Droperidol and Panic Attacks: What Users Say

• Der...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "I get bad migraines with nausea and went to the emergency department for some relief. The doctor initially gave me Toradol and Zofran, along with some Benadryl. That didn't really do much for my migraine, so the doctor suggested droperidol. I was very wary of a new med because I told the doctor I had really bad reactions to Reglan and Immitrex, but they insisted it would help. Lo and behold, within five minutes of the nurse pushing it through my IV, I was feeling extremely panicked and like I wanted to die. My jaw was basically locked shut, and I kept clenching until I thought I'd break some teeth. I kept wanting to rip my IV out and run out of the hospital but was also so groggy that I couldn't communicate my desire to leave to anyone. I also temporarily lost my voice because my vocal cords were spasming from dystonia. It was pure hell, and the only thing that is helping it almost a week later is beta blockers and clonazepam. This drug should be discontinued."

• San...
• April 16, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Husband went to the ER for gallbladder pain. He was given a droperidol injection. Immediately, he started sweating, heart racing, and full-blown panic. This lasted for four more hours at home. He said it was like the shot made him feel like he was going to die. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. It was so sad to watch my 61-year-old husband in this kind of distress."

• Spy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Went to the ER after vomiting and dry heaving for 12 hours straight. The ER doc gave me this medication in conjunction with Benadryl. As soon as the medicine was given, I went into a full-blown panic attack. I took my IV out, and when the nurses came back in, I stood on top of my bed and began swearing at them to leave me alone. The ER doc ordered Ativan to counteract the droperidol, and I immediately passed out. 0/10 DO NOT TAKE!"

• Awf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was given droperidol from the ER (after telling them I’m allergic to dopamine blockers) and had an awful allergic reaction. It was injected, after about 5 minutes, I had an incredibly intense panic attack to the point where I was on the verge of screaming. Then my body paralyzed and got incredibly tired, but I was unable to sleep. I feel incredibly restless, sick, anxious, and I’m unable to get any sleep of more than an hour. This drug is awful. I know people will most likely be given this unknowingly as it is awful, but if you are here reading to get some sort of validation/reasoning about why you went through what you did on this drug, I hope this helped. I am on day 3 after being given droperidol, and I have been improving, but do not listen to Google. It seems to be staying longer than “12 hours.”"

• Rae...
• March 16, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "Do not take this medication. I went to the ER a couple of days ago for burning pain in my ribs, and they gave me droperidol in my IV. I immediately felt an impending doom over me and had no desire to live. I felt the highest level of claustrophobia inside my skin. I'm one of the calmest people normally, but I was fighting myself from screaming and ripping my IV off. I wasn't able to communicate how I was feeling or speak much at all. I had to have my sister stay with me 24/7 until now because of how bad my anxiety and panic attacks were. I would choose pain over the feeling that drug gave me any day."

• Lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2022

"I was given this by a shot in the hospital along with Versed for extreme anger, agitation, anxiety, and violence. Five minutes in, I had the WORST restless legs EVER and ARMS!!! I felt like I needed to explode out of my own body, this made my panic level shoot through the roof. I began sweating, crying, and screaming hysterically, trying to get this garbage out of my system. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow when I got assigned to a room. I slept from 5:00 pm to 7:00 am the next morning, with nightmares that I couldn’t wake up from. My blood pressure and stress level were super high, my nurse informed me as soon as I woke up. 1/10. This drug is just as awful as Haldol, Latuda, Risperidone, and Zyprexa, which I all quit about 2 years ago. Never again."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I went to the ER after having a seizure and giving myself a concussion. I was nauseous and had a splitting headache, so they gave me droperidol in an IV with Toradol. The hospital was busy and had no room available, so they put me back in the waiting room with my IV (in a wheelchair you can’t move yourself), and the anxiety was out of this world. I felt this overall sense of something is seriously wrong. I couldn’t STOP moving. I was so uncomfortable. I was trying to crawl out of my skin. Eventually, someone came back to bring me for a CT scan, and I was having a serious panic attack. My heart rate was through the roof. I just kept thinking about how do I get out of here. And when I was done, they brought me BACK to the waiting room, and I eventually pulled out my own IV and left without being discharged. I’ve never experienced anything like this, and I don’t wish it upon anyone. This drug should not be used. It has been over 24 hours, and I still don’t feel normal yet."

• 138...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2023

"I was given this in the ER at the hospital for explosive anger and constant anxiety attacks. I was given it by shot, and I immediately began panicking, hyperventilating so bad my chest was violently rising up and down, my legs and arms were restless to the point I needed to explode out of my body, and I kept dancing around to get rid of the feeling. I was sweating, screaming at the top of my lungs to get this out of my system. I actually ran from the room and proceeded to walk around the ER, skipping and doing weird movements. One nurse decided to inject me with Ativan, and I instantly calmed down and eventually fell asleep. The panicky restless feeling went away as soon as I woke up, and I was nothing but calm when I went home. Crazy drug. No positive reviews from me."

• KRo...
• June 6, 2022

"Went to the ER for what I thought was possibly meningitis. Doctor assumed it was a migraine. Nurse never asked and gave me the droperidol. I noticed her giving something and asked what it was. Was surprised when she said it because I thought it had been taken off the market. Immediately started having anxiety, RLS, hot sweats, absolutely miserable. I had hallucinations, the most bizarre dreams. I couldn’t sleep, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. That was Thursday night, and it is now Sunday night, and I am absolutely miserable still. Panic attack (which I have never had before), absolutely horrible shaking inside and just dread and restlessness. I had a similar experience with Reglan but never realized that they would be the same. I will never allow this drug to be given to me again. The doctor gave me Cogentin to try to stop the side effects, but it didn’t work. It has been the most horrible experience."

• Hi7...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting, Postoperative "Do not take this drug. Given to me post-surgery for mild nausea. It made me suicidal, severe anxiety!! It was like living hell. I could not stop pacing the hospital ward, chest pain, blood pressure immediately went up. Suicidal thoughts. Skin crawling, panic. Lasted 3 days. Valium did little to help. I almost ran away from the hospital to try to escape the horror. Worst night of my life."