SOME ASPECTS OF THE PHARMACOLOGY OF DROPERIDOL

The effects of droperidol, its solvent, and fentanyl on analgesia and respiration were examined in mice. Neither droperidol nor its solvent had analgesic properties, but droperidol was capable of potentiating both the analgesic and respiratory depressant effects of fentanyl. The peripheral actions of droperidol were examined on the guinea-pig ileum preparation. Antagonism of acetylcholine and histamine was demonstrated and shown to be non-competitive in nature. Local anaesthetic activity was detectable in the guineapig and the implications of these findings are discussed.