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Pain & sedation

Droperidol for nausea: low adverse event rate

Incidence of Adverse Events with Prehospital Use of Droperidol for Nausea or Vomiting
Prehospital Emergency Care · Added 28 May 2026

This study evaluated adverse events associated with prehospital droperidol use for nausea or vomiting — the incidence of clinically significant adverse events was low, suggesting droperidol may be safe for prehospital use.

Study type

Cohort

Design

Retrospective observational cohort, convenience sample

Participants

284 patients given prehospital droperidol for nausea/vomiting across 29 EMS agencies

Main finding

15.5% had at least one adverse event, most commonly decreased mentation (8.5%); hypoxia in 6.7% (mostly older adults, 13.2%); 90.1% received 1.25 mg; sedation incidence similar in older vs other adults.

Caveat

Convenience sample, retrospective design, and no comparison with other antiemetics

Bottom line

Hypothesis-generating

Learning goal

Weigh the risks of droperidol for nausea against alternative antiemetics, particularly in older adults.

More

• Topic: Pain & sedation
• Daily scan: 28 May 2026

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