Haloperidol (Haldol): Uses, Dosage, Benefits, How it works, Side Effects
What Is Haloperidol (Haldol) And What Does It Treat?
Haloperidol (Haldol) is a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) or typical antipsychotic used in adults and children for a number of mental and other brain disorders including schizophrenia, mania (feeling elated or over-excited), aggression, Tourette’s syndrome, and tics (repeated and uncontrollable movements) and choreatic movements (jerky and uncontrolled movements mainly of the face and hands). It is also used for the treatment of vomiting.
How Haloperidol (Haldol) works
Haloperidol is in a group of medications called conventional antipsychotics. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain and rebalances dopamine to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Haloperidol (Haldol)?
Schizophrenia requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking Haloperidol (Haldol), even when you feel better.
With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine.
Missing doses of Haloperidol (Haldol) may increase your risk for a relapse in your symptoms.
Do not stop taking Haloperidol (Haldol) or change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider first.
For Haloperidol (Haldol) to work properly, it should be taken every day as ordered by your healthcare provider.
What Should I Discuss With My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Haloperidol (Haldol)?
• Symptoms of your condition that bother you the most
• If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
• Medications you have taken in the past for your condition, whether they were effective or caused any adverse effects
• If you ever had muscle stiffness, shaking, tardive dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, or weight gain caused by a medication
• If you experience side effects from your medications, discuss them with your provider. Some side effects may pass with time, but others may require changes in the medication.
• Any psychiatric or medical problems you have, such as heart rhythm problems, long QT syndrome, heart attacks, diabetes, high cholesterol, or seizures
• If you have a family history of diabetes or heart disease
• All other medications you are currently taking (including over the counter products, herbal and nutritional supplements) and any medication allergies you have
• Other non-medication treatments you are receiving, such as talk therapy or substance abuse treatment. Your provider can explain how these different treatments work with the medication.
• If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• If you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs
How Should I Take Haloperidol (Haldol)?
Haloperidol (Haldol) tablets and solution are usually taken 1 or 2 times per day with or without food.
Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks.
The dose of the oral medication usually ranges from 5 mg to 20 mg. The dose of the long-acting injection is 25 mg to 200 mg. Only your healthcare provider can determine the correct dose for you.
Haloperidol (Haldol) oral solution should be measured with a dosing spoon or oral syringe, which you can get from your pharmacy if one is not provided with the product.
Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication.
The long-acting injection form of Haloperidol (Haldol) is administered every 3 to 4 weeks. Your healthcare provider will administer these injections.
What Happens If I Miss A Dose Of Haloperidol (Haldol)?
If you miss a dose of Haloperidol (Haldol), take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Haloperidol (Haldol)?
Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking Haloperidol (Haldol). They may decrease the benefits (e.g. worsen your confusion) and increase adverse effects (e.g. sedation) of the medication.
What Happens If I Overdose With Haloperidol (Haldol)?
If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or 911. You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
A specific treatment to reverse the effects of Haloperidol (Haldol) does not exist.
Can a pregnant woman take Haloperidol (Haldol)?
If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your healthcare provider to best manage your medications. People living with schizophrenia who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. This is a complex decision since untreated schizophrenia has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.
Antipsychotic use during the third trimester of pregnancy has a risk for abnormal muscle movements (extrapyramidal symptoms [EPS]) and/or withdrawal symptoms in newborns following delivery. Symptoms in the newborn may include agitation, feeding disorder, hypertonia, hypotonia, respiratory distress, somnolence, and tremor; these effects may be self-limiting or require hospitalization.
How Long Does It Take For Haloperidol (Haldol) To Work?
It is very important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking Haloperidol (Haldol). It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if Haloperidol (Haldol) is the right medication for you.
Antipsychotic treatment is generally needed lifelong for persons with schizophrenia. Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness.
• Hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and delusions may improve in the first 1-2 weeks
• Sometimes these symptoms do not completely go away
• Motivation and desire to be around other people can take at least 1-2 weeks to improve
• Symptoms continue to get better the longer you take Haloperidol (Haldol)
• It may take 2-3 months before you get the full benefit of Haloperidol (Haldol)
Can a breastfeeding woman take Haloperidol (Haldol)?
Expert DO NOT recommend using haloperidol during breastfeeding because antipsychotics can be passed to your baby through your breast milk. Your baby could experience some side effects from the medication because of this.
If your doctor recommends Haloperidol (Haldol) for you, he or she may monitor your baby for drowsiness and developmental milestones, especially if other antipsychotics are used concurrently.
What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Haloperidol (Haldol)?
Haloperidol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• dry mouth
• increased saliva
• blurred vision
• loss of appetite
• constipation
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• nausea
• vomiting
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• blank facial expression
• uncontrollable eye movements
• unusual slowed, or uncontrollable movements of any part of the body
• restlessness
• agitation
• nervousness
• mood changes
• dizziness, feeling unsteady, or having trouble keeping your balance
• headache
• breast enlargement or pain
• breast milk production
• missed menstrual periods
• decreased sexual ability in men
• increased sexual desire
• difficulty urinating
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
• fever
• muscle stiffness
• falling
• confusion
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• sweating
• decreased thirst
• neck cramps
• tongue that sticks out of the mouth
• tightness in the throat
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fine, worm-like tongue movements
• uncontrollable, rhythmic face, mouth, or jaw movements
• seizures
• eye pain or discoloration
• decreased vision, especially at night
• seeing everything with a brown tint
• rash
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• erection that lasts for hours
Haloperidol may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
Is Haloperidol (Haldol) a safe medication?
This medication is safe when used as prescribed. However, Haloperidol (Haldol) may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk, and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long-term (months or years) of elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis or increased risk of bone fractures.
Some people may develop muscle-related side effects while taking Haloperidol (Haldol). The technical terms for these are “extrapyramidal symptoms” (EPS) and “tardive dyskinesia” (TD). Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements.
Temperature regulation: Impaired core body temperature regulation may occur; caution with strenuous exercise, heat exposure, and dehydration.
All antipsychotics have been associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death due to an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). To minimize this risk, antipsychotic medications should be used in the smallest effective dose when the benefits outweigh the risks. Your doctor may order an EKG to monitor for an irregular heartbeat.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare, life-threatening adverse effect of antipsychotics which occurs in <1% of patients. Symptoms include confusion, fever, extreme muscle stiffness, and sweating. If any of these symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
All antipsychotics can cause sedation, dizziness, or orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down). These side effects may lead to falls which could cause bone fractures or other injuries. This risk is higher for people with conditions or other medications that could worsen these effects. If falls or any of these symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider.
Are There Any Risks For Taking Haloperidol (Haldol) For Long Periods Of Time?
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect that develops with prolonged use of antipsychotics. If you develop symptoms of TD, such as grimacing, sucking, smacking of lips, or other movements that you cannot control, contact your healthcare provider immediately. All patients taking either first or second-generation antipsychotics should have an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) completed regularly by their healthcare provider to monitor for TD.
What Other Medications May Interact With Haloperidol (Haldol)?
Haloperidol (Haldol) may block the effects of agents used to treat Parkinson’s disease such as levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet®), bromocriptine, pramipexole (Mirapex®), ropinirole (Requip®), and others.
Haloperidol (Haldol) may lower your blood pressure. Medications used to lower blood pressure may increase this effect and increase your risk of falling. Propranolol (Inderal®) is an example of this type of medication.
The following medications may increase the risk of heart problems when used with Haloperidol (Haldol):
• Antipsychotics including chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), thioridazine (Mellaril®), iloperidone (Fanapt®), paliperidone (Invega®), pimozide (Orap®), quetiapine (Seroquel®), and ziprasidone (Geodon®).
• Antiarrhythmics (heart rhythm medications) including procainamide, quinidine, amiodarone (Cordarone®), dronedarone (Multaq®), and sotalol (Betapace®).
Metoclopramide (Reglan®) may increase the risk of EPS or TD when used in combination with Haloperidol (Haldol).
The following medications may increase the levels and effects of Haloperidol (Haldol): bupropion (Wellbutrin®), fluoxetine (Prozac®), fluvoxamine (Luvox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), venlafaxine (Effexor®), and paroxetine (Paxil®).
The following medications may decrease the levels and effects of Haloperidol (Haldol): carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Equatro®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), phenobarbital, and rifampin (Rifadin®).
