Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medication. 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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking haloperidol?
Haloperidol is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Haloperidol may
cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to haloperidol, or have certain
conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have Parkinson's disease.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely use this medication:
liver disease;
kidney disease;
heart disease, angina (chest pain);
a thyroid disorder;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome";
an electrolyte imbalance such as low potassium or
magnesium levels in your blood.
It is not known whether haloperidol is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Haloperidol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take haloperidol?
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or
for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication.
Taking too much of this medication can cause a serious heart rhythm disorder or sudden
death.
Never take more than your prescribed dose.
Take haloperidol with a full glass of water.
Haloperidol can be taken with or without food.
It may take several weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best
results, keep using the medication as directed. Do not stop using haloperidol suddenly, or you could
have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms
when stopping the medication.
Store haloperidol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of haloperidol?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait
until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
take extra medicine
to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about haloperidol?
Your pharmacist has information about haloperidol written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of haloperidol?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat;
restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or
neck;
tremor (uncontrolled shaking);
seizure (convulsions);
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, flu symptoms;
very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion,
fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out;
stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, cough with
yellow or green mucus;
sudden mood changes, agitation, hallucinations, unusual
thoughts or behavior; or
breast enlargement, irregular menstrual periods, loss of
interest in sex; or
dry mouth, blurred vision, urinating less than usual.
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.
What is the most important information I should know about haloperidol?
Haloperidol is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Haloperidol may
cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to haloperidol, or have certain
conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have Parkinson's disease.
Before taking haloperidol, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, heart
disease, angina (chest pain), a thyroid disorder, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, a personal or family
history of "Long QT syndrome," or an electrolyte imbalance such as low potassium or magnesium levels
in your blood.
Haloperidol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly
and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase drowsiness or dizziness caused by haloperidol.
Call your doctor at once if you have tremor (uncontrolled shaking) or restless muscle
movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.
What should I avoid while taking haloperidol?
Haloperidol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly
and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase drowsiness or dizziness caused by haloperidol.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. You may be
more prone to heat stroke while you are taking haloperidol.
What other drugs will affect haloperidol?
Before using haloperidol, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you
sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by haloperidol.
The following drugs can interact with haloperidol. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others);
seizure medication;
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rimactane).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
haloperidol. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication
without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of haloperidol?
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.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009