Haloperidol (Haloperidol)
Overview of Haloperidol
Haloperidol is a tranquilizer which also has antiemetic, hypotensive and hypothermic actions. Administered orally or intramuscularly. Haloperidol is a neuroleptic/antipsychotic agent. Haloperidol is used to treat schizophrenia (mental disorder), to control of the vocal utterances and tics (an involutary, compulsive, repetative, and stereotype movement of face and shoulders) of tourette's syndrome and to control agitated and disrupted behavior.
Indication of Haloperidol
Haloperidol is primarily indicated in conditions like Adjunctive therapy, Agitation and restlessness, Anxiety, Childhood-onset pervasive dev. Disorder, Emesis, Gille de la tourette syndrome, Hypercalcaemia of malignancy, Hypomania, Intractable hiccup, Maintenance in schizophrenia and other psychoses, Mania, Motor TICS, Nausea and vomiting, Nausea and vomiting (palliative care), Neuroleptanalgesia, Osteolytic lesions and bone pain, Post-operative nausea and vomiting, Prophylaxis of macrocytic anaemias, Prostate cancer, flare with initial gonadorelin therapy, Psychosis, Refractory agitation, Relief of discomfort in mild UTIs, Resistant schizophrenia, Retlessness and confusion in palliative care, Schizophrenia, and can also be given in adjunctive therapy as an alternative drug of choice in Huntington's disease.
Contraindication of Haloperidol
Haloperidol is contraindicated in conditions like Cardiac arrhythmia,Depression,Parkinsonism,Thyrotoxicosis,Prostatic hypertrophy,Coma,Close-angle glaucoma.
Side Effects of Haloperidol
The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Haloperidol, which give rise to further complications include Tardive dyskinesia, Parkinsonism, Neurological complications, Akathisia, Oculogyric dystonia, Torticollis, Grimacing.,Haloperidol produces potentially life-threatening effects which include Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Neuroleptic sudden death syndrome. which are responsible for the discontinuation of Haloperidol therapy.,The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Haloperidol include Hypotension, Unconsciousness, Respiratory depression, Extrapyramidal effects.,The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Haloperidol are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Constipation, Dry mouth, Blurred vision, Urinary retensionX, Nasal stiffiness, Orthostatic hypotension, Urinary frequency, Cardiovascular effects.
Precautions of Haloperidol
Haloperidol should be used with caution in patients exposed to extreme heat or phosphorus insecticides, patients in state of alcohol withdrawal, patients with history of peptic ulcer, allergic reactions, with renal impairment, prostatic hypertropy. Photosensitization may occur, caution patients to take protective measures i.e. sunscreen e.t.c. against exposure to sunlight or UV light. Discontinue use atleast 48 hrs. before myelography.