Skip to main content

Haloperidol User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

Brand names: Haldol, Haldol Decanoate

Haloperidol has an average rating of 4.4 out of 10 from a total of 204 reviews on Drugs.com. 32% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 54% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Haloperidol

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Chr...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 29, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "I went to the ER due to kidney stones and vomiting. The ER doctor gave me Haldol. This drug is awful. I thought the room was closing in on me, and my jaw started spasming. I had my first-ever panic attack at age 44. No freaking way would I have agreed to take this drug had they told me what it's normally used for. It took me days to feel better. They had to give me two injections of another drug to make the Haldol side effects stop."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Thi...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • July 8, 2018

For Tourette's Syndrome "I was diagnosed with Tourette's back in 1988 when I was 12 and tried lots of meds, but the haldol/haloperidol works really well for me. I've been taking it for 25 years or so, and I've never had a single side effect that I am aware of. I take 1 mg 3 times per day, and honestly, when I take it on time each and every day, if you didn't know I had Tourette's, you'd never guess it. My doctor does a liver panel every 6 months before I get refills to make sure it's not doing me harm. I am 42 years old now, so who knows how it will affect me as I get older, but as of now, I have no intentions of getting off of it... My experience."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
13 Report
  • Daw...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • January 26, 2025

For Psychosis "I have been on a few meds: risperidone, amisulpride, Abilify, Invega, and currently haloperidol. They all made me put on weight (especially Invega), except for haloperidol, which kept me the same weight. They all also made me really lazy and gave various other side effects. I know when I come completely off them, I feel fantastic and motivated and take off the weight as I am not eating as much and exercising, but I relapse. So, I found a couple of articles saying that once on a maintenance dose, some people can go on antipsychotics every other day to avoid some side effects. I have been doing this for about two weeks. I was on 3 mg every day, but now I am on 3 mg every other day. Before I started this, I spent most of my time sitting on the sofa with my husband, doing everything and not showering often. Now I feel awake and conscious. I realize I need less food. I see the place is a mess and have been tidying up. I hope I won’t relapse."

6 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Ash...
  • December 22, 2016

For Psychosis "Was put on Haldol after being put on several atypicals: Abilify (no effect), Risperdal (high blood pressure/ heart arrhythmia), Geodon (panic attacks/ nightmares). Glad I was switched. Have noticed some side effects with Haldol (slight tremor/ restlessness), but nothing serious. Will definitely be sticking with this medication. Works better for me than the newer meds."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
15 Report
  • its...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 8, 2020

For Psychosis "I have used haloperidol for almost a year now, since then, I've lost interest in many things, even life itself. It didn't really connect the dots with this medication. Reading some other reviews, some other people experience the same thing. Even though I got a care authorization and I am obligated to take this medicine, I'm going to quit it and see how it goes. But it did really help with my psychosis, so I hope I don't get a relapse."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • Gla...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 11, 2017

For Aggressive Behavior "I was prescribed Haldol for aggression (agitation) when I was hospitalized for bipolar disorder. The psychiatrist I had had a very abrasive personality and prescribed it after I hauled off on staff without telling me anything about it, not even the name. I became extremely shaky, could not hold my head up, was very drowsy, and just couldn't function. I literally screamed at my doctor to take me off of it when he gave me something to counteract the shakiness. I was fine then. When I was discharged, he was going to give me straight Haldol, but I argued with him (and won)."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
14 Report
  • Jes...
  • April 20, 2018

For Psychosis "I have psychotic depression but have also been diagnosed as schizoaffective. I was put on Haldol the last time I was put in the psych ward. It worked for my anxiety and delusions, didn't make them worse like most antipsychotics, but I did sleep pretty much constantly the next week while hospitalized. I'm not sure why that wasn't concerning to the doctors. I took it for the next 11 months, and even with exercise and attempts at dieting, could only manage to go up and down 10 lbs. I had gained 120 lbs on Risperdal that I wanted to get off. After 11 months, my weight just started shooting up, and I just kept gaining until I took myself off Haldol. I stopped gaining off and managed to lose weight. It also messed with my cholesterol, and I slept over 10 hours a day on it, closer to 14. I never felt like myself either, but was the most functional that I have been on psych meds. All these symptoms have gone away since I stopped the drugs. I also took Wellbutrin and Lexapro."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
12 Report
  • Dir...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 15, 2013

For Psychosis "Only medicine that controls my psychotic symptoms. Does cause some akathisia. No other side effects noted. The atypical antipsychotics caused weight gain, rapid heart rate, and aggression. Glad I was prescribed an old school tried-and-true medicine."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
20 Report
  • Roc...
  • January 6, 2021

Haloperidol for Nausea/Vomiting "Was in for laparoscopy procedure and was very nauseous after the surgery. Initial treatment with Zofran wasn’t helpful, so they then injected Haldol to relieve the emesis and nausea. It made me feel drowsy and restless at the same time. I can’t tell if I’m thankful it helped as an antiemetic or if I absolutely hate it because of the restless legs, anxious, crawling out of my skin feelings. It made resting and sleep very difficult after a really long day at the hospital. My advice: see if the doctor has exhausted all other medications/solutions first! The side effects may make you regret taking it."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • Rol...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 22, 2014

For Mania "Caused muscle contraction in my neck. Very painful and frightening. Was given a shot of Cogentin and it subsided. Caused drowsiness, constipation, and marked sleepiness. Emotional flatness. It increased my depression."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
16 Report
  • KC2...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 2, 2024

For Psychosis "I have been on this medication for a few years now and at a low 1.5 mg dose. When I got to this dose, it took away the auditory hallucinations. I had previously been on Seroquel, and they kept increasing the doses, but it just wasn’t helping. I looked up my symptoms and what medications worked. I found an article about haloperidol and sent it to my doctor and asked if we could try it. I’m so glad my doctor was willing to try it because it really helped me get back to living a life without having to hear the voices. I haven’t noticed any side effects."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
2 Report
  • Lol...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 15, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "My 19 y.o. son was admitted to the ER, he had been throwing up all day, and there was some blood in his vomit. Because of COVID-19, I was unable to go in with him, which was horrible because of this kind of situation. They gave him a few meds along with Haldol by IV. He came out after 9 hours doing better, but the next day he kept calling me at work saying he was so restless and couldn't stand being in his body, really struggling. I talked him through some meditation, and he took walks, but today (2 days after) he is still somewhat restless and agitated, not his personality at all. It made me look at what they gave him, Haldol. I was shocked when I read the discharge papers as I'd only known this to be given for severe dementia in elderly people who become basically zombies from it. After reading others' experiences, it confirms why he's been so off. If I'd been in there with him, there is no way I'd have said okay to Haldol being administered. Never again. Poor kid."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
7 Report
  • Sue...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 4, 2024

Haloperidol for Mania "I was on Haldol for almost 3 years and gained 50 lbs. I was on this for bipolar. I didn’t like the weight gain. I was 137 when I started, and I’m 5’5, and just was weighed at the doctor at 186 lbs yesterday. It got to a point that I was gaining 5 lbs per month, and I wasn’t even eating that bad. Uncomfortable uncontrollable hunger. My body looks bloated, and I am the largest I’ve ever been. It worked great but too bad for the weight gain. I ended up switching to Vraylar."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
2 Report
  • Suf...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 15, 2018

For ICU Agitation "When I was injected with haloperidol in the hospital, it made me feel stupid at first, which was not that bad, but 15-16 hours later I had the most severe extrapyramidal symptoms. I had double vision and I could not move my eyes, and then I also had severe muscle spasms that hurt a lot. Haloperidol is literally more dangerous than most illegal drugs!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 24, 2024

For Psychosis "I find haloperidol to feel like a warm cuddle. I transitioned from olanzapine, which I hated and caused me to gain 50 kg. I have lost 40 of those kgs since starting haloperidol a few years ago. I take a low dose of 1.5 mg/day, and this quiets my voices significantly - they are only there if I reach for them. It is more effective for psychosis for me than olanzapine, feels nicer, and will not cause metabolic syndrome."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
2 Report
  • Cam...
  • July 19, 2020

For Aggressive Behavior "I was given this haloperidol with an injection of Ativan a few days ago for aggressive behavior due to my bipolar. I was so freaking angry and annoyed and was also crying my eyes out and throwing things, so at the crappy hospital I was at, they had several “nurses” screaming at me even though I was hysterical. They strapped me to the bed, and this dude said he was going to inject me with HALDOL and Ativan. And I freaked out and told him that I demanded only Ativan, and he said, “All patients who are hysterical have to take haldol, it doesn't matter if you are allergic or not,” so I got injected with both Haldol and Ativan. In 5 minutes, I started feeling unusually sleepy, and my legs were insanely restless at the same time. I slept for 15 hours that night, and the feeling in my legs was so extreme that I wanted to scream and launch out of my own body, but I massaged my legs with lotion to get rid of the feeling. The feeling wore off 17 hours later."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • haw...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 18, 2022

Haloperidol for Psychosis "I have taken Haldol multiple times for schizophrenia. I have also tried most of the atypical antipsychotics. Haldol has the least side effects for me and works the best. Depending on the dose, I can get restless, but I can control that by splitting the dose up throughout the day. Other than that, I have no side effects."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • hal...
  • July 5, 2016

For Psychosis "I am doing good while on Haldol, still a bit of anxiety, but I can cope. It is way more controlled now. Not sure I will ever be not sick. I am taking 20 drops in the morning and 10 in the midday, 5 mg pill before night. My sleep is very good, no dreams. That is a huge step with controlling my PTSD. I feel good during the day and can function. Only downside, I'm a bit of a hermit, do not really want to leave my house. In all, I think a good drug for those who need it."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
12 Report
  • Car...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 5, 2018

For Psychosis "Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking haloperidol: More common, difficulty with speaking or swallowing, inability to move the eyes, loss of balance, control, mask-like face, muscle spasms, especially of the neck and back, restlessness or need to keep moving (severe), shuffling walk, stiffness of the arms and legs, trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands, twisting movements of the body, weakness of the arms and legs."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report
  • Jay...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 30, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "Horrible ER experience, was given haloperidol for bad migraine/vomiting. Drug made me feel like climbing the walls and like I was coming out of my skin. Same feeling I get from compazine. I have compazine listed as an allergy, so why they thought they could give me Haldol is beyond me. Relieved migraine, but the agitation experienced and hopeless feeling was definitely not worth it."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Mis...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 26, 2022

Haloperidol for Nausea/Vomiting "Given this drug for nausea after surgery. It dropped my heart rate from 80s down to 40s and dropped my oxygen rate down to low 80s. This is a dangerous drug and not enough warnings on the internet. I have atrial fibrillation and COPD. Should not have been given this drug. It was a one-time shot and lucky to be in the hospital at the time."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
7 Report
  • Tye...
  • September 14, 2014

For Psychosis "Out of all the neuroleptics I've been on, haloperidol helped my paranoia far better. I did not experience weight gain at all, but I take benztropine for muscle spasms, tremors in my hands, and muscle stiffness. All of these are side effects from the haloperidol."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
17 Report
  • Cor...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 18, 2020

For Aggressive Behavior "I’m 22, and in July, I went to the hospital for extreme destructive and aggressive behavior due to my bipolar and schizophrenia. I stayed in the mental health unit for 8 days, and before I left, they injected me with Haldol, which I started feeling very calm, which is perfectly fine for me because Ativan makes me calm, and I thought Haldol was the same. But I had the WORST month of my life! I was insanely sleepy, I slept up to 9 times a day, was very anxious, very restless. I had extreme slurred speech where people couldn’t make out what I was saying, I was slobbering and drooling. Then one night, I had a panic attack so bad that I was hyperventilating, sweating, screaming, vomiting, hitting my head, so I went to the hospital again, and they gave me a shot of Benadryl and Ativan, and the side effects of Haldol slowly went away. When I got discharged in the morning, I felt like me again. I'm on Zyprexa, Zoloft, and Depakote now."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Cel...
  • October 11, 2022

For Aggressive Behavior "So after trying so many antipsychotics, I finally found the 2 that work for me! I actually have bipolar disorder. We were at the point of giving up hope. I am on Seroquel 200 mg at night, and it wasn’t enough, so we started 1 mg of Haldol in the morning. I immediately noticed so many changes. I wasn’t so angry anymore. Things that I used to throw fits at (I mean yelling, screaming, punching, and throwing) I no longer do! If anything, now I get reasonably annoyed! I CAN LAUGH NOW AND FEEL JOYOUS! I am back to myself without the added anger and mania/manic symptoms of anger that controlled almost every aspect of my life. Haldol has been so, so amazing to me! I would just advise that before you read so deep into reviews, just try it out. What works for some may not work for others and vice versa. Everybody’s chemistry is completely different. Don’t give up hope!!! I too was tired at one point and ready to give up because nothing seemed to be working. Push through! You got this!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
5 Report
  • Ano...
  • July 10, 2018

For Nausea/Vomiting "Used for stomach pain in ER. It's been almost 24 hours since I've had the medication through an IV for severe stomach cramping, which sent me to the ER in the first place. I'm debating on whether or not to go back tonight since it's made me so restless and anxious. Awful medication, would not recommend this to anyone."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.