Haloperidol

Haloperidol is used to treat psychotic disorders (conditions that cause difficulty telling the difference between things or ideas that are real and things or ideas that are not real). Haloperidol is also used to control motor tics (uncontrollable need to repeat certain body movements) and verbal tics (uncontrollable need to repeat sounds or words) in adults and children who have Tourette's disorder (condition characterized by motor or verbal tics). Haloperidol is also used to treat severe behavioral problems such as explosive, aggressive behavior or hyperactivity in children who cannot be treated with psychotherapy or with other medications. Haloperidol is in a group of medications called conventional antipsychotics. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.

Haloperidol comes as a tablet and concentrated liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken two or three times a day. Take haloperidol at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take haloperidol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of haloperidol and gradually increase your dose. Your doctor may decrease your dose once your condition is controlled. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with haloperidol. Haloperidol may help control your condition, but will not cure it. Continue to take haloperidol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking haloperidol without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking haloperidol, you may experience difficulty controlling your movements.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Haloperidol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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drowsiness</li>
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dry mouth</li>
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increased saliva</li>
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blurred vision</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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constipation</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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heartburn</li>
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nausea</li>
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vomiting</li>
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difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
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blank facial expression</li>
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uncontrollable eye movements</li>
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unusual, slowed, or uncontrollable movements of any part of the body</li>
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restlessness</li>
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agitation</li>
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nervousness</li>
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mood changes</li>
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dizziness</li>
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headache</li>
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breast enlargement or pain</li>
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breast milk production</li>
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missed menstrual periods</li>
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decreased sexual ability in men</li>
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increased sexual desire</li>
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difficulty urinating</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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fever</li>
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muscle stiffness</li>
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confusion</li>
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fast or irregular heartbeat</li>
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sweating</li>
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decreased thirst</li>
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neck cramps</li>
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tongue that sticks out of the mouth</li>
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tightness in the throat</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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fine, worm-like tongue movements</li>
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uncontrollable, rhythmic face, mouth, or jaw movements</li>
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seizures</li>
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eye pain or discoloration</li>
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decreased vision, especially at night</li>
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seeing everything with a brown tint</li>
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rash</li>
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yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
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erection that lasts for hours</li></ul>Haloperidol may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking haloperidol, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to haloperidol or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone); anticoagulants (blood thinners); antihistamines; disopyramide (Norpace); dofetilide (Tikosyn); epinephrine (Epipen); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); ipratropium (Atrovent); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); medications for anxiety, depression, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease,seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; methyldopa; moxifloxacin (Avelox); narcotic medications for pain; pimozide (Orap); procainamide ; quinidine ; rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin); sedatives; sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF); sparfloxacin (Zagam) (not available in the US); sleeping pills; thioridazine; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had Parkinson's disease (PD; a disorder of the nervous system that causes difficulties with movement, muscle control, and balance). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take haloperidol. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had prolonged QT syndrome (condition that increases the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat that may cause loss of consciousness, or sudden death). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had breast cancer; bipolar disorder (condition that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods); citrullinemia (condition that causes build-up of ammonia in the blood); an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG; a test that records electrical activity in the brain); seizures; an irregular heartbeat; low levels of calcium or magnesium in your blood; chest pain; or heart or thyroid disease. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had to stop taking a medication for mental illness due to severe side effects. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking haloperidol. you should know that this medication may make you drowsy and may affect your thinking and movements. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol during your treatment with haloperidol. Alcohol can make the side effects of haloperidol worse.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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unusual, slowed, or uncontrollable movements of any part of the body</li>
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stiff or weak muscles</li>
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slowed breathing</li>
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sleepiness</li>
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loss of consciousness</li></ul>