Introduction
Halopid is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of schizophrenia (a mental disorder in which a person develops unreal thoughts and behavior). It is also used to treat Tourette syndrome (chronic multiple motor and vocal problems and involuntary responses) in adults and children.
Halopid can also be used for treating psychosis, mania, severe behavior problems in adults and children. It may be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time each day. Take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor and if you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. It is important that this medication is not stopped suddenly without talking to your doctor as it may worsen your symptoms.
Some common side effects of this medicine include dry mouth, abnormality of voluntary movements, urinary retention, constipation, and muscle rigidity. Initially, this medicine may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when you change positions, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Before taking it, inform your doctor if you are suffering from thyroid or kidney problems, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, or any heart problems. You should not take this medicine if you are under the influence of alcohol or any sleep-inducing, cough, and/ or allergy medication. This medicine can also lead to weight gain, eat a healthy balanced diet, avoid snacking with high-calorie food, and exercise regularly.
Side effects of Halopid
Common
- Abnormality of voluntary movements
- Constipation
- Dryness in mouth
- Increased prolactin level in blood
- Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing)
- Sleepiness
- Weight gain
How to use Halopid
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Halopid may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Halopid works
Halopid is a typical antipsychotic. It works by blocking the action of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain that affects thoughts and mood.
Indication
Schizophrenia, Delirium, Hiccups, Acute psychosis, Hyperactivity, Aggression, Agitation and confusion, Tic disorders, Tourette syndrome, Chorea, Nausea and vomiting, Dementia.
Administration
May be taken with or without food. May be taken w/ meals to minimise GI irritation.
Adult Dose
Oral
Psychoses
Adult: 0.5-5 mg bid/tid, may increase up to 100 mg daily in severe or resistant cases. Usual maintenance: 3-10 mg daily.
Tourette's syndrome; Severe tics
Adult: Initially, 0.5-1.5 mg tid. Up to 30 mg daily may be required in Tourette's syndrome; adjust dose carefully to obtain optimum response; usual maintenance: 4 mg daily.
Short-term adjunct in severe anxiety or behavioral disturbances
Adult: 0.5 mg bid.
Restlessness and confusion
Adult: 1-3 mg every 8 hr.
Intractable hiccup
Adult: 1.5 mg tid, adjust according to response.
Intramuscular
Acute psychosis
Adult: Doses range from 2-10 mg, may be given every hr or at intervals of 4-8 hr, until symptoms are controlled. Max: 18 mg/day. For emergency control of severely disturbed patients: Up to 18 mg may be given IV/IM.
Elderly:
PO: Lower initial doses and more gradual adjustments recommended; 0.25-0.5 mg PO q8-12hr initially
IM (prompt-acting): Lower adult doses and longer dosing intervals recommended compared with typical adult doses
Child Dose
<3 years: Safety and efficacy not established
Psychosis/Sedation
3-12 years (15-40 kg): 0.25-0.5 mg/day PO divided q8-12hr initially; may be increased by 0.5 mg/day every 5-7 days PRN; maintenance: 0.05-0.15 mg/kg/day PO divided q8-12hr
6-12 years: Lactate (prompt-acting): 1-3 mg IM q4-8hr PRN; not to exceed 0.15 mg/kg/day
>12 years: Moderate disease, 0.5-2 mg PO q8-12hr initially; severe disease, 3-5 mg PO q8-12hr; not to exceed 30 mg/day
Tourette Disorder
3-12 years: 0.5 mg/day PO initially; dose increased by 0.5 mg every 5-7 days until therapeutic effect achieved, then reduced to lowest effective maintenance level of 0.05-0.075 mg/kg/day PO divided q8-12hr
>12 years: 0.5-2 mg PO q8-12hr initially; if severe symptoms necessitate increased dosage, titrate upward to 3-5 mg PO q8-12hr; if patient remains inadequately controlled, daily doses up to 100 mg have been used (safety not determined)
Behavioral Disorders
3-12 years: 0.5 mg/day PO initially; dose increased PRN by 0.5 mg every 5-7 days until therapeutic effect achieved, then reduced to lowest effective maintenance level of 0.05-0.075 mg/kg/day PO divided q8-12hr
Acute Agitation
<12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
>12 years: 0.5-3 mg PO, repeated in 1 hour PRN; alternatively, 2-5 mg IM, repeated in 1 hr PRN
Contraindication
Severe toxic CNS depression; preexisting coma; Parkinson's disease; lactation.
Mode of Action
Haloperidol blocks postsynaptic dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the mesolimbic system and decreases the release of hypothalamic and hypophyseal hormones. It produces calmness and reduces aggressiveness with disappearance of hallucinations and delusions.
Precaution
Parkinsonism; epilepsy, allergy, angle-closure glaucoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia; severe cardiac or hepatic disease; extremes in temp (hot and cold weather); presence of acute infections or leucopenia; hyperthyroidism; pregnancy, elderly, children. Patients receiving anticoagulants. Discontinue upon signs of neurological toxicity in patients taking haloperidol and lithium.
Lactation: Drug enters breast milk; not recommended
Side Effect
Extrapyramidal symptoms
Akathisia,Dystonia,Muscle stiffness,Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS; infrequent but serious),Parkinsonism,Tardive dyskinesia
Common
Anticholinergic effects,Sedation,Weight gain,Erectile dysfunction,Oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea
Less common
Orthostatic hypotension (after IM injection), tachycardia
Agitation, anxiety, cerebral edema, depression, dizziness, euphoria, headache, insomnia, poikilothermia, restlessness, weakness, confusion
Anorexia, constipation, dyspepsia, ileus, decreased gag reflex
Lens opacities (prolonged use)
Uncommon
ECG changes,Photosensitivity,Pruritus,Diarrhea,Blood dyscrasia,Ejaculatory disorder,Galactorrhea
Rare
Seizure,Cholestatic jaundice,Priapism
Potentially Fatal: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Interaction
Carbamazepine and rifampicin reduce plasma concentrations. Symptoms of CNS depression may be enhanced by CNS depressants e.g. alcohol, hypnotics, general anaesthetics, anxiolytics and opioids. May reduce antihypertensive action of guanethidine. May increase risk of arrhythmia when used with drugs that prolong QT interval or diuretics that can cause electrolyte imbalance. May increase plasma levels of haloperidol when used with clozapine or chlorpromazine.
Potentially Fatal: Increases lithium blood levels and may predispose to neuroleptic malignant syndrome.