SCARY drug exp post C-Sec - DROPERIDOL

alphafe · Nov 5, 2004

While a appreciate the movement to more natural, safe births, I have to tell you that the way Mothering Mag and the Silent Knife mentality brainwashed me and led me to feel like a failure enrages me. I lived in an intensely "hip" place -- people birthing with the dolphins and such -- and I practially got SYMPATHY cards from people who heard I'd been "CUT."

The birth of my daughter was the miracle of my life. She brought amazing joy as a little one and is now an amazing young women. Now I don't know which was worse, the drug response or

the way I *knew* so-called friends felt I hadn't "really" given birth.

As time went on I thought a lot about how lady partsl, unmedicated births were kind of "macha" for some women where I lived -- real proof of what they could endure, kind of a parroting of male machismo. I've mellowed a little but it's complicated. It's also interesting that this surfaces now, when I am *really* too old to have another baby. What we women go through!

We have to honor the mysterious ways all of our babies come into this world, don't you think?

kmrmom42 · Nov 5, 2004

We have to honor the mysterious ways all of our babies come into this world, don't you think?

Absolutely!!

pkapple · Nov 5, 2004

..... I complained of "fear", etc. and was given Droperidol through my epidural. I had the most terrifying response -- as though I was fading way down, evaporating. It's impossible to describe.....I was OUT OF IT in recovery still experiencing this falling, disappearing, evaporating sensation.......

Having more years than I care to admit in critical care areas, mostly recovery and ER, let me reassure you about droperidol(Inapsine). This drug is given was given a lot for n/v - we didn't have many of the newer meds available. It was also used for ANXIETY, I would guess that is what your "fear" was considered. As for your reaction...Many people experience that loss of control, fading, evaporating feeling with strong analgesic/narcotic meds. That is what the comment about not doing rec drugs was about---we also called it "virgin " meaning you had a strong response to the medicine,and would probably not make a good druggie--too sensative and unhappy with your "trip".

Times have changed and tho we still use droperidol-it is more of a second or last try med d/t the possibility of tardive dyskinesia and more recent black box for cardiac comp in predisposed pts.

heartICU · Nov 16, 2004

Droperidol isn't off the market - I have given it several times for patients who have reported severe nausea and vomiting after receiving anesthesia. It has been rumored to cause ventricular arrhythmias (torsades) but the research on that is rather controversial.

Quincke · Nov 17, 2004

Droperidol is a commonly used drug in anesthesia. There are some advantages and disadvantages, which you have already mentioned. Years ago droperidol was used in MUCH higher doses than what is now used to prevent nausea/vomiting (like 20 times higher). While it cause patients to be cool and calm on the outside at high doses, it could cause them to fell like they were dying on the inside, yet it was hard for the patients to transmit this to their providers. I am curious, did they give it through the epidural or through the IV? I have not heard of it in the epidural...

Droperidol is not off the market, but dose carry a black box warning because large doses can cause a prolonged QT segment, which if long enough can send a patient into torsades. From what I have learned this is from large doses of droperidol ~20-25 mg.

I commonly use LOW dose droperidol for N/V prevention perioperatively - doses of 0.625 - 1.25 mg. It is a great drug for that. I do not use it in c/s b/c it can cause sedation, and I want the mother to remember her child being born, not be sleepy through it.

I am sorry that you have had these experiences. If I can answer any other questions, please let me know:)

NCgirl · Nov 17, 2004

From an anesthesia standpoint in my particular facility, we don't give droperidol. It rec'd a black box from the FDA for causing ventricular dysrhythmias in pt's with a predisposition, meaning already abnormal EKG. Now, in regards to what happened to you. If you speak to some people on the anesthesia boards who've been at this awhile, they can tell you that this drug is known for causing a "feeling of impending doom". I can't tell you if you'll see that written anywhere, or published. But it is something that happens, and it sounds as if that was your case. I'm sorry it happened to you. Although a fantastic drug for N/V, and even better in combo with fentanyl for neuroleptic anesthesia, it obviously does have it's drawbacks.

akcarmean, LPN · Nov 17, 2004

I wish the best for you. Hope you can get your medical records and work through your problems. I wish you the best of luck.

Angelia

allnurses Guide · Nov 17, 2004

Inapsine is not off the market and I use it all the time. The experience you had sounds like a well-known side effect of Inapsine on some folks that causes extrapyramidal symptoms. These are a side effect - and include a variety of symptoms, e.g. involuntary movements, tremors and rigidity, body restlessness, muscle contractions and changes in breathing and heart rate. My 19 year old son experienced it after being given inapsine for N/V. I've had a few patients say they are "allergic" to inapsine because of a prior extrapyramidal experience. Sounds like that is what you had. Unfortunately it happens. Normal - but not fun at all.

"Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, droperidol is used in certain patients with severe agitation and combativeness and

to produce sleepiness or drowsiness before surgery or certain procedures."

I also found that it is given quite regularly in surgery after cesarean.

Our cesareans go first to the Recovery Room - hey, your abdomen was cut open and a baby was pulled out - you need some recovery room time. :)

I had my last child by cesarean and I spent 1 1/2 hours in Recovery. The thing I didn't like is the side effect of Hemabate . . . loose bowels. That was pretty embarrassing due to not realizing it was me who made that bad smell and I couldn't move to help the poor nurse as I was still numb from the epidural.

She got a nice thank you note from me after. And I sent a letter to her boss.

steph

allnurses Guide · Nov 17, 2004

Been thinking too about your exposure to people who feel that having a cesarean is failure and that makes me very angry.

I had 3 children lady partslly and one by emergency cesarean and the point is to get them born safely and if that means an operation, then so be it.

Actually, I hated labor so much that I found myself hoping for a cesarean :chuckle just not an emergency one. :rolleyes:

I'm sorry you had such a tough time.

steph

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2004

The problem with the droperidol is that it can cause some patients with prolonged QT intervals ti have some cardiac problems. This may or may not be dose specific, but mostly with larger doses. IT was the drug of choice for a long time in some flight programs and for chemo. Now we just use the more expensive zofran. DId you really mean they gave it epidural though and not IV?

Mermaid4 · Dec 3, 2004

Our routine post op csections orders give the option of either droperidol or zofran for nausea. I haven't had a patient complain about droperidol at all ( at least not yet), but I have found that they much prefer zofran and based on this I think I will stick to that..I didn't know they gave it via epidural. We don't..

diddoms · Dec 3, 2004

I've seen Droperidol used in ICU as a sedative with confused patients.

Like Haloperidol one of the side effects are alpha receptor site suppression. The most common side effect that I have witnessed therefore is hypotension. As most of our patients have arterial lines we can monitor BP very closely, and so we see if there is a sudden drop in BP.