An emergency physician plans to give intramuscular droperidol 5 mg to a violently agitated patient. Which pretreatment consideration is specifically mandated because of a boxed warning for this drug?

• A Confirmation of normal platelet count
• B Measurement of serum creatinine
• C Exclusion of raised intracranial pressure
• D Assessment of the corrected QT interval ✓

Explanation

Droperidol carries a regulatory boxed warning for QT prolongation and torsades de pointes, so the QTc should be assessed where possible and the drug avoided or used with cardiac monitoring in patients with prolonged QTc, hypokalaemia, or hypomagnesaemia. Renal function, intracranial pressure, and platelet count are not specific concerns tied to this warning, although electrolyte correction supports safe use.

Reference: Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 15th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.