Droperidol Injection

What is this medication?

DROPERIDOL (droe PER i dole) prevents nausea and vomiting after surgery or other procedures. It works by blocking substances in your body that may cause nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a class of medications called antiemetics.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Inapsine

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

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

• Frequently drink alcohol
• Heart disease, including heart failure
• Irregular heartbeats or slow heart rate
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• An unusual or allergic reaction to droperidol, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medication is for injection into a muscle or for slow injection into a vein. It is given in a hospital or clinic setting.

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

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following:

• Abarelix
• Alfuzosin
• Amoxapine
• Apomorphine
• Arsenic trioxide
• Certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pentamidine, sparfloxacin, telithromycin, troleandomycin
• Certain medications for cancer, such as daunorubicin, doxorubicin
• Certain medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole
• Certain medications for irregular heartbeat, such as dronedarone
• Chloroquine
• Cisapride
• Clozapine
• General and local anesthetics
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Maprotiline
• Methadone
• Octreotide
• Other medications for nausea and vomiting, such as dolasetron and palonosetron
• Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• Pimozide
• Ranolazine
• Risperidone
• Sertindole
• Sodium phosphate salts
• Tacrolimus
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline, and others
• Vardenafil

This medication may also interact with the following:

• Barbiturates
• Certain medications for depression
• Diuretics
• Dofetilide
• Laxatives
• Opioid medications for pain
• Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
• Ziprasidone

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

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

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medication 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 medication. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• CNS depression—slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, trouble staying awake
• Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
• Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision
• High fever, stiff muscles, increased sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, and confusion, which may be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Uncontrolled and repetitive body movements, muscle stiffness or spasms, tremors or shaking, loss of balance or coordination, restlessness, shuffling walk, which may be signs of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

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

• Anxiety, nervousness
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Hallucinations
• Restlessness

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

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

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.