Droperidol Disease Interactions

Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes have been reported in patients receiving droperidol at doses at or below recommended doses. Extreme caution is recommended when using this agent in patients with risk factors for development of prolonged QT syndrome, such as clinically significant bradycardia, any clinically significant cardiac disease, treatment with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics, treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), concomitant treatment with other drug products known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, or concomitant treatment with drugs that may cause electrolyte imbalance. It is advisable that all patients undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, droperidol should not be administered.

The use of droperidol is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected QT prolongation (i.e., QTc interval greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females), including those patients with congenital long QT syndrome.

Droperidol should be administered with caution in patients with liver and kidney dysfunction because of the importance of these organs in the metabolism and excretion of drugs.

Droperidol should be used with caution in patients with diagnosed or suspected pheochromocytoma as severe hypertension and tachycardia have been observed after its administration.