Haloperidol

About haloperidol

Haloperidol is used to relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia and other problems which affect the way you think, feel or behave. These problems may make you hear, see or sense things that are not there, or believe things that are not true, or feel unusually suspicious. If you are taking haloperidol for these reasons, you may be prescribed tablets or capsules to take for a short while to get your symptoms under control, and then a long-acting, or 'depot', injection may be recommended for you. There is a separate medicine leaflet called Haloperidol long-acting injection which gives more information about this.

Haloperidol is also used for tics (movements which can't be controlled), sickness associated with advanced or terminal illnesses, and to treat persistent hiccups.

Before taking haloperidol

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking haloperidol it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• If you have a heart condition or blood vessel problems.

• Si tiene problemas de hígado, riñón o próstata.

• Si tiene problemas respiratorios.

• If you have any of the following: epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, depression, increased pressure in your eyes (glaucoma), or a condition causing muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.

• If you have ever had yellowing of your skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice), or a blood disorder.

• Si tiene un tumor en la glándula suprarrenal (feocromocitoma).

• If you have been told you have low levels of salts (electrolytes) in your blood.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a algún medicamento.

• Si toma o utiliza otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

How to take haloperidol

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about haloperidol and a full list of possible side-effects from taking it.

• Take haloperidol exactly as your doctor has told you to. You will be told what dose to take and when to take it, as this will depend upon the reason why you are taking haloperidol.

• When you first start taking haloperidol your doctor may give you a small dose and then gradually increase it. This will make sure that you have the dose that helps your condition and avoids any unwanted symptoms.

• You can take haloperidol before or after your meals. Swallow the dose with a drink of water.

• Try to take your doses at the same time of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela en cuanto se acuerde. Sin embargo, si cuando se acuerde es casi la hora de la siguiente dosis, no tome la dosis olvidada. No tome dos dosis juntas para compensar la dosis olvidada.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Your treatment will require careful monitoring to make sure that you get the best possible benefit from haloperidol. Keep your regular doctor's appointments so your progress can be checked. You will need to have some tests from time to time.

• Treatment with haloperidol for schizophrenia is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Keep taking it until your doctor tells you otherwise. Stopping suddenly can cause problems and your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually if this is necessary. If you have been given haloperidol to relieve severe agitation or anxiety, it will be given to you for a short time only until your symptoms have eased.

• Haloperidol may cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Use a sunscreen that protects against UVA light and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, especially in strong sunlight or until you know how your skin reacts. Do not use sunbeds.

• If you are having an operation or any dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking. This is important because haloperidol may interfere with any anaesthetic you receive.

• If you buy or take any 'over-the-counter' medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with haloperidol.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about drinking while you are on haloperidol. Alcohol may increase the chance that you experience side-effects and may not be recommended for you.

• Smoking may affect the amount of haloperidol in your body. Let your doctor know if you start or stop smoking while you are taking haloperidol.

• If you have diabetes check your blood glucose levels regularly, as haloperidol may affect the levels of sugar in your blood.

Can haloperidol cause problems?

Además de sus efectos útiles, la mayoría de los medicamentos pueden producir efectos secundarios no deseados, aunque no todas las personas los sufran. Estos suelen mejorar a medida que el organismo se adapta al nuevo medicamento, pero hable con su médico o farmacéutico si alguno de los siguientes efectos secundarios persiste o se vuelve molesto.

Important: if you experience any 'flu-like' symptoms including muscle stiffness, a very high temperature, confusion, a fast heartbeat, and sweating, you must contact your doctor immediately. These may be signs of a rare but serious condition known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que considere que puede deberse a este medicamento, consulte a su médico o farmacéutico.

How to store haloperidol

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera de la vista y del alcance de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.
  

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos