Indications (short term): Control of accompanying of aggressive and tremulousness.
Normal dose and range: PO. For moderate symptoms should be 0.5-5mg per day. For severe symptoms 5-15mg per day and for geriatric or debilitated patients 0.5-3mg per day.
IV or IM. Normal dose would be 0.5-10mgs with a maximum dose of 30mg per day. These depend on the patients age, physical status and severity of symptoms.
The common side effects of haloperidol include, sedation, weakness, tremor, drowsiness, extrapyramidal side effects, pseudo parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, tardive dyskinesia and potentially irreversible neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Drug interactions: Using haloperidol with beta blockers can lead to an increase in the effect of both drugs so this combination should be avoided. Using this drug with alcohol can result in an increased risk of CNS depression, and antipsychotic-anticholinergic combinations can lead to increased anticholinergic effects so dose adjustments are necessary.
Contraindications: This drug is contraindicated with people who have underlying diseases; the diseases could be exacerbated with the dopamine blocking effects of this drug. It is also contraindicated in the following conditions: circulatory collapse, CNS depression, coronary disease, severe hypotension, Parkinson's disease, blood dyscrasias and bone marrow suppression. It is contraindicated in those with dementia because it can cause cardiovascular events and death.
Action: It bocks postsynaptic dopamine receptors in the brain.