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Butyrophenone·Psychiatry - Acute Calming & Sedation
Acute behavioral disturbance, severe nausea/vomiting, procedural sedation adjunct
Max Dose
10 mg STAT
Half-life
2 h
QTc Risk
CRITICAL RISK
Sedation
RAPID
Overview
Highly potent, ultra-fast-acting butyrophenone. The gold standard in emergency departments for severe, undifferentiated behavioral disturbance and violence.
Maximum Dose
Max 10 mg (STAT IM dose) or 20 mg/day.
Clinical Focus
Infamous for dose-dependent QTc prolongation. Black Box warning in the US, though Australian ED guidelines strongly endorse its use in acute agitation.
Bottom Line
Droperidol is a potent butyrophenone antiemetic and antipsychotic for acute agitation, but prolongs QTc significantly and requires ECG monitoring before administration.
Brand Names
Droleptan
Parenteral
Ampoules (10 mg/2 mL) for IM or IV use.
Prescribing & PBS
Hospital emergency/ED supply. S4.
Primary
Acute behavioral disturbance, severe nausea/vomiting, procedural sedation adjunct.
Clinical Place
The first-line chemical restraint in WA Health EDs for violent, uncooperative patients. Faster and more reliable than IM Haloperidol.