Haloperidol (Oral)

Generic name: Haloperidol
Drug class: Miscellaneous antipsychotic agents

Usage of Haloperidol (Oral)

Haloperidol is used to treat nervous, emotional, and mental conditions (eg, schizophrenia). It is also used to control the symptoms of Tourette's disorder. This medicine should not be used to treat behavior problems in older adult patients who have dementia.

Haloperidol is also used to treat severe behavioral problems (eg, aggressive, impulsive behavior) or hyperactivity in children who have already been treated with psychotherapy or other medicines that did not work well.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Haloperidol (Oral) side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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:

More common

Difficulty with speaking or swallowing

inability to move the eyes

loss of balance control

mask-like face

muscle spasms, especially of the neck and back

restlessness or need to keep moving (severe)

shuffling walk

stiffness of the arms and legs

trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands

twisting movements of the body

weakness of the arms and legs

Less common

Decreased thirst

difficulty in urination

dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)

lip smacking or puckering

puffing of the cheeks

rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue

skin rash

uncontrolled chewing movements

uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs

Rare

Confusion

convulsions (seizures)

difficult or fast breathing

fast heartbeat or irregular pulse

fever (high)

hot, dry skin, or lack of sweating

increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid

increased sweating

loss of bladder control

muscle stiffness (severe)

muscle weakness

sore throat and fever

uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual facial expressions or body positions

unusual tiredness or weakness

unusually pale skin

yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Continuing nausea or vomiting

increase in the frequency of seizures

loss of appetite

swelling of the face

tiredness and weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Difficulty with breathing (severe)

dizziness (severe)

drowsiness (severe)

muscle trembling, jerking, stiffness, or uncontrolled movements (severe)

unusual tiredness or weakness (severe)

Some side effects 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

Blurred vision

changes in menstrual period

constipation

dryness of the mouth

swelling or pain in the breasts (in females)

unusual secretion of milk

weight gain

Less common

Decreased sexual ability

drowsiness

increased sensitivity of the skin to sun (skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of skin, or severe sunburn)

nausea or vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Haloperidol (Oral)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic Reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of haloperidol in children younger than 3 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of haloperidol in the elderly. However, elderly women are more likely to have a side effect called tardive dyskinesia, and elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart or lung problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving haloperidol.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil

Bromopride

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Fluconazole

Levoketoconazole

Levomethadyl

Mesoridazine

Metoclopramide

Nelfinavir

Pimozide

Piperaquine

Posaconazole

Saquinavir

Sparfloxacin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abametapir

Abiraterone Acetate

Acecainide

Adagrasib

Ajmaline

Alfentanil

Alfuzosin

Amiodarone

Amisulpride

Amitriptyline

Anagrelide

Apomorphine

Aprindine

Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole Lauroxil

Arsenic Trioxide

Artemether

Asenapine

Astemizole

Atazanavir

Azimilide

Azithromycin

Bedaquiline

Benzhydrocodone

Bretylium

Bromazepam

Bromocriptine

Buprenorphine

Bupropion

Buserelin

Butorphanol

Cabergoline

Calcium Oxybate

Cannabidiol

Cannabis

Ceritinib

Cetirizine

Chloral Hydrate

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

CiprOfloxacin

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clobazam

Clofazimine

Clomipramine

Clonazepam

Clothiapine

Clozapine

Cobicistat

Codeine

Conivaptan

Crizotinib

Dabrafenib

Dalfopristin

Daridorexant

Darunavir

Dasatinib

Degarelix

Delamanid

Desipramine

Deslorelin

Desvenlafaxine

Deutetrabenazine

Dexmedetomidine

Dibenzepin

Dihydrocodeine

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Domperidone

Donepezil

DoXepin

Doxylamine

Droperidol

Duloxetine

Efavirenz

Encainide

Encorafenib

Enflurane

Entrectinib

Epinephrine

Erythromycin

Escitalopram

Esketamine

Etrasimod

Fedratinib

Fentanyl

Fexinidazole

Fingolimod

Flecainide

Flibanserin

Fluoxetine

Formoterol

Foscarnet

Fosnetupitant

Fostemsavir

Gabapentin

Gabapentin Enacarbil

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Gepirone

Glasdegib

Gonadorelin

Goserelin

Granisetron

Halofantrine

Histrelin

Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone

HydroQuinidine

Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxyzine

Ibutilide

Imipramine

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin

Itraconazole

Ivabradine

Ivosidenib

Ketamine

Ketoconazole

Lacosamide

Lapatinib

Lefamulin

Lemborexant

Lenvatinib

Leuprolide

Levocetirizine

Levodopa

Levofloxacin

Levorphanol

Lithium

Lofexidine

Lopinavir

Lorcainide

Loxapine

Lumefantrine

Macimorelin

Magnesium Oxybate

Mavacamten

Mefloquine

Meperidine

Methadone

Metronidazole

Mifepristone

Mirtazapine

Mobocertinib

Morphine

Morphine Sulfate Liposome

Moxifloxacin

Nafarelin

Nalbuphine

Netupitant

Nilotinib

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Olanzapine

Omaveloxolone

Ondansetron

Osilodrostat

Osimertinib

Oxaliplatin

Oxycodone

Oxymorphone

Ozanimod

Pacritinib

Paliperidone

Panobinostat

Paroxetine

Pasireotide

Pazopanib

Pentamidine

Pentazocine

Pergolide

Periciazine

Phenobarbital

Pimavanserin

Pitolisant

Pixantrone

Ponesimod

Potassium Oxybate

Pramipexole

Pregabalin

Primidone

Probucol

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Propafenone

Propranolol

Protriptyline

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Quinupristin

Quizartinib

Ranolazine

Relugolix

Remifentanil

Remimazolam

Ribociclib

Risperidone

Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft

Ropinirole

Rotigotine

Selegiline

Selpercatinib

Sematilide

Sertindole

Sertraline

Sevoflurane

Siponimod

Sodium Oxybate

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

Spiramycin

Sufentanil

Sulfamethoxazole

Sulpiride

Sultopride

Sunitinib

Tacrolimus

Tapentadol

Tedisamil

Telavancin

Telithromycin

Tetrabenazine

Topiramate

Toremifene

Tramadol

Trazodone

Triclabendazole

Trifluoperazine

Trimethoprim

Trimipramine

Triptorelin

Vandetanib

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Venlafaxine

Vilanterol

Vinflunine

Voclosporin

Voriconazole

Zolpidem

Zotepine

Zuclopenthixol

Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Benztropine

Betel Nut

Buspirone

Carbamazepine

Dextromethorphan

Fluvoxamine

Methyldopa

Nefazodone

Procyclidine

Rifampin

Rifapentine

Tacrine

Trihexyphenidyl

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Tobacco

Relate drugs

How to use Haloperidol (Oral)

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This is particularly important for elderly patients, since they may react very strongly to this medicine.

For patients taking the liquid form of this medicine:

This medicine is to be taken by mouth and it comes in a dropper bottle. Each dose is to be measured with the specially marked dropper provided with your bottle. Do not use other droppers since they may not deliver the correct amount of medicine.

This medicine should be mixed with water or a beverage, such as orange juice, apple juice, tomato juice, or cola, and taken immediately after mixing.

Continue taking this medicine for the full time of treatment. Sometimes haloperidol must be taken for several days to several weeks before its full effect is reached.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage forms (solution or tablets):

For nervous, emotional, or mental conditions:

Adults and children 13 years of age and older—At first, 0.5 to 5 milligrams (mg) 2 or 3 times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.

Older adults—At first, 0.5 to 2 mg 2 or 3 times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.

Children 3 to 12 years of age and weighs 15 to 40 kilograms (kg)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.

Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

For Tourette's disorder:

Children 3 to 12 years of age and weighs 15 to 40 kilograms (kg)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 0.05 to 0.075 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day.

Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Warnings

Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few months of treatment with this medicine. The amount of haloperidol you take may be changed to meet the needs of your condition and to prevent side effects.

Do not stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping completely. This will allow your body time to adjust and help avoid a worsening of your medical condition.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or may cause trouble with thinking or controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures or other injuries. Even if you take haloperidol at bedtime, you may feel drowsy or less alert on arising. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine will often make you sweat less, causing your body temperature to increase. Use extra care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather while you are taking this medicine, since overheating may result in heat stroke. Also, hot baths or saunas may make you feel dizzy or faint while you are using this medicine.

Haloperidol may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:

Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.

Wear protective clothing, including a hat or sunglasses.

Apply a sun block product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.

Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

Haloperidol may cause dry mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have chest pain or discomfort, a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, or fever and chills. These can be symptoms of a very serious problem with your heart.

This medicine may cause tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder). Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine: lip smacking or puckering, puffing of the cheeks, rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions, difficulty with breathing, a fast heartbeat, a high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.