dofetilide, dronedarone

• chloroquine

• cisapride

• clozapine

• cyclobenzaprine

• general and local anesthetics

• halofantrine

• haloperidol

• maprotiline

• methadone

• octreotide

• other medicines for nausea and vomiting like dolasetron and palonosetron

• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine

• pimozide

• ranolazine

• risperidone

• sertindole

• sodium phosphate salts

• tacrolimus

• tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline, and others

• vardenafil

• ziprasidone

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• barbiturates

• certain medicines for depression

• diuretics

• laxatives

• narcotic medicines for pain

• other medicines that prolong the QT interval (cause an abnormal heart rhythm)

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• heart disease, including heart failure

• if you frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages

• irregular heart beats or slow heart rate

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to droperidol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Your condition will be closely monitored following administration of this medicine.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.