Droperidol (Droperidol) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS

QT interval prolongation, torsade de pointes, cardiac arrest, and ventricular tachycardia have been reported in patients treated with droperidol. Some of these cases were associated with death. Some cases occurred in patients with no known risk factors, and some were associated with droperidol doses at or below recommended doses.

Physicians should be alert to palpitations, syncope, or other symptoms suggestive of episodes of irregular cardiac rhythm in patients taking droperidol and promptly evaluate such cases (see WARNINGS, Effects on Cardiac Conduction).

The most common somatic adverse reactions reported to occur with droperidol are mild to moderate hypotension and tachycardia, but these effects usually subside without treatment. If hypotension occurs and is severe or persists, the possibility of hypovolemia should be considered and managed with appropriate parenteral fluid therapy.

The most common behavioral adverse effects of droperidol include dysphoria, postoperative drowsiness, restlessness, hyperactivity and anxiety, which can either be the result of an inadequate dosage (lack of adequate treatment effect) or of an adverse drug reaction (part of the symptom complex of akathisia).

Care should be taken to search for extrapyramidal signs and symptoms (dystonia, akathisia, oculogyric crisis) to differentiate these different clinical conditions. When extrapyramidal symptoms are the cause, they can usually be controlled with anticholinergic agents.

Postoperative hallucinatory episodes (sometimes associated with transient periods of mental depression) have also been reported.

Other less common reported adverse reactions include anaphylaxis, dizziness, chills and/or shivering, laryngospasm and bronchospasm.

Elevated blood pressure, with or without pre-existing hypertension, has been reported following administration of droperidol combined with fentanyl citrate or other parenteral analgesics. This might be due to unexplained alterations in sympathetic activity following large doses; however, it is also frequently attributed to anesthetic or surgical stimulation during light anesthesia.

REPORTS OF SUSPECTED DROPERIDOL SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Possible Droperidol side effects / adverse reactions in 64 year old male

Reported by a pharmacist from United States on 2011-10-17

Patient: 64 year old male weighing 61.9 kg (136.2 pounds)

Reactions: Blood Pressure Increased, Small Intestinal Obstruction, Tachycardia, Upper Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage, Oesophageal Rupture

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Droperidol
    Indication: Vomiting

Droperidol
    Indication: Nausea

Other drugs received by patient: Ondansetron

Possible Droperidol side effects / adverse reactions in 39 year old female

Reported by a physician from Portugal on 2011-11-01

Patient: 39 year old female

Reactions: Unwanted Awareness During Anaesthesia, Drug Ineffective

Suspect drug(s):
Suxamethonium
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Atracurium Besylate
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Fentanyl-100
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Propofol
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Sevoflurane
    Indication: Induction and Maintenance of Anaesthesia
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Sevoflurane
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Sevoflurane
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Droperidol
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-09-30
    End date: 2011-09-30

Possible Droperidol side effects / adverse reactions in 63 year old female

Reported by a physician from Portugal on 2011-11-01

Patient: 63 year old female

Reactions: Unwanted Awareness During Anaesthesia, Drug Ineffective

Suspect drug(s):
Sevoflurane
    Indication: Induction and Maintenance of Anaesthesia
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Sevoflurane
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Fentanyl-100
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Suxamethonium
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Sevoflurane
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Droperidol
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Atracurium Besylate
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14

Propofol
    Indication: Product Used FOR Unknown Indication
    Start date: 2011-10-14
    End date: 2011-10-14