Haloperidol: What Is It And What Is It Used For?
Haloperidol is an antipsychotic or neuroleptic drug. Due to its chemical structure, it is butyrophenone. It was discovered by Paul Janssen in 1958 and is a typical antipsychotic. It therefore helps to treat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions, or restlessness.
Haloperidol is a central nervous system depressant and therefore has a sedative effect. This effect is usually used to treat aggression and restlessness.
What is haloperidol used for?
Haloperidol is prescribed to people over 18 years of age for the treatment of the following diseases:
- Schizophrenia.
- Confused conditions that do not respond to therapies without medication.
- For manic periods associated with bipolar disorder.
- Psychomotor restlessness associated with psychotic illnesses.
- Aggression and psychotic symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and vascular dementia.
- Tic disorders such as Tourette’s syndrome that does not respond to other types of treatment.
- Huntington’s disease that does not respond to other types of treatment.
Experts prescribe haloperidol for children as a last resort when other treatments do not work or when the patient does not tolerate other treatments. Haloperidol is a medicine that is prescribed to treat:
- Schizophrenia in 13-17 year olds.
- Aggression in children and teens 6-17 years of age who also suffer from autism or some developmental disorder.
- Tic disorders such as Tourette’s syndrome in children and adolescents aged 10-17 years.
Researchers are also currently investigating the use of haloperidol to prevent delusions. When taken in low doses, haloperidol appears to be useful in reducing the effects of delusions in high-risk patients as well as in patients undergoing surgery. It can also help prevent nausea and vomiting, especially after surgery or chemotherapy. Several studies have confirmed the efficacy and ease of use of haloperidol, especially for the latter use.
Mechanism of action
Haloperidol is a potent antagonist of dopamine receptors. Its action is based on non-selective inhibition of the D2 receptor. It also blocks alpha-1-adrenergic receptors, but to a lesser extent.
By blocking the intake of dopamine, it reduces its excessive amount in the brain. Haloperidol thus suppresses delusional thoughts and hallucinations. It also causes psychomotor fatigue, which is useful in many cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Haloperidol and its side effects
Just like almost all other psychotropic drugs, haloperidol also has some side effects. They tend to join the mechanism of action. In fact, most of the side effects of haloperidol are due to the inhibition of dopamine in other areas of the body. The most common side effects are:
- Extrapyramidal symptoms
- Insomnia
- Excitement
- Overactivity
- Migraines
Other more unusual side effects include:
- Psychotic disorders
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Tumors
- Hypertension
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Dystonia
- Sleepiness
- Urinary retention
- Erectile dysfunction
- Nausea and vomiting
- Visual disturbances
Haloperidol and other drugs
Experts do not recommend taking this medicine with other antipsychotic medicines as it may increase the severity of side effects. Extrapyramidal symptoms may also worsen.
A serious side effect can lead to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). While it is not common, it is best to be aware of it. This will make it easier to make an early diagnosis if there is any doubt about its occurrence. It causes, among other things, muscle stiffness, high fever and cardiac arrhythmias. It is therefore important to follow the advice of an expert, as they are responsible for managing the treatment and assessing its effectiveness and potential risks.
Haloperidol treatment should be initiated at low doses. The physician may then suggest increasing it depending on the patient’s response and needs, as well as assessing the relationship between the benefits and the cost of treatment. To avoid side effects, the dose should always be as low as possible.
Physicians should exercise caution when prescribing haloperidol to elderly patients and young children. He or she will need to adjust the dose and watch for any other side effects that may occur.
