If you or your child have been prescribed haloperidol, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.
Dosage
Your dose of haloperidol depends on why you're taking it. The usual dose for adults is from 1mg to 10mg per day.
You might take this as several small doses spread out through the day, or as 1 or 2 larger doses. Your doctor will advise you on when to take it.
Doses for children aged from 6 to 11 years old depend on their weight.
Your dose may change depending on how well it's working for you and whether you get any side effects.
Important: Haloperidol doses and smoking
Tell your doctor if you start or stop smoking, or if you suddenly change how much you smoke. Your dose of haloperidol may need to be changed.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
If you're taking haloperidol liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have one, ask a pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.
Haloperidol also comes as an injection, but this will usually be given by a nurse.
How long to take it for
If you're taking haloperidol for feeling or being sick, agitation or anxiety, you'll usually only need to take it for a short time.
If you're taking it for a mental health condition you may need to take it for a long time.
It's important to keep taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you. If you want to stop taking haloperidol, talk to your doctor first.
If you forget to take it
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time.
Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed dose.
If you often forget doses it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
Taking too much haloperidol can be dangerous.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you've taken more than your prescribed dose of haloperidol
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the haloperidol packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.
Stopping haloperidol
It's important you do not suddenly stop taking haloperidol, unless a healthcare professional tells you to.
Suddenly stopping haloperidol can cause withdrawal effects, including feeling or being sick and having difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
It's usually best to reduce your dose gradually, especially if you've been taking it for a long time.
Sometimes, stopping haloperidol can make your symptoms come back. This can happen weeks or months after you finish a course. If this happens, talk to your doctor.