How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient haloperidol, which is a type of medicine known as an antipsychotic. It belongs to the butyrophenone group of the older 'typical' antipsychotics. It is sometimes described as a neuroleptic or a 'major tranquilliser', though this last term is fairly misleading, as this type of medicine is not just a tranquilliser, but has many actions in a variety of mental illnesses. Haloperidol works by blocking a variety of receptors in the brain, particularly dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a natural compound called a neurotransmitter, and is involved in transmitting messages between brain cells. Psychotic illness, and particularly schizophrenia, is considered to be caused by overactivity of dopamine in the brain. Haloperidol blocks the receptors that dopamine acts on, and this prevents the overactivity of dopamine in the brain. This helps to control psychotic illness. Haloperidol improves disturbed thoughts, feelings and behaviour in various mental conditions, including schizophrenia, mania, and behavioural disorders that involve aggression or severe agitation or excitement. It produces a calming effect and controls aggression, delusions and hallucinations. Haloperidol is also used to treat Tourette's syndrome, which is a condition involving involuntary muscle twitching and obscene speech. Haloperidol also affects receptors in an area of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting. For this reason, it is sometimes used to provide relief from nausea and vomiting, though this is uncommon these days as there are other drugs available. Haloperidol is also effective in treating persistant hiccups, though how it works in this case is unclear.

What is it used for?

Agitation and restlessness in the elderly

Childhood behavioural disorders, especially when associated with aggression and hyperactivity

Mental or behavioural problems, eg aggression, hyperactivity, self-mutilation, in people with brain damage or mental retardation

Moderate to severe agitation, excitement, violent or dangerously impulsive behaviour

Nausea and vomiting

Persistant hiccups

Psychotic illness

Schizophrenia

Severe involuntary muscle twitches (tics)

Syndrome characterised by involuntary repetition of speech, particularly obscene or vulgar words (Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome)

Treatment of mania and hypomania

Warning!

This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.

You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking this medicine. These symptoms may be indicative of a rare side effect known as tardive dyskinesia, and your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine, or decrease your dose.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and your treatment may need to be stopped.

Use with caution in

Abnormal heart rhythm seen on the heart monitoring trace (ECG) as a 'prolonged QT interval'

Alcoholism

Depression

Disease involving the heart and blood vessels

Elderly people

Epilepsy

Kidney failure

Liver disease

Low blood magnesium levels (hypomagnesaemia), eg resulting from malabsorption, chronic alcoholism, malnutrition or severe diarrhoea

Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia)

Low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcaemia)

People with conditions that increase the risk of epilepsy or convulsions, eg brain damage

Thyroid disease

Tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)

Not to be used in

Disorders affecting a specific part of the brain involved in control of movement (basal ganglia), eg Parkinson's disease or Huntington's chorea

Parkinson's disease

Reduced awareness, slow reactions or drowsiness due to medicines or illness that reduce activity in the central nervous system

Unresponsive unconscious states (comatose states)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk and may have adverse effects on a nursing infant. Mothers who need to take this medicine should discuss the risks and benefits of breastfeeding with their doctor.

Label warnings

This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.

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