Haloperidol: an alternative butyrophenone for nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in anesthesia.
Droperidol has been an efficacious, inexpensive butyrophenone used since the early 1970s to prevent or treat postoperative nausea and vomiting. Because of reports of sudden cardiac death in patients receiving droperidol, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently placed significant restrictions on its administration. These restrictions have essentially removed droperidol from use. Haloperidol is another butyrophenone with antiemetic properties but without the FDA restrictions. This article reviews the literature regarding haloperidol and supports its use as a safe substitute for droperidol in the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Smith
James C
JC
Anesthesia Services of Birmingham Brookwood Hospital, AL, USA. jimkendra@charter.net
Wright
E Laura
EL
D000932:Antiemetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000009:adverse effects; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004329:Droperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D002090:Butyrophenones; D006220:Haloperidol; D004329:Droperidol