Haldol is used for the treatment of emotional, nervous, and mental conditions like Schizophrenia. This drug can also be used to treat the symptoms of Tourette's disorder. It should not be used to manage behavioral symptoms in older adult patients who also have dementia.
Haldol can also be used for the treatment of severe behavioral problems like aggressive, impulsive behavior or hyperactivity in young patients who have already been treated unsuccessfully with psychotherapy or other drugs.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Solution
Tablet
2 What To Know Before Using
Before using Haldol, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. Your doctor will consider these risks before prescribing the drug and will inform you about them.
Following factors should be considered before taking this drug:
Allergies
If you have had an allergic reaction to this drug in the past, inform your doctor. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any other drugs or food products.
Age-specific problems
The data regarding the effects of this medicine specific to the pediatric age group is not yet available. Its safety and efficacy have not been established in children.
The studies specific to the geriatric age group have not been carried out, therefore its safety and efficacy have not been established in older age group. However, geriatric population is more prone to having kidney, liver and heart problems.
Pregnancy
Regarding the safety of usage of this drug during pregnancy, it comes under “C” category, which means that clinical trials on animals have revealed harmful effects to the developing fetus or relevant studies have not been performed.
Drug Interactions
Certain drugs should not be used together because they can interact inside the body which can have a harmful effect. On the other hand, certain drugs are allowed to be used together.
So, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking. If there is a chance of interaction between those two drugs, the doctor may change the dose or may prescribe an alternative drug.
This medication should be used cautiously with following drugs:
Furthermore, certain medications should not be taken with alcohol or tobacco, which may also result in harmful interactions. Ask your doctor about the concurrent use of this drug along with alcohol or tobacco.
You should also inform your doctor about any other medical condition you may be suffering from, especially:
Proper usage of Haldol requires strict adherence to your doctor’s orders.
This medicine should be taken orally and it comes in a dropper bottle. Every dose should be measured with the specially marked dropper which comes with your bottle. Do not use other droppers since they may not deliver the correct amount of medicine.
To avoid adverse effects, this drug should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not overuse or misuse this drug and do not use it longer than the recommended time.
Read all the instructions mentioned in the medication guide. This medicine should be taken with food in order to enhance its absorption in the gut.
Do not miss any dose. The dose of this drug varies according to the condition of each person. The number of doses per day, the time interval between the doses and the length of time you have to take the medicine depends on your condition individually and all these factors should only be determined by your healthcare provider. Follow each and every instruction of your doctor and also read the label carefully.
In case you miss one dose of this drug, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your subsequent dose, you can then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at once.
Storage: This medicine should be stored at room temperature within a closed container, away from heat, direct light, and moisture. Keep this drug out of the reach of children. Do not store expired or outdated medicines or the medicine no longer needed.
4 Precautions To Take
Before using Haldol, there are some precautions you must take. This medication should not be taken with other CNS depressants. Do not stop this drug suddenly.
Instead, it should be tapered off gradually under the supervision of a doctor. This medication can also cause some side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, and lightheadedness.
It is important for your doctor to monitor your response to the medicine and look for any side effects. Therefore, regular follow-up is necessary during and after the treatment. Contact your doctor if your symptoms have not improved even after taking the full course of treatment.
Avoid taking any other medicine unless thoroughly discussed with your doctor. Always ask your doctor before using any prescription, non-prescription or herbal medicine.
5 Potential Side Effects
As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Haldol. Although these side effects may occur only in a handful of patients but if they do occur, contact your physician immediately.
This medication is associated with following side effects:
Seek medical help instantly, if you experience any of these symptoms. Also contact your health care professional immediately, if you have overdosed on this drug. If any of these side effects becomes more bothersome or does not go away, contact your doctor.
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