Description of Haldol side effects.
Haldol
Haldol is an anti-psychotic medication generally prescribed for the long term care of antipsychotic therapy.
Caution should be used prescribing this medication. Haldol can cause psychotic behavior and hallucinations. Haldol should never be taken within 14 days of antidepressant usage.
If you just reread the above paragraphs twice, you read correctly. It can and does cause the same psychotic reactions it is prescribed to treat.
The most common side effect experienced by patients in clinical trials with HALDOL were extrapyramidial reactions (EPS), a syndrome involving involuntary facial, arm, leg and body movements. In most cases, these reactions were usually mild to moderately severe and usually reversible. The side effects of HALDOL Decanoate 100 and HALDOL Decanoate 50 are those of oral HALDOL. The prolonged action of HALDOL Decanoate 100 and HALDOL Decanoate 50 should be considered in the management of side effects.
DRUGS AND FOODS TO AVOID:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicine, including over-the-counter products.
· Make sure your doctor knows if you are also taking lithium, seizure medicine, sedatives, sleeping pills, narcotic pain-killers, muscle relaxants, cold or allergy medicine, or methyldopa (AldometŪ, AldorilŪ).
· Avoid drinking alcohol while using this medicine.
WARNINGS:
· If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
· Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you have heart or lung disease, a seizure disorder (epilepsy), an enlarged prostate, glaucoma, trouble urinating, Parkinson's disease, depression, or an allergy to tartrazine or aspirin.
· This medicine may make you more sensitive to sunlight and heat. Avoid sunlamps, hot tubs, tanning beds, and saunas. Take care not to get overheated during exercise or outdoor activity. Use a sunscreen when outdoors.
· There is a risk of having tardive dyskinesia (TAR-div dis-ken-EE-zha) while taking this medicine. This causes uncontrollable muscle movements. Discuss this risk with your doctor.
SIDE EFFECTS
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:
· Unexplained fever or muscle stiffness
· Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
· Movements or tremors in the face, neck, jaw or eyes that you cannot control
· Yellowing of eyes or skin
· Skin rash
If you have problems with these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor.
· Trouble sleeping, restlessness
· Drowsiness, depression, or headache
· Hallucinations or confusion
· Irregular menstrual periods
· Dry mouth
· Nausea, vomiting, or constipation
IF YOU HAVE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS THAT YOU THINK ARE CAUSED BY THIS MEDICINE, TELL YOUR DOCTOR.