Haldol® (haloperidol)
Brand
name
Haldol®
-
Tablets:
0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg
-
Oral
solution: 2 mg/mL
-
Short-acting
Injection: 5 mg/mL
-
Long-acting
injection (decanoate): 50 mg/mL, 100 mg/mL
Generic
name: haloperidol (HAL
oh PER i dol)
Medication
class: First generation antipsychotic (FGA), typical antipsychotic
All FDA black box
warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review
before taking this medication.
What
is Haldol® and what does it treat?
Haloperidol
is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It
is also known as a first generation antipsychotic (FGA) or typical
antipsychotic. Haloperidol
rebalances dopamine to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
Symptoms
of schizophrenia include:
-
Hallucinations
- imagined voices or images that seem real
-
Delusions
- beliefs that are not true (e.g., other people are reading your
thoughts)
-
Disorganized
thinking or trouble organizing your thoughts and making sense
-
Little
desire to be around other people
-
Trouble
speaking clearly
-
Lack
of motivation
Haloperidol
may help some or all of these symptoms.
Haloperidol
is also FDA approved for Tourette’s syndrome.
This
medication sheet will focus primarily on schizophrenia. You can find
more information about Tourette’s syndrome at http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness.
What
is the most important information I should know about Haldol®?
Schizophrenia
requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking haloperidol, even
when you feel better.
Only
your healthcare provider can determine the length of haloperidol
treatment that is right for you.
Missing
doses of haloperidol may increase your risk for a relapse in your
symptoms.
Do
not stop taking haloperidol or change your dose without talking to
with your healthcare provider first.
For
haloperidol to work properly, it should be taken everyday as ordered
by your healthcare provider.
Are
there specific concerns about Haldol® and
pregnancy?
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.
Caution
is advised with breastfeeding since haloperidol does pass into breast
milk.
What
should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking 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 treatment 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 Haldol®?
Haloperidol
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
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 a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are
taking your medication.
The
long-acting injection form of generic name is administered every 3 to
4 weeks. Your healthcare provider will administer these injections.
What
happens if I miss a dose of Haldol®?
If
you miss a dose of haloperidol,
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 Haldol®?
Avoid
drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking
haloperidol. 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 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 does not
exist.
What
are possible side effects of Haldol®?
Common
Side Effects
Rapid
heartbeat, constipation, blurry vision, dry mouth, drop in blood
pressure upon standing
Feeling
drowsy, dizzy, or restless
Patients
receiving haloperidol decanoate long-acting injection may notice some
pain at the site of the injection. This pain should resolve after a
few days.
Rare
Side Effects
Changes
in the body's ability to adjust temperature, vision problems,
sensitivity to sunlight, seizures
Haloperidol
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.
Serious
Side Effects
Some
people may develop muscle related side effects while taking
haloperidol. The technical terms for these are “extrapyramidal
effects” (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.
All
antipsychotics have been associated with the risk of sudden cardiac
death due to an arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). 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 irregular heart beat.
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.
Are
there any risks of taking 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, and 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 Haldol®?
Haloperidol 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
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:
-
Antipsychotics
including chlorpromazine
(Thorazine®),
thioridizine (Mellaril®),
iloperidone (Fanapt®),
paliperidone (Invega®),
pimozide (Orap®),
quetiapine (Seroquel®),
and ziprasidone (Geodon®).
-
Antiarrhymics
(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.
The
following medications may increase the levels and effects of haloperidol: bupropion (Wellbutrin®),
fluoxetine (Prozac®),
fluvoxamine (Luvox®),
ketoconazole (Nizoral®),venlafaxine
(Effexor®),
and paroxetine (Paxil®).
The
following medications may decrease the levels and effects of haloperidol: carbamazepine
(Tegretol®,
Equatro®),
phenytoin (Dilantin®),
phenobarbital, and rifampin (Rifadin®)
How
long does it take for 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. It will
probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your
symptoms to decide if haloperidol 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
-
It
may take 2-3 months before you get the full benefit of haloperidol
Provided
by
College
of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists
(January
2013)
Summary
of FDA Black Box Warnings
Increased
Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia Related Psychosis
-
Both
first generation (typical) and second generation (atypical)
antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality in
elderly patients when used for dementia related psychosis.
-
Although
there were multiple causes of death in studies, most deaths appeared
to be due to cardiovascular causes (e.g. sudden cardiac death) or
infection (e.g. pneumonia).
-
Antipsychotics
are not indicated for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis.
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