Haldol Medication Side Effects

Haldol or haloperidol is a prescription injectable medication used to treat schizophrenia, other types of mental illness and Tourette's syndrome. Despite its effectiveness, Haldol poses a risk of side effects in some patients.

Types of Common Side Effects

• Common side effects of Haldol include headaches, dizziness, a sensation of spinning, drowsiness, insomnia, restlessness, anxiousness, skin rashes, breast enlargement, dry mouth, blurred vision and decreased urination. Some women develop irregular menstrual periods while being treated with Haldol.

Tardive Dyskinesia

• Tardive dyskinesia develops in some patients undergoing Haldol treatments, and in some cases, its effects are permanent, lasting beyond use of the drug. Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include involuntary twitches or tics of the facial muscles and rhythmically sticking the tongue in and out of the mouth.

Risks

• Some patients develop a life-threatening condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome during Haldol treatment, resulting in arrhythmia, changes in blood pressure and breakdown of muscle tissue. It is also possible to die suddenly while taking Haldol.

Warning

• Haldol is not safe for use in the treatment of dementia in patients older than 65. In such patients, Haldol causes cardiovascular complication or the onset of infections such as pneumonia, frequently resulting in death.

Drug Interactions

• When combined with lithium, Haldol has the potential to cause a condition known as encephalopathic syndrome, resulting in irreversible brain damage. Because of this, doctors rarely prescribe Haldol and lithium together.

Considerations

• Because there is no evidence as to its effects on fetal development, doctors avoid prescribing Haldol for pregnant women whenever possible. If you have a history of hypotension, mania, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, potassium deficiencies or thyroid disease, your doctor may not recommend Haldol due to its side effects.