What is Haldol Decanoate: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Haldol is given by a healthcare provider.

The injection is made deeply into a muscle.

Keep all appointments if this injection is being given on an outpatient basis.

Haldol is administered by a healthcare provider. Ask the prescriber how to manage a missed appointment or missed dose.

The prescribing information does not provide specific guidelines for what a healthcare provider should do if a dose is missed. However, individual health insurance plans and health systems often have their own guidelines for managing missed doses of long-acting antipsychotics.

This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you have had an allergic reaction to haloperidol or have:

• Parkinson’s disease

• Dementia with Lewy bodies

• A history of severe slowing of the central nervous system (such as after an overdose of drugs) or coma

The FDA has not approved haloperidol for use in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis because of the significant risk of stroke and death.

The healthcare provider needs to meet with the patient regularly to assess treatment, perform lab tests, and check for side effects. If you or a person you’re caring for is receiving Haldol on an outpatient basis, keep all appointments with all healthcare team members.

Tell all other healthcare providers who treat you or someone you are caring for about all the medications being taken.

Tell your doctor if you or the person taking Haldol is pregnant, breastfeeding, or has:

• Liver problems

• Bone marrow problems

• Heart disease

• Heart rhythm abnormalities

• Blood vessel disease

• A history of seizures

• Thyroid problems

• Allergies

• A history of breast cancer

Do not breastfeed while you are using this medicine.

Haloperidol can cause serious problems: 

• Heart rhythm changes

• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a potentially life-threatening nervous system complication of antipsychotic drugs 

• Tardive dyskinesia, a potentially permanent side effect of antipsychotic medications that involves repeated involuntary facial movements

• Other types of involuntary muscle movements like jerking or spasms

• Bronchitis or pneumonia

• Seizures

• Blood disorders

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause trouble with thinking or controlling body movements, which may lead to falls, fractures, or other injuries. It also commonly causes a cluster of neurological problems similar to Parkinson’s disease. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Haloperidol may make patients more vulnerable to infections. Take precautions to avoid infections through standard measures such as handwashing and avoiding people who are sick with a communicable disease.

Haloperidol may make you overheat easily. Be cautious about hot weather and exertional exercise.

Haldol should not be discontinued suddenly. The prescriber may need to slowly decrease the dose before stopping it completely.

To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements being taken, particularly:

• Drugs that treat seizures

• Blood thinners

• Drugs that treat heart rhythm problems

• Other antipsychotic medications

• Drugs that treat bipolar disorder

• Drugs that treat depression

• Drugs that make you sleepy, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and sleeping pills

• Other drugs that can affect heart rhythms

• Macrolide antibiotics

• Bupropion, buspirone, carbidopa/levodopa, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lithium, promethazine, quinidine, rifampin, ritonavir, St. John’s wort

Do not drink alcohol or use cannabinoid products while you are using this medicine.

Tell other doctors who treat you or the person you’re caring for that they’re on monthly Haldol injections. Haldol can cause serious problems with new drugs that they prescribe or with anesthetics such as ketamine or esketamine.