Potential Side Effects of Haldol (Haloperidol)

Haldol (haloperidol) is a typical antipsychotic drug effectively used in the management of mania, agitation, and psychosis in various mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder.

While Haldol can be an effective treatment, it also carries the risk of significant side effects. A person who is taking Haldol and their loved one should be aware of the potential side effects, some of which are medical emergencies.

Haldol is not approved for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis in older adults. The FDA issued a black box warning on all antipsychotic drugs due to the increased risk of death in this population. Most deaths were caused by either a cardiovascular event (heart failure, sudden death) or an infection (pneumonia).

Haloperidol Side Effects

Unfortunately, all of the drugs used to treat psychosis carry some risk for side effects. Choosing a medication to treat psychosis is often a process of choosing which side effects you are most able to tolerate.

Less Serious Side Effects

There are several less serious side effects that people may experience while using Haldol. Though these side effects are not an emergency and don't usually mean that you need to stop the medication, talk to your doctor if you find them bothersome. There are sometimes measures you can take to manage these side effects.

More common mild side effects include:

• Blurred vision
• Breast swelling or pain in women
• Changes in menstrual period
• Constipation
• Mouth dryness
• Unusual secretion of milk from breasts
• Weight gain

Less common mild side effects include:

• Decreased sexual ability
• Drowsiness
• Increased sun sensitivity (involving skin rash, itching, redness or other skin discoloration, or severe sunburn)
• Nausea or vomiting

Potentially Serious Side Effects

Some of the following side effects may be less serious, but should prompt you to call your doctor as soon as possible.

More common serious side effects include:

• Difficulty in speaking or swallowing
• Inability to move eyes
• Loss of balance control
• Mask-like face
• Muscle spasms, especially in the neck and back
• Severe restlessness or need to keep moving
• Shuffling walk
• Stiffness of arms and legs
• Trembling and shaking of fingers and hands
• Twisting body movements
• Weakness of arms and legs

Less common serious side effects include:

• Decreased thirst
• Difficulty urinating
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Hallucinations
• Lip-smacking or puckering
• Puffing of cheeks
• Rapid or worm-like tongue movements
• Skin rash
• Uncontrolled arm and leg movements
• Uncontrolled chewing movements

Rare but serious side effects:

• Confusion
• Hot, dry skin, or lack of sweating
• Increased blinking or eyelid spasms
• Muscle weakness
• Sore throat and fever
• Uncontrolled twisting movements of neck, trunk, arms, or legs
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual facial expressions or body positions
• Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)

Emergency Side Effects

There are some side effects of Haldol that while uncommon, are potentially extremely serious. If you note any of these side effects, stop taking Haldol and seek help immediately. In the case of some of these side effects, such as seizures, you may be unable to call yourself.

Potential emergency side effects include:

• Convulsions (seizures from neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
• Difficult or fast breathing
• Fast heartbeat or irregular pulse
• High fever
• Increased sweating
• Low blood pressure
• Severe muscle stiffness
• Unusually pale skin

Tardive Dyskinesia With Haldol

Haldol can cause a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This disorder is thought to occur due to an increased brain sensitivity to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Signs of tardive dyskinesia include fine, worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, or arms and legs. These symptoms may not go away after you stop taking the drug.

Unfortunately, this side effect common with long-term use. Approximately 24% to 32% of people taking this medication might develop some degree of tardive dyskinesia.

You may wish to go over the alternative medications that are available and determine which ones have a side effect profile that you find would be more tolerable for you.

For those who need to take Haldol, research is in progress looking at methods of decreasing the risk of tardive dyskinesia. Many of the studies, such as those looking at antioxidants such as Ginkgo biloba or alpha-tocopherol (a type of vitamin E), have only been done on animals in the lab. Before starting the medication, talk to your doctor about any options she feels may decrease your risk.​

Overdose and Discontinuation

When you're discontinuing Haldol, you may experience trembling in your fingers and hands, along with uncontrolled movements of your mouth, tongue, and jaw. If you do have these side effects, notify your doctor as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a Haldol overdose include:

• Jerking
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Severe dizziness
• Severe drowsiness
• Severe muscle trembling
• Severe, unusual tiredness, or weakness
• Stiffness or uncontrolled movements

If you experience these symptoms, seek emergency medical assistance.