Halop 5 mg

Description

Indications
Low doses:

• Used for managing nervousness, anxiety disorders, and associated conditions such as irritability, aggression, emotional instability, and insomnia.
• Helps alleviate functional disorders caused by anxiety, including trembling, chest tightness, gastrointestinal hypermotility, and digestive disturbances.
• Effective in treating tics and stuttering.
• Helps control nausea and vomiting.

Higher doses:

• Used in the treatment of psychomotor agitation associated with mania, dementia, schizophrenia (both acute and chronic), and alcoholism.
• Helps manage delusions and hallucinations in schizophrenia and acute confusion.
• Effective in controlling choreatic movements.
• Used for behavior and character disorders in children.
• Helps manage tics, stuttering, and vomiting.

Use this medication only as directed by a registered physician.

Pharmacology
Haloperidol is a butyrophenone derivative with strong antipsychotic properties. It is particularly effective in controlling hyperactivity, agitation, and manic states. As a neuroleptic agent, it possesses antiemetic effects and may also induce hypothermic and appetite-suppressing effects. Haloperidol enhances the sedative effects of barbiturates, general anesthetics, and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. The medication acts quickly, with a duration of approximately 12 hours after a single dose. Optimal treatment typically involves two daily administrations.

Dosage & Administration

Tablet:
Adults:

• Mild to moderate symptoms: 0.5 mg to 3.0 mg, taken 2 to 3 times daily.
• Severe symptoms: 3.0 mg to 5.0 mg, taken 2 to 3 times daily.
• Elderly patients: 0.5 mg to 4.5 mg, taken 2 to 3 times daily.
• Chronic or treatment-resistant cases: 3.0 mg to 6.0 mg, taken 2 to 3 times daily.

Some patients with severe conditions may require dosage adjustments. In rare cases, a daily dose of up to 100 mg may be necessary for optimal response.

Children:

• The recommended dose for behavioral disorders and schizophrenia in children is 50 micrograms per kg of body weight.

Injection (Intramuscular or Intravenous):

• For schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, and mania: Initial dose of 2–10 mg, followed by doses every 4–8 hours, with a maximum daily dose of 18 mg.
• Severely disturbed patients: An initial dose of up to 18 mg may be required.
• Elderly or debilitated patients: Start with half the adult dose.
• Children: Not recommended for use.

Use this medication only as directed by a registered physician.

Drug Interactions

• Haloperidol may reduce the anticoagulant effects of phenindione and potentially other anticoagulants.
• May counteract the effects of epinephrine and other sympathomimetic agents, as well as reverse the blood pressure-lowering action of adrenergic-blocking drugs like guanethidine.
• Can increase CNS effects when used with methyldopa.
• Inhibits metabolism of tricyclic antidepressants, leading to higher plasma levels and increased risk of side effects such as cardiovascular toxicity and reduced seizure threshold.
• May reduce the effectiveness of levodopa in Parkinson’s disease. If combined with an antiparkinsonian drug, both should not be stopped at the same time to prevent extrapyramidal symptoms.

Contraindications

• Not to be used in patients with coma, CNS depression due to alcohol or other sedatives, severe depression, pre-existing spastic disorders, basal ganglia lesions, or Parkinson’s disease, except in cases of dyskinesia caused by levodopa.
• Should not be used in individuals with hypersensitivity to haloperidol.
• Not recommended for elderly patients with Parkinson-like symptoms.

Side Effects
Haloperidol is generally considered a safe neuroleptic medication, but side effects may occur, including:

• Neurological effects: Headache, dizziness, insomnia, drowsiness, lethargy, confusion, restlessness, agitation, anxiety, euphoria, or worsening of psychotic symptoms (including hallucinations).
• Gastrointestinal effects: Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, excessive salivation, and loss of appetite.
• Other effects: Blurred vision, urinary retention, and occasional allergic reactions.

Use in Pregnancy & Lactation

• The safety of Haloperidol during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been well established.
• Should only be used in pregnant or nursing women if the potential benefits outweigh the risks, as determined by a physician.
• The drug is excreted in breast milk and may affect the infant.

Precautions & Warnings

• Haloperidol may lower the seizure threshold and could trigger seizures in individuals with epilepsy. Patients should continue their anticonvulsant medications while taking this drug.
• Caution is advised in patients with severe liver or kidney impairment, allergies, pheochromocytoma, and conditions predisposing to seizures (such as alcohol withdrawal or brain injury).
• Can enhance the effects of potent analgesics or sedatives, so dosage adjustments may be necessary in patients receiving these medications regularly.

Overdose Effects
In cases of overdose, symptoms may include:

• Severe extrapyramidal reactions
• Hypotension or sedation
• Coma with respiratory depression and severe hypotension, which may lead to a shock-like state.

Immediate medical attention is required in case of overdose.

Therapeutic Class

• Butyrophenone derivatives
• Drugs used for tremors, tics, and related disorders

Storage Conditions

• Store below 30°C, away from direct light.
• Keep out of reach of children.