What is haloperidol used for? | Detailed Explanation

What is haloperidol used for? Before talking about this question, we will give a simple introduction to haloperidol. It is a white crystalline powder with odorless and tasteless, which is soluble in chloroform, slightly soluble in ethanol and ether, and almost insoluble in water. This product belongs to the class of butyl benzoyl antipsychotics, and its antipsychotic effect is related to its blocking of dopamine receptors in the brain. 

Meanwhile, Haloperidol has the function of promoting the transformation of dopamine in the brain. It has a good anti-hallucinatory delusion, anti-agitation effect, a strong effect on blocking extrapyramidal dopamine, and antiemetic effect. However, there is a weak effect on sedation and blocking alpha-adrenergic receptors and choline receptors.

What is haloperidol used for?

1. Haloperidol can be used to treat schizophrenia, mania, and Tourette's syndrome. Patients with Tourette's syndrome will have limb twitches and uncivilized language such as cursing.

2. It can be used to cure brain organic and senile mental disorders. The person who has the symptoms of nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy can use this drug to relieve the condition. It also can prevent these symptoms after the operation.

3. It can prevent and treat delirium in patients in intensive care units and phencyclidine caused by psychosis. It can be used for rapid sedation of agitated state, aggression and violent behavior.

Adverse reaction when taking haloperidol

After talking about the question of “What is haloperidol used for?”, we will introduce some notices and side effects when taking this medicine.

1. Extrapyramidal reactions are more severe and common, and acute dystonia is more likely to happen in children and adolescents with obvious torsion spasms, dysphagia, and sedentary inability or resembling Parkinson's disease.

2. The patients who take this drug for long-term and heavy use can have tardive dyskinesia.

3. Sometimes, it may lead to dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, fatigue, and sweating when taking it.

4. When taking it, the patients can experience an increase in plasma prolactin concentration, which is related to these symptoms including galactorrhea, gynecomastia, menstrual disorders, and amenorrhea. A few patients may lead to depressive reactions.

5. Occasionally allergic rash, granulocytopenia, and malignant syndrome will occur if the side effects happen.

During treatment, the patients should follow up to check the amount of white blood cells. If taken for a large amount or long-term time, a regular liver function check is needed. And pay close attention to early symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. Do not use this product when its quality and shape have changed.

Are there some contraindications when taking haloperidol?

1. This product is not suitable for tremor paralysis or severe toxic central nervous depression patients.

2. It should not be used to treat patients who are allergic to this drug, heart dysfunction, bone marrow suppression, or myasthenia gravis patients.

3. There have been reports showing that it is prohibited for pregnant women and breastfeeding women. 

Drug interaction

1. When combined with narcotics, analgesics, and hypnotics, these drugs can be mutually reinforcing, but the dose should be reduced.

2. When combined with fluoxetine, it can make extrapyramidal reactions more serious.

3. When combined with methyldopa, it can aggravate mental symptoms and should be avoided. 

4. When taking antihypertensive drugs with it, blood pressure can be excessively reduced. When combined with epinephrine, it can make blood pressure drop.

5. The use of phenobarbital can reduce the blood concentration of this product.

Matters needing attention when taking haloperidol

1. It has been reported that this medicine can cause respiratory muscle movement disorders after intramuscular injection, so we should pay attention to using it. And it is not friendly for patients with pulmonary insufficiency and liver dysfunction.

2. It can affect liver function, but can gradually recover after stopping the drug. Children can cause serious dystonia, so we should be particularly cautious after the drug.

3. The patients with epilepsy, heart disease, glaucoma, renal insufficiency, and urinary retention, hyperthyroidism should be careful when using this product.

Conclusion:

Finally, it is necessary to conclude on the topic of “What is haloperidol used for”. Haloperidol is a kind of antipsychotic drug, which has the effect of stimulating the central nervous system, anti-hallucination, and delusion, relieving anxiety and tension. It is mainly used to treat schizophrenia, mania, and tourette syndrome, but also can be used to treat severe depression, manic depression, senile mental disorders, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, and so on.