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Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medicine. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in your brain.
Haloperidol is used to treat schizophrenia. It is also used to control motor and speech tics in people with Tourette's syndrome.
Haloperidol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Haloperidol is not approved for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use haloperidol if you have Parkinson's disease or certain conditions that affect your central nervous system.
You should not use haloperidol if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
Parkinson's disease; or
certain conditions that affect your central nervous system (such as severe drowsiness, or slowed thinking caused by taking other medicines or drinking alcohol).
Haloperidol is not approved for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
To make sure haloperidol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
liver disease;
kidney disease;
heart disease, angina (chest pain);
a thyroid disorder;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
personal or family history of long QT syndrome;
an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood); or
if you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Taking antipsychotic medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn, such as withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles. However, you may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems if you stop taking your medicine during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking haloperidol, do not stop taking it without your doctor's advice.
Haloperidol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take haloperidol in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Haloperidol can be taken with or without food.
Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Taking too much haloperidol can cause a serious heart rhythm disorder or sudden death. Never take more than your prescribed dose.
It may take several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.
Do not stop using haloperidol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using haloperidol.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of haloperidol can be fatal.
Haloperidol may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls, fractures, or other injuries.
Avoid drinking alcohol. Dangerous side effects could occur.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. You may be more prone to heat stroke while you are taking haloperidol.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
High doses or long-term use of haloperidol can cause a serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. Symptoms of this disorder include uncontrollable muscle movements of your lips, tongue, eyes, face, arms, or legs. The longer you take haloperidol, the more likely you are to develop a serious movement disorder. The risk of this side effect is higher in women and older adults.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
sudden mood changes, agitation, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs;
stiffness in your neck, tightness in your throat, trouble breathing or swallowing;
sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, easy bruising or bleeding;
stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, cough with yellow or green mucus;
headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;
seizure (convulsions); or
severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.
Common side effects may include:
headache, dizziness, spinning sensation, drowsiness;
tremors, restless feeling, uncontrolled muscle movements;
stiffness in the muscles of your neck or back, speech problems;
sleep problems (insomnia);
feeling restless or anxious;
breast enlargement, irregular menstrual periods, loss of interest in sex; or
overactive reflexes.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Taking haloperidol with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
cancer medicine--arsenic trioxide, nilotinib, toremifene, vandetanib, vemurafenib;
an antidepressant--citalopram;
anti-malaria medication--lumefantrine;
heart rhythm medicine--amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol; or
medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder--iloperidone, pimozide, thioridazine, ziprasidone, others.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with haloperidol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Haloperidol (www.drugs.com/mtm/haloperidol.html).
More frequently reported side effects include: akathisia, blurred vision, constipation, weight gain, and xerostomia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
Applies to haloperidol: oral solution, oral tablet
Other dosage forms:
Oral route (Tablet)
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. Although the causes of death in clinical trials were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (eg, heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (eg, pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. It is unclear from these studies to what extent the mortality findings may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to patient characteristics. Haloperidol is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.
Along with its needed effects, haloperidol may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking haloperidol:
More common
Less common
Rare
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking haloperidol:
Symptoms of overdose
Some side effects of haloperidol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Less common
Applies to haloperidol: compounding powder, injectable solution, intramuscular solution, oral concentrate, oral tablet
The most common side effects include extrapyramidal disorder, insomnia, and agitation.
Acute dystonia usually occurred early in treatment.
Sedation may occur more frequently in elderly patients.
Akathisia usually occurred within 6 hours of administration and may be indistinguishable from psychotic agitation.
Very common (10% or more): Extrapyramidal disorder (up to 34%), hyperkinesia (up to 13%), headache (up to 12%)
Common (1% to 10%): Tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, dyskinesia, akathisia, bradykinesia, hypertonia, somnolence, masked facies, tremor, dizziness, parkinsonism/parkinsonian effects
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Convulsion, akinesia, cogwheel rigidity, sedation, involuntary muscle contractions, gait disturbance, persistent tardive dyskinesia
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Motor dysfunction, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, nystagmus
Frequency not reported: Drowsiness, epileptic/grand mal seizure, vertigo, lethargy
Postmarketing reports: Opisthotonos
Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (up to 19%), agitation (up to 15%)
Common (1% to 10%): Depression, psychotic disorder
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Confusion, increased/decreased libido, restlessness, hallucinations
Frequency not reported: Apparent exacerbation of psychotic symptoms, anxiety, euphoria, agitation, apprehension, toxic psychosis, catatonic-like behavioral states
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, dry mouth, salivary hypersecretion/hypersalivation, nausea, vomiting
Frequency not reported: Dyspepsia, diarrhea, heartburn, excessive salivation
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary retention, erectile dysfunction, sexual dysfunction
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, galactorrhea, breast discomfort/pain
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Menorrhagia, menstrual disorder
Frequency not reported: Priapism, oligomenorrhea, mastalgia, breast engorgement, lactation
Common (1% to 10%): Orthostatic hypotension, hypotension
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia, edema
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): QT prolongation (on ECG)
Frequency not reported: Ventricular fibrillation, Torsade de pointes/polymorphous configuration of Torsade de pointes, ventricular tachycardia, extrasystoles, peripheral edema, venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, unusual bleeding, heat stroke
Postmarketing reports: Ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, hypertension
QT prolongation, Torsade de pointes, ventricular arrhythmias/fibrillation/tachycardia and cardiac arrest occurred more frequently at high doses and/or in patients at risk for cardiovascular side effects.
Tachycardia and hypotension may occur more frequently in elderly patients. Hypotension occurred as a dose-related event.
Heat stroke included hot, dry skin, the inability to sweat, muscle weakness, and/or confusion.
Hyperammonemia occurred in a pediatric patient with citrullinemia (inherited disorder of ammonia excretion).
Common (1% to 10%): Weight increased/decreased
Frequency not reported: Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, loss of appetite, anorexia, hyponatremia
Postmarketing reports: Hyperammonemia
Common (1% to 10%): Oculogyric crisis, visual disturbance
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blurred vision
Frequency not reported: Cataracts, retinopathy
Common (1% to 10%): Rash
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Photosensitivity reaction, urticaria, pruritus, hyperhidrosis
Frequency not reported: Exfoliative dermatitis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, maculopapular/acneiform skin reactions, alopecia
Common (1% to 10%): Muscle rigidity
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Torticollis, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal stiffness
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Trismus, muscle twitching
Postmarketing reports: Rhabdomyolysis
Common (1% to 10%): Hyperthermia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Unusual tiredness/weakness
Frequency not reported: Neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome, sudden/unexpected death, face edema, hypothermia
Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal liver function test
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatitis, jaundice
Frequency not reported: Acute hepatic failure, cholestasis, impaired liver function
Common (1% to 10%): Injection site reaction
Frequency not reported: Injection site abscesses, localized erythema/swelling/tender lumps
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Bronchospasm
Frequency not reported: Laryngeal edema, laryngospasm, pulmonary embolism, increased respiratory rate/depth, sore throat, bronchopneumonia/lethal bronchopneumonia
Agranulocytosis included sore throat/fever and unusual bleeding/bruising, and typically occurred with concurrent use of other drugs.
Leukopenia and leukocytosis were usually mild and transient.
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leukopenia
Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, neutropenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, unusual bruising, decreased red blood cell counts, anemia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, lymphomonocytosis
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions
Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reaction
Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion occurred with hyponatremia
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hyperprolactinemia
Frequency not reported: Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, gynecomastia
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Haloperidol (www.drugs.com/mtm/haloperidol.html).
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