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.
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.
What is haloperidol?
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.
Before taking haloperidol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or 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";
an electrolyte imbalance such as low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take haloperidol.
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?
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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of haloperidol can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out, tremors, and uncontrolled 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 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);
fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, cough with yellow or green mucus;
sudden mood changes;
confusion, agitation, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
sleep problems (insomnia);
feeling restless or anxious;
mild skin rash or itching;
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. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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 seizures, 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);
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.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about haloperidol.
