Droperidol
                                ==========

þ droperidol for migraines:
 - 5 mg + Norflex 60 IV anecedotally effective
 - references
   [Rothrock JF. Treatment of acute migraine with intravenous droperidol.
   [Letter] Headache 1997 Apr;37(4):256-257.]
   [--. Droperidol treatment of status migrainosus and refractory migraine.
   Headache 1997 Jun;37(6):377-382.]
   We conducted a pilot study of intravenous droperidol in 35 patients (32
   women and 3 men; mean age 43 years) with status migrainosus (n = 25) or
   refractory migraine (n = 10) in an ambulatory infusion center. Headache was
   graded as severe in 21 patients and moderate in 14. An intravenous line was
   started and kept open. Droperidol (2.5 mg) was given intravenously every 30
   minutes until either three doses were given or the patient was completely
   or almost headache-free prior to the next dose. Seven patients received one
   dose, 12 received two doses, and 16, three doses (mean 5.6 mg). Our success
   rate (headache-free or mild headache) was 88% (22 of 25) in patients with
   status migrainosus and 100% (10 of 10) in patients with refractory
   migraine. The average time to headache improvement was 40 minutes (n = 35),
   to mild headache--60 minutes (n = 32), and to headache-free--105 minutes (n
   = 28). Nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity resolved in all
   but 5 patients. Four patients had an asymptomatic systolic blood pressure
   drop > or = 20 mm Hg. Most patients were sedated (34 of 35). Five patients
   developed akathisia and 1 dystonia. At follow-up 24 hours after discharge,
   the recurrence rate (headache intensity from none or mild to moderate or
   severe) was 23% in status migrainosus and 10% in refractory migraine.
   Twenty-one patients were sedated, while 19 had extrapyramidal symptoms,
   mainly restlessness. Droperidol is effective and safe in treating status
   migrainosus or refractory migraine. Hypotension was uncommon. Patients
   should be warned of sedation and akathisia.

þ Pharmacology of droperidol
 - In relation to haloperidol, droperidol is
  + twice as potent,
  + sedates for a shorter duration, and
  + acts as fast IM as does haloperidol IV