Haloperidol is a medicine that helps with mental health conditions such as:
- confusion and aggression at the end of life (palliative care)
- feelings of agitation or anxiety
- schizophrenia, where you may see, hear or feel things that are not there, believe things that are not true, feel unusually suspicious, or have muddled thoughts
- the mania symptoms of bipolar disorder, where your mood changes from feeling highly excited (mania) to feeling very low (depression)
- severe confusion and aggression in Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, if other treatments have not worked
It's also used as an anti-sickness medicine to treat:
- feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) caused by general anaesthetics, used to put you to sleep for an operation
- feeling or being sick at the end of life (palliative care)
It also treats some conditions that affect movement, such as severe Tourette's syndrome.
Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medicine that works by blocking certain types of nerve (neuron) activity in the brain. This can help with feelings of anxiety and other symptoms of mental health conditions. It also helps block activity in the area of the brain that controls feeling and being sick.
Haloperidol is only available on prescription.
It comes as tablets and as a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given as an injection but this is usually done in hospital.
Key facts
- Haloperidol tablets and liquid start to work after 1 to 2 hours. If you're taking it for a long-term mental health condition, it may take several weeks to feel the full benefit.
- Common side effects include feeling dizzy, constipation and a dry mouth. They're usually mild and go away by themselves.
- If you start or stop smoking during treatment, tell your medical team, as your dose may need to be changed.
- It's best not to drink alcohol while taking haloperidol. It can increase the chance of side effects, such as feeling sleepy and low blood pressure.
- Do not drive, cycle or use machinery if you feel tired or dizzy after taking haloperidol.