What is the use of Haldol (Haloperidol)?

From the Guidelines

Haldol (Haloperidol) Use

Haldol, also known as haloperidol, is a typical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, acute psychosis, and agitation 1.

• The typical oral dose ranges from 0.5 to 5 milligrams, administered two to three times daily, with a maximum daily dose of 20 milligrams.
• For intramuscular administration, a dose of 2.5 to 10 milligrams is typically used, with a maximum dose of 20 milligrams per day 1.
• The treatment duration is usually several weeks to months, depending on the clinical response and tolerability.
• Haloperidol has a strong evidence base for the treatment of agitation, especially when compared to other conventional antipsychotics 1.
• It is often used as a second-line therapy in patients who cannot tolerate or do not respond to atypical antipsychotic agents 1.
• However, its use is associated with significant side effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia, particularly in elderly patients 1.
• Therefore, it should be used with caution and at the lowest effective dose to minimize the risk of adverse effects.

From the FDA Drug Label

Haloperidol tablets are indicated for use in the management of manifestations of psychotic disorders. Haloperidol tablets are indicated for the control of tics and vocal utterances of Tourette’s Disorder in children and adults Haloperidol tablets are effective for the treatment of severe behavior problems in children of combative, explosive hyperexcitability Haloperidol tablets are also effective in the short-term treatment of hyperactive children who show excessive motor activity with accompanying conduct disorders

The use of Haldol (Haloperidol) is for the management of:

• Psychotic disorders
• Tourette’s Disorder (control of tics and vocal utterances)
• Severe behavior problems in children
• Hyperactive children with conduct disorders 2

From the Research

Use of Haldol (Haloperidol)

Haldol, also known as Haloperidol, is a widely used antipsychotic medication. The following are some of its uses:

• Treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders 3
• Management of psychosis-induced aggression or agitation (rapid tranquillisation) 4
• Treatment of acute psychosis 5

Efficacy of Haloperidol

The efficacy of Haloperidol has been studied in various trials:

• A systematic review of 63 randomised trials found that Haloperidol was effective in treating schizophrenia, with no clear evidence of a difference in efficacy between Haloperidol and other first-generation antipsychotic agents 3
• A study found that Haloperidol was effective in reducing positive symptoms of schizophrenia, and that negative symptoms also improved in some patients 6
• Another study found that intramuscular Haloperidol was effective in treating acute psychosis, but was associated with a higher incidence of movement disorders compared to ziprasidone 5

Dosage and Administration

The optimal dosage of Haloperidol has been studied:

• A review of 19 trials found that doses of Haloperidol in the range of 3 to 7.5 mg/day were effective and had a lower rate of extrapyramidal adverse effects compared to higher doses 7
• A study found that fixed doses of Haloperidol (10,20 or 30 mg/day) were effective in treating schizophrenia, with no differences in clinical response found between the different doses 6

Side Effects

Haloperidol can cause several side effects, including:

• Extrapyramidal adverse effects, such as dystonia and akathisia 3, 7, 4
• Movement disorders, such as parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia 5
• Other adverse effects, such as sedation, dry mouth, and blurred vision 4, 5