Haldol (haloperidol) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis, agitation, and acute manic episodes of bipolar disorder. It may also help with motor and verbal tics in people with Tourette's syndrome.

Common Side Effects of Haldol

• Constipation
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Dry mouth or excessive salivary secretions
• Involuntary movements
• Muscle stiffness
• Slow movements
• Tremors
• Tardive dyskinesia (fine, worm-like movements of the tongue or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs)

Serious Side Effects of Haldol

• Blurred vision
• Body temperature regulation issues
• Breast milk production
• Loss of menstruation in females
• Loss of sex drive or sexual dysfunction in males
• Facial edema
• Itchy skin lesions
• Abdominal pain

Emergency Side Effects of Haldol

• Confusion
• Extreme muscle stiffness
• Fever
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sweating

Allergic Reactions to Haldol

• Skin rash or hives
• Itching
• Swelling of the lips and tongue
• Difficulty breathing

Precautions

• Haldol is not safe for people with Parkinson's disease, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or older adults with dementia.
• A "black box" warning labels antipsychotics as they are not approved to treat dementia symptoms, as older patients (aged 65 and older) with dementia-related psychosis are at increased risk of death when taking Haldol.

Interactions

• Haldol can interact with other medications, affecting their effectiveness or increasing the risk of other health issues.

Withdrawal Symptoms from Haldol

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Decreased libido
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Increased heart rate
• Insomnia
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Trouble concentrating

Signs of Haldol Overdose

• Jerking
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Severe dizziness
• Severe drowsiness
• Severe muscle trembling
• Severe, unusual tiredness or weakness
• Stiffness or uncontrolled movements