What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Haldol injection. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of treating you with Haldol against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about being treated with Haldol, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Haldol is used for
Haldol is used to control the symptoms of mental illnesses with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behaviour.
Haldol is a long-acting antipsychotic. It works by correcting the chemical imbalances in the brain, which may cause mental illness.
Your doctor may have prescribed Haldol for another use.
Ask your doctor or healthcare professional if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Haldol is not addictive.
Before you are given Haldol
When you must not be given it:
Do not give Haldol to anyone who is unconscious or in a coma.
You must not be given Haldol if you:
have severe drowsiness and slowness due to illness or the use of alcohol or medicine
suffer from severe depression
have or have ever had muscle stiffness, restricted or uncontrollable movement due to certain medical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease
have an allergy to Haldol or any of the ingredients. See Product Description at the end of this leaflet for a list of ingredients.
Signs of allergy may include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, and/or swollen face that may lead to difficulty breathing or swallowing.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
Do not give Haldol if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering and if it is beyond the expiry date (month and year) printed on the pack.
Before you are given it:
You must tell your doctor if you:
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Like most antipsychotic medicines, HALDOL is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits involved in taking it.
are breast feeding or wish to breastfeed
suffer from loss of contact with reality and inability to think and judge clearly, or from a general decline mental ability (e.g. dementia related psychosis)
have ever had bleeding in the brain, or your doctor has told you that you are more likely than other people to have a stroke
have or have ever had a heart problem, such as an unusual heart beat or a fast heartbeat, or are taking a heart medication
have or have ever had low blood pressure
have or have ever had a rare heart disorder known as QT-prolongation which sometimes runs in families
have or have ever had uncontrolled movements of the tongue, mouth, cheeks or jaws which may progress to the arms and legs (also known as tardive dyskinesia)
have or have ever had a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions (also known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
have or have ever had epileptic fits or convulsions
have or have ever had liver disease
have a very active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
have had blood clots, or a family history of blood clots. Blood clots in the lungs and legs have been seen in patients taking antipsychotic medicines
experience a significant increase in weight while taking other antipsychotic medications. Clinically significant weight gain has also been reported in patients taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor if:
you are taking medicines or have medical conditions which may cause an imbalance of potassium levels in your blood
you suffer from an imbalance of electrolytes (naturally occurring chemicals present in body fluids, that are needed for normal body functions).
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you are given Haldol.
Your doctor will advise you on whether you should receive Haldol or whether to adjust the dose or alter your treatment.
Taking other medicines:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
medicines used to control depression or mood swings (such as nefazodone, buspirone, venlafaxine, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, lithium, alprazolam, chlorpromazine)
antipsychotic medicines, used to treat mental illness
promethazine (which is used to treat allergies, nausea or vomiting)
antifungal medication (such as ketoconazole and itraconazole)
medicines known to cause electrolyte imbalance or imbalance of naturally occurring chemicals present in body fluids, that are needed for normal body functions.
alcohol or medicines which make you feel drowsy or slow your reactions, such as sleeping tablets, tranquillisers or strong painkillers
medicines used to lower high blood pressure and heart conditions (such as methyldopa)
medicines used to treat fast or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) such as quinidine
Certain cough and cold preparations and weight reduction medicines containing substances such as adrenaline
medicines that prevent adrenaline working, such as guanethidine
antibiotics such as rifampicin
medicines used to prevent travel sickness, treat Parkinson's Disease or relieve stomach cramps or spasms (anticholinergics)
medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa (Levodopa)
medicines used to treat epilepsy (such as carbamazapine, phenobarbital)
medicines used to slow or prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants).
These medicines may be affected by Haldol or may affect how well Haldol works. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
Effects on driving and operating machinery
Haldol can affect your alertness and ability to drive and operate machinery.
Do not drive or operate machinery until your doctor says it is safe.
Do not drink alcohol. Haldol can increase the effects of alcohol.
Using Haldol
How it is given:
Haldol will be given as an injection by your doctor or nurse into a muscle in the buttocks.
Haldol should not be given into a vein.
It is usually given every four weeks, however your doctor may lengthen or shorten this time.
Your doctor will decide how much Haldol you will be given. This will depend on your physical conditions such as your age, body weight, your medical history and conditions.
Your doctor will monitor you closely when you start receiving Haldol injection. Your dose and how often the injection is given may be altered, until the medicine controls your symptoms. Follow your doctor's instructions.
If you are elderly or physically unwell, you may need less Haldol. Your doctor may adjust your dose if necessary.
Haldol should not be used in children.
If you do not understand the instructions provided with this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
If you forget to use it:
If you have missed your next injection, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
If you are given too much (overdose):
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Poisons Information Centre telephone numbers:
As this medicine will be given to you by your doctor or nurse, it is unlikely that you will be given too much.
Signs of overdose of Haldol may include severe tremor, fainting or drowsiness.
While you are given Haldol
Things you must do:
Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. Seek your doctor's advice before changing or stopping Haldol treatment.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using Haldol.
If you are about to start taking a new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given Haldol.
Things you must not do:
Do not use Haldol to treat any other complaint unless your doctor says so
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Side Effects
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some side effects. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:
drowsiness or sleepiness
restlessness
constipation
increased salivation
nausea or vomiting
changes in sex drive in both men and women
weight gain
muscle rigidity or weakness
redness, burning or pain at the site Haldol is given
blurred vision
low blood pressure which may cause dizziness or headache
shaking or tremors
uncontrollable twitching or jerking movements of the arms and legs; worm-like movements of the tongue or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks or jaws which may progress to the arms and legs
uncontrollable muscle spasms affecting the eyes, head, neck and body
disease of the brain affecting movement, resulting in trembling, rigid posture, slow movements and a shuffling, unbalanced walk (parkinsonism)
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following as you may need urgent medical care:
difficulty in breathing, or deeper and faster breathing.
allergic reactions with signs such as skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, and/or swelling of the face, lips or throat that may lead to difficulty breathing or swallowing.
a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, stiff muscles, decreased mental alertness or fits (seizures).
fast or unusual heartbeat.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.
After using Haldol
Storage
Keep Haldol Injection in the pack until it is time to use them.
Keep Haldol Injection in a cool dry place where the temperature is below 25°C. Do not freeze or refrigerate it. Protect it from light.
Keep your medicines where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres (1.5 m) above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Do not store Haldol, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave medicines in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using Haldol Injection, or your medicine has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine which may be left over.
