Haloperidol: Uses, indications and cautions when using

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Haloperidol is an antipsychotic, used in the treatment of certain mental and emotional disorders. Haloperidol works to help patients restore cognition, reduce stress, repel negative thoughts, hallucinations and prevent suicide.

1. What is Haloperidol? What does Haloperidol do?

Haloperidol is a prescription medication used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (eg, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder). Using Haloperidol helps patients regain consciousness, feel less anxious and integrate back into daily life.
In addition, the doctor may also prescribe Haloperidol in the following cases:
Preventing the risk of suicide in subjects who are having thoughts of self-harm. The drug reduces aggression and the intention to hurt others. Haloperidol can reduce negative thoughts and hallucinations in patients. Treatment of uncontrolled movements associated with Tourette's syndrome. Haloperidol can be given to children with hyperactivity when other treatments or medications have not worked.

2. How to use Haloperidol?

Patients need to use Haloperidol according to the doctor's instructions. For the liquid form of the medication, use the dropper provided by the manufacturer to measure the required dose. If a dropper is not available, ask your pharmacist to give you an instrument to measure the correct dose. The dose of Haloperidol is based on your medical condition and response to the medication's effects. Use Haloperidol regularly as prescribed to maximize its effectiveness. Do not stop taking Haloperidol suddenly without consulting your doctor. Dosage may need to be tapered off before stopping completely.

3. Side effects when taking Haloperidol

Patients taking Haloperidol may experience dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, difficulty urinating, sleep disturbances, headache and feeling anxious. If these side effects of Haloperidol persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist immediately for appropriate management. Patients or family members should notify their doctor immediately if they notice any serious side effects of Haloperidol such as: Muscle spasms/stiffness, tremors, restlessness, stiff facial expressions, drooling. In this case, your doctor may prescribe another medicine for you to take along with haloperidol to reduce the risk of side effects. More rarely, haloperidol has the potential to increase the levels of certain substances produced by the body (such as prolactin ). For women, an increase in prolactin can lead to unwanted lactation, missed/stopped periods, or difficulty getting pregnant. For men, elevated prolactin can lead to decreased sex drive, inability to produce sperm, or enlarged breasts. For men, if you experience painful or prolonged erections (lasting more than 4 hours) after taking Haloperidol, stop using this medicine and contact your doctor immediately. In addition, Haloperidol can cause some rarer side effects. Patients should be examined immediately if they notice symptoms such as:
Tardive dyskinesia, including facial twitching such as tongue thrusting, chewing movements, mouth puffing/perspiring, or uncontrollable tremors controllable. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS): Fever, muscle stiffness/pain/softness/weakness, fatigue, severe confusion, sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, dark urine, signs of kidney problems (such as a marked change in the amount of urine). Persistent nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes, jaundice, convulsions, signs of infection (eg, fever, persistent sore throat). Slow heartbeat, dizziness, angina, fainting. Serious allergic reaction, including: Rash, itching/swelling (especially in the face/tongue/throat area), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

4. Warnings and cautions when using Haloperidol

Before taking medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to haloperidol or any other allergies. Also, talk to your doctor about your medical history, especially of serious nervous system problems (severe central nervous system depression), Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, difficulty urinating (e.g., difficulty urinating due to prostate problems), glaucoma, heart-related problems (e.g., angina), an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), convulsions, low white blood cell count. The effects of Haloperidol may affect heart rate (QT interval prolongation). QT prolongation sometimes causes tachycardia, irregular heartbeat (risk of death), and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that require immediate medical attention. The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if the patient has certain medical conditions or is taking other drugs that can prolong the QT interval. Therefore, before using haloperidol, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medications you are taking and about heart problems (heart failure, bradycardia, QT prolongation), family history of heart problems (stroke). Haloperidol has the potential to cause dizziness or drowsiness. Therefore, patients should not drive, use machines, or perform tasks requiring alertness until they can do so safely. In addition, patients should limit the use of alcohol and other stimulants while using the drug. Another side effect of haloperidol is reduced sweating, making you more susceptible to heatstroke. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid heavy work and exercise in hot weather. Older adults are often more sensitive to the side effects of haloperidol, especially drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty urinating, and cardiac effects, such as QT prolongation. Drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness can lead to a risk of falling. During pregnancy, Haloperidol should be used only when clearly needed. There have been cases of babies born to mothers who have used this medicine during the last 3 months of pregnancy may have unusual symptoms, including muscle stiffness, tremors, drowsiness, difficulty breastfeeding, babies having difficulty breathing. breathing or is constantly fussy. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn, especially during their first month, talk to your doctor right away. Untreated mental/emotional problems (eg, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder) can be very serious, so patients should not stop taking the medication on their own. unless directed by a doctor. If you are planning a pregnancy, are already pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away about the benefits and risks of taking this medicine during pregnancy. Haloperidol has the potential to pass into breast milk and cause unwanted effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor carefully before breast-feeding.

5. Haloperidol interactions with other drugs

Drug interactions have the potential to change the way a drug works or increase the risk of serious side effects. Some products that have the potential to interact with Haloperidol include: Anticholinergics (eg, antispasmodics such as belladonna alkaloids, scopolamine), cabergoline, ketoconazole, lithium, methyldopa, Parkinson's disease drugs (eg levodopa and carbidopa, selegiline), paroxetine, pergolide, quinupristin-dalfopristin, rifampin, and saquinavir. Many drugs can affect heart rate (due to their QT-prolonging effects), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin). Therefore, before using haloperidol, make a list of all the medicines you are taking with your doctor or pharmacist. Preparations that cause drowsiness may adversely affect patients taking Haloperidol, such as opioid pain relievers or cough suppressants (such as codeine, hydrocodone), stimulants (alcohol, marijuana), sleeping pills. or sedatives (including alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine)....

6. Some other notes when using Haloperidol

6.1. Overdose If you have overdosed on Haloperidol and have severe symptoms such as fainting or difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately. Do not take Haloperidol with other drugs unless directed by your doctor.
6.2. Storage Store Haloperidol at room temperature, away from direct light and moisture. Do not store medicine in the bathroom. Do not flush medication down the toilet or down the drain unless specifically directed.
Knowing the information about Haloperidol before using it always brings positive effects as well as reduces risks for patients.

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Reference source: webmd.com