This medicine is classified as an antipsychotic medication and is used to treat patients that suffer from delusions, hallucinations, unorganized thought and hostility. This medicine may also be prescribed to treat severe behavioral problems in children. Top of page
General Information
This information is for educational purposes only. Not every known side effect, adverse effect, or drug interaction is in this database. If you have questions about your medicines, talk to your healthcare provider.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine should be taken continually, even if you are feeling better. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take more or less of this medicine that prescribed. Do not share this medicine with other people. Top of page
Missed Dose
Take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double doses. Top of page
Storage
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Top of page
Possible Side Effects
Check with your doctor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience diarrhea, vomiting, unsteadiness, difficulty walking, or unusual muscle weakness.
This medicine can cause the following side effects:
contipation
dizziness
drowsiness
dry mouth
headache
weight gain
restlessness
mild thirst
frequent urination
drowsiness
fine hand tremor
mild nausea
This medicine may increase blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Diabetic patients should be cautious of this and regularly check their blood sugar.
Seek medical attention immediately. U.S. residents can call the national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Top of page
Drug Interactions
Let your doctor know if you are taking any of the following types of medications:
antacids
antihistamines
diet pills
benztropine (Cogentin)
bromocriptine (Parlodel)
carbamazepine (Tegretol)
dicyclomine (Bentyl)
fluoxetine (Prozac)
guanethidine (Ismelin)
lithium
meperidine (Demerol)
methyldopa (Aldomet)
phenytoin (Dilantin)
propranolol (Inderal)
sedatives
trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
valproic acid (Depakene)
cold medications
medications for depression
vitamins and herbs
Inform your doctor of all the medications you may use (both prescription and nonprescription), especially if you are taking any of the following:
anti-depressant
anti-anxiety drugs
sparfloxacin
grepafloxacin
guanethidine
guanadrel
lithium
metrizamide
cabergoline
tranquilizers
barbiturates
sleeping pills
narcotic pain
medication (e.g. codeine)
other medicines that make you drowsy.
Many cough-and-cold products contain ingredients that may add a drowsiness effect. Before you use cough-and-cold medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safe use of those products..
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. For women: since this medicine is excreted in human breast milk, you should NOT breastfeed while taking this medicine. Top of page
More Information
There may be slightly increased risk of serious, possibly fatal side effects when this medicine is used in elderly patients with dementia. Talk to your doctor for more information. Top of page
This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This is general information and should not in any event be construed as specific instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. The reader is advised to check with their health care provider before making any changes in their drug regimen.
Last reviewed:
On 8 Aug 2006
By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
Treats Dysphoria from Borderline Personality Disorder within minutes
CONS:
EPS like muscle twitches, sweaty palms
This medication is great as a PRN medication for the symptom of Dysphoria from Borderline Personality Disorder. It will relieve this symptom within 10 minutes.This medication needs to be taken with either Benadryl or Cogentin to counter the Extrapyramidal Symptoms (movement disorders).This medication is also on the Walmart $4.00 list, and so is Cogentin, which should be taken with it.
DePressMe Grand Magnate
Registered: March 2007 Location: Lafayette, Indiana Posts: 3239
Sat March 19, 2011
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
PROS:
healed me of hallucinations and paranoia
CONS:
slight weight gain
I think this has been a good drug for me. I take it in combination with seroquel. I’ve taken a bunch of meds but these 2 meds are the first that healed me of hallucinations and paranoia. I had a slight weight gain but exercise helped with that.
DePressMe Grand Magnate
Registered: March 2007 Location: Lafayette, Indiana Posts: 3239
Mon April 19, 2010
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
PROS:
Eliminated my hallucinations and delusions. Relieved some of my paranoia.
CONS:
None
After being on every med--combos and everything--this is the first med that eliminated my hallucinations and such. So far, I'm on 10 mgs per day and I've had no side effects.
mafub Member
Registered: February 2010 Location: ROCKY MTN HI Posts: 85
Mon March 1, 2010
Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
PROS:
NONE
CONS:
NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE
IT PUT ME OUT OF LIFE INTO A STATE OF NOTHINGNESS!
A PERSON HAS TO BE IN SUCH A BAD STATE TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS DRUG. IT MUST BE A DRUG OF LAST RESORT. MY MENTAL STATE WAS NOT BAD YET MY DR GAVE IT TO ME EVEN AFTER MY HUSBAND AND I SAID IT WAS NOT TO BE ADMINISTRATED!
danstedak Junior Member
Registered: August 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 6
Thu August 27, 2009
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $1.10| Rating: 10
PROS:
takes away my hallucinations and Delusions and tames my paranoia
CONS:
makes me tired
I love this medication. I have tried every atypical antipsychotic on the market and none of them work very well for me and I kept ending up in the hospital. I have had no hospitalization since going on haldol. Haldol is not for someone with mild symptoms. It is a very stong medication, but for someone who has severe symptoms and nothing else works it is a miracle drug.
skittleburst14 Newly Joined
Registered: August 2008
Thu August 14, 2008
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
PROS:
NONE
CONS:
head snapped back, neck temporarily paralyzed, could barely breathe for about 12 hours straight. AGONY
Like many others, I received this during an acute care hospitalization, and I'd sooner die than be administered this horrendous drug again. It makes you feel like absolute hell, the side effects were completely intolerable, and my psychotic/manic symptoms at the time were actually exacerbated to include relentless obsessive compulsive behavior. I repeated the same sequential motion of sitting on toilet, getting up, washing hands, turning around once, and walking out door. Returned and repeated this no less than 400 times in an hour. HELL.
Gianna New Member
Registered: October 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1
Thu October 25, 2007
Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
PROS:
none
CONS:
made my life a living hell in the hospital---sheer pain and agony
dangerous drug that can cause tardyve dyskinesia
prime23 New Member
Registered: April 2007 Location: California Posts: 5
Tue April 17, 2007
Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
PROS:
I guess it's all right in small doses. To tranquilize someone, it's better than nothing, I suppose.
CONS:
Akathisia (can't sit still). Extreme lethargy. Impotence. Depression.
In the US, this seems to be the preferred first-time treatment for patients suffering from psychotic symptoms. I guess it's what you get if they don't know who you are or what you've got. It's cheap and far more powerful than Thorazine. And patients hate it even more. My experience has been that the side effects make the cure worse than the disease.
gypsykayne Newly Joined
Registered: March 2007 Location: wash, u.s.
Tue March 13, 2007
Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 4
PROS:
no more hallucinations or severe delusions
CONS:
uncontrollable muscle tension and tremors(parkinsons like)
if taking this, probably need a scrip for the side effects(artane, cogentin, and benadryl are the ones ive used)
Special_K Newly Joined
Registered: July 2008 Location: Georgia, US
Thu November 2, 2006
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
PROS:
CONS:
had an averse reaction (not noted in above side effects)
I recieved an injection of this medication while I was in hospital. I developed an aversive reaction. My tongue started swelling so I couldn't talk and I developed severe shakes in my hands / legs / eyes. I had an injection to counter the side effects but it wasn't a very pleasant experience for me...
Tue September 12, 2006
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1
PROS:
none that I could see in my experience
CONS:
I recieved this medication during a hospitalization. after being released I quit taking it. to me it seemed like the floor was tilting. I had to walk with my hand on the walls in order to be able to walk. I felt like I was also moving in slow motion and everything looked far away from me.I am leaving the recommendation on yes because one persons flop medication can be another persons miracle drug.
