Haldol (haloperidol)

[dragonfly79]

Hello, everyone. I am wondering what your experiences have been with Haldol...not as in getting shots as PRN treatment in the hospital, but rather as in using it as a long term maintenance treatment for psychotic symptoms. Any info would be appreciated: the dose you were on, how often you took it, how it made you feel (good and bad), how long you were on it/have been on it, side effects, weight gain or loss, why you went off it if you did, etc. Anything you can tell me would be much appreciated.

 

It worked really well for me, but I switched to Abilify. I am considering going back on it since I will not have prescription insurance soon, and as you know, Abilify is very expensive while Haldol is cheap.

 

Thanks!

 

-Dragonfly

[notfred]

It has strong EPS and TD effects.

[dragonfly79]

It has strong EPS and TD effects.

Yes, that was a big concern of mine. Thanks for your reply.

[g8orgirl]

I was on Haldol long term injections for about two years, I would get the injection once every four weeks. I don't remember the exact dosage. It actually worked really well for my psychotic symptoms but the side effects got to be too much. I developed mild TD (which went away after I stopped taking it). I did not have any weight gain or loss. I don't know your gender but I am female and it affected my cycle quite a bit. I think Haldol can be great for some people as long as the side effects are tolerable.

[Velvet Elvis]

It has strong EPS and TD effects.

 

It can have them.  If OP didn't have problems with it on their first go-around, they are unlikely to happen on the second.

[cfranco92]

It gave me some pretty bad EPS but it stopped after I quit the meds. I took it for about 2-3 months. About 2mg. I stopped because it looked like I had parkinsons and I couldnt talk like a normal person. But it handled my psychosis pretty well.

[notfred]

Haldol has noted tardive side effects. Things show up later. The main advantage seems it is not sedating but still an effective antipsychotic

[jango]

I got very few side effects from it. I was on 0.5mg twice a day for a month, so 1mg daily. It effectively handled my hallucinations.

Edited May 22, 2013 by jango

[dragonfly79]

Great information, everyone! Thanks! I was on it for a year plus, at 100mg/ml monthly injection, and had some restlessness. No effects on my cycles or weight.  Anyone else have experience with Haldol?

[Ace]

Yepp, at 5mg daily. I didnt have any TD or noticeable weight gain/loss. However, it made me severely depressed when I am usually an energetic person. Didnt do much for psychosis, but I was only on it for 3 weeks (? or so) because the depression aspect fucking sucked balls. -Ace

[Squirlygrl]

I was sleepy. I used Cogentin with it, don't quite remember why as I don't recall any stiffness.  Effective, but I didn't love it.  I did appreciate loxapine but ended up with a tongue tremor, which resolved on discontinuation.

[San]

I was on 5-10mg of it a day and it helped a lot more than the shit I'm on now.

I took Artane for side effects (EPS and TD) as Cogentin and I don't play well.

[heavendj4]

Was given haloperidol 5mg tablets in hospital.

I lost my voice and couldnt put a sentence together.

I HAD to take cogentin with this.

BTW risperdal is meant to be the"new" haldol. They are similar drugs.

[dancingteapot]

i took 15mg for about 3 months. it worked well in the beginning but slowly my symptoms started creeping back up. it was a bummer because i thought i finally found my miracle pill. i had no side effects at all and didn't use cogentin.